All language subtitles for Into.the.Wild.Tibet.2020_Subtitles01.ENG

Narrator: North of the
himalayas stretches of land

Rarely glimpsed by
the outside world,

The tibetan plateau.

The highest and largest
plateau on earth.

No other habitat offers such
a cruel mix of thin air,

Impossible terrain,
and punishing weather.

(wind howling)

The brutal conditions
push animals to the brink.

(hail pattering)

(wind howls)

This is the story
of the creatures

That strive to raise
their families here.

To give birth to new
life, against the odds.

(chiru squeaks)

Only the toughest can survive,
in this land of extremes,

Here on the roof of the world.

(wolf howling)

A call as piercing as the cold.

An alpha male, staking his claim

To one of the most testing
habitats on the planet.

Tibetan wolves are
incredibly rare

But this landscape doesn't
lend itself to abundance.

Now, in the grip of winter,
it's more hostile than ever.

(dramatic orchestral music)

The tibetan plateau is a
land at once spectacular

And unforgiving, a
desolate wilderness bigger

Than alaska and texas combined.

The average elevation is
close to three miles high.

There's only half as much
oxygen as at sea level.

Specially adapted
to the thin air,

The wolf carries an
extra strong heart.

And he'll need plenty of
heart, because food is scarce.

Despite his thick fur, the
bitter cold saps his energy.

(suspenseful music)

He must find meat.

This is what he's
looking for, blue sheep.

Not easy to pin down
in this vastness.

He can't do it alone.

(wolf pants)

But he's got help.

(wind howls)

The pack must work together.

They pick up the sheep's trail.

Now, their targets are in sight.

The hunt is on.

The herd makes a dash
for steeper terrain,

Where the wolves can't follow.

But one of the pack
outflanks them,

Driving them away
from the rocks.

(wolf whines)

Their team work has paid off.
(wolves growling)

(hooves stomping)

A kill this size will
buy them a few days.

(wolves growl)

But they must find
more prey soon.

From the top of the food
chain to the bottom.

(light gentle music)

(pika squeaks)

Pika, close cousins to rabbits.

(pika sniffing)

They too are focused on food.
(pika squeaking)

Even in winter, under
the blanket of snow,

There's still grass to be found,

If you're willing to dig for it.

(pika pattering)

They outnumber all the
other mammals here.

And they're on every
predator's menu.

The whole ecosystem rests on
these little, furry shoulders.

Luckily they have a safe room.

Each family has its own
burrow, with a suite

Of separate chambers,
and multiple entrances,

A refuge from
danger, and the cold.

(hooves pounding)

Suddenly, a disturbance.
(dramatic rhythmic music)

(yaks grunting)

Yak, a hardy himalayan
descendant of the wild ox.

They're on the move,
driven by their herders.

They can live well
above 16,000 feet,

Higher than almost any
other domestic animal.

(yaks grunting)
right now, they're thirsty.

(wistful music)

But in winter, this is one of
the driest places on earth.

(yaks grunting)

Water remains locked
in snow and ice.

Rivers freeze over.

But the yak have a
key to break the lock.

(yaks grunting)

First, they need to
brave the frozen crust.

Daunting, when you weigh
half as much as a small car.

(light perky music)

(ice cracking)

They're not exactly
figure skaters.

Now that they've
found their feet,

They're ready for a drink.

(ice cracking)

(yaks huffing)

Their warm breath melts
the surface just enough.

They won't need to drink
again for a couple of days.

(water burbling)
(yaks grunting)

For thousands of years, yak
have given tibetan people

Everything from meat and milk
to clothing and transport.

Without them, human life
on the plateau might

Not have been possible.

(dramatic music)

It's April.
(light joyful music)

Winter finally begins to
loosen its grip on the land.

(water burbling)

But up in the peaks,
snow still lingers.

For the wolves, life isn't
about to get any easier.

The alpha female is pregnant.

With new mouths to feed, the
pack will have to up its game.

(light joyful music)

Spring on the tibetan plateau
ushers in warmer days,

(wolf pups yipping)
and new arrivals.

(light happy music)

Four excited pups,
eager to explore.

They've been hidden in the den

For the first three
weeks of their lives.

For the next couple of months,

She and the alpha male
will share duties,

Taking it in turns
to protect the pups,

And to hunt for food.

Snow is a curious contrast to
the warm confines of the den.

(light gentle music)

They tentatively embrace
the freedom to play.

(wolf pups yipping)

But they won't stray
too far from home.

This rough and tumble helps
the pups develop strength

And coordination, skills
that are vital for hunting.

It won't be long before
they're big enough

To target the resident pika.

While the alpha female
stays with the pups,

The rest of the
pack has work to do.

(bird squawking )

Resources out here are few.

Holding on to good territory
is the only way to survive.

Scent marking
establishes boundaries,

Sending a clear signal to
rivals that this turf is taken.

(enchanting orchestral music)

In may, food becomes a
little more plentiful.

It's lambing season
for the blue sheep.

(hooves stomping)

Stocky front legs help
them scale the peaks,

(hooves stomping)

A much needed refuge
from the wolves.

The new lambs must quickly learn

To navigate the
perilous terrain.

The sheep are beautifully
adapted to this vertical world.

Despite their name, they have
more in common with goats.

Their hooves are split, so
they can grip the rock face.

(slow triumphant music)

Soft rubbery soles act
like climbing shoes.

They almost seem
to defy gravity.

The wolves could never
pursue them up here.

(ominous orchestral music)

But there's another enemy, one
more at home among the crags.

A snow leopard.

She relies on stealth
and camouflage,

Waiting for her prey to
move close enough to ambush.

(hooves stomping)

Yet the sheep stay out of reach.

Today, she'll go hungry.

(water burbling)

Just like the wolves, she
must defend her territory.

Unlike the wolves,
she works alone.

Scent glands around her whiskers

And chin spread her
signature smell,

And leave a potent message
for other leopards, keep out.

(light happy music)

As may progresses
on the plateau,

Pika families are
rapidly expanding.

(pikas pattering)

From now until the end
of summer, this male

And his partner will produce
a litter every three weeks.

So he could sire as many
as 18 babies this season,

All relying on this
patch of grass for food.

(pikas sniffing)
(pikas pattering)

(suspenseful music)

His territory is tiny,

But he'll defend it
against all comers.

Another male wants the
food this patch provides.

Dad spots the intruder.

(pikas sniffing)

Trespassers won't be tolerated.

(pika squeaking)

But his warning is ignored.

(pikas sniffing)

It's a showdown.

(pika squeaks)
(dramatic music)

He may be small, but he
fights like a heavyweight.

(pikas squealing)

Territory defended, he
can return to feeding.

(pika chomping)

But he must keep
his wits about him.

Others are hungry too.
(ominous music)

A golden eagle soars
(ominous music)

Over the tibetan plateau

With pika in its sights.

The alarm goes out,
(pika squeaking)

(fast dramatic music)

Sending everyone to ground.

But one has strayed

Just a little too far
from his bolthole.

(pika sniffing)

(wondrous music)
with the hunter satisfied,

The coast is now clear.

The rocky peaks stand like
islands in a sea of green.

Thousands of square miles
of grasslands cover an area

Even larger than the great
plains of north america.

This is the stage

For the tibetan plateau's
most epic event.

(water burbling)
(dramatic music)

The chiru antelope migration.

The chiru spend the
winter dispersed

Across the whole plateau.

But in late spring a change

In the weather sets
the females in motion.

(bird squawking)

They abandon the
males, and turn,

As one, toward a shared goal.

Day after day they
March, up to 200 miles,

Across a barren world.

At last, they arrive
at their destination,

The shores of zhuonai lake, in
the far west of the plateau.

Each year, in July, around
30,000 chiru congregate here.

Why they choose this
particular place is a mystery.

But a common purpose
draws them together

(birds chirping)

To continue the cycle of life.

(light wondrous music)

In the span of just three weeks,
the whole herd gives birth.

No time for sitting around.

(calf bleats)

(birds chirping)

(calf bleats)

Incredibly, the calves can walk

Within 15 minutes of being born.

And they must
quickly learn to run.

(light upbeat music)

(hooves stomping)

Being fast on their
feet is crucial.

Such a wealth of potential prey
inevitably draws predators.

Another pack of tibetan
wolves, seeking opportunity.

(suspenseful music)

They'll have to act soon.

The chiru will leave
when summer ends.

Each evening the wolves follow
the daily rhythm of the herd.

(birds chirping)

The mothers and their
calves leave the lake

And head for the nearby hills.

(water burbling)

It's not wise to spend
nights exposed in the open.

(dramatic music)

To reach shelter they
must ford the streams

Which pose little obstacle now.

But things are about to change.

The wolves watch, and wait.

As the chiru
prepare to bed down,

Darkness sweeps
across the plateau.

At over 15,000 feet,
even in summer,

Temperatures plunge at night.

At these heights, the
heavens themselves feel

Like they're almost
within reach.

(wolf pups yipping)

(bright enchanting music)

Up at the den, the tibetan
summer is testing the wolves.

The pups are hungry, but their
mother's milk is drying up.

Their father is off with the
rest of the pack, on the hunt.

There's no telling
when he'll be back.

And mom can only hunt
within reach of the den.

She needs to secure a meal.

(bird squawking)

Pika are small, but up
here, every calorie counts.

(pika pattering)

(pika squeaks)

She's too slow, and
returns empty handed.

(suspenseful music)

But another's approach
catches their eye.

Now she sees it too.

(wolf pups yipping)
it's dad.

(light joyful music)

With a take-out meal
for his hungry family.

Carried home in his stomach,

Their whining stimulates
him to serve it up.

(wolf pups chomping)
(wolf pups yapping)

The pups tussle over the feast

And the pushiest
gets the most to eat.

(wolves panting)
(wolves whining)

Hunger dealt with,
it's time to play,

And practice their
hunting skills.

These sessions will eventually
sort the pecking order

Between the pups.

(triumphant music)

All the youngsters that
inhabit the plateau relish the

Relatively warm days of summer.

(hooves stomping)

(pika squeaks)

There's fresh grass
to fatten up on.

And plenty of time to play,

(chiru bleats)

Building strength for
the challenges ahead.

(chiru bleats)

(soft wondrous music)

But the good times
aren't set to last.

(thunder rumbling)

Ominous clouds build
on the horizon.

A weather event on a truly
global scale is bearing down.

Much of the year,

The arid tibetan plateau
sees little rain.

But late July brings
the mighty monsoon.

(dramatic music)

It sweeps north from
india with such force that

Even the towering wall of
the himalayas can't stop it.

It closes in on the
shores of zhuonai lake.

Up here, the monsoon
has a sting in its tail.

(hail pattering)

At almost three miles
above sea level,

The rain falls as ice.

(dramatic music)

Exposed on the open
plains, the chiru rely

On thick outer hairs on their
coats to repel the hail.

(wind howls)

Beneath lies an
insulating layer of soft,

Light underfur
known as shahtoosh.

(somber music)

Prized for this fine wool

Which was woven into
luxurious shawls,

Chiru herds were once
decimated by poaching.

Now, they're protected
and the biggest challenge

They face is the
extreme weather.

(water burbling)

(water spattering)

Finally, the storm clears,
but it's left its mark.

(water burbling)

The monsoon has turned the
river into a raging torrent.

Yet the herd still needs
to cross each evening

To reach the shelter
of the hills.

Not easy on little legs.

(dramatic music)

Many of the calves are
just two weeks old.

Experienced mothers
act as a barrier,

Blocking their calves from
being swept downstream.

Falling behind can
have dire consequences.

The force of the water
is too much for some.

Others struggle on.

The effort is exhausting.

But worth it.

The youngsters have overcome
their first big challenge.

Driven by the need for shelter,

The females push their
young to the limit,

Leading them up into the
hills, away from hungry eyes.

(thunder rumbles)
(wind roars)

Tibet's summer monsoon
hasn't yet run its course.

The clouds, still
heavy with moisture,

Head for the surrounding peaks.

(suspenseful music)

In an instant, it's winter.
(wind howls)

Up here, summer
temperatures can plummet

By 40 degrees in a day.

(wolf pup howling)

Bad news for one of the pups.

Caught out by the storm, he's
disoriented in the white out.

If he doesn't find his way back

To the safety of his
family, he'll die.

His distress calls pierce
through the blizzard.

(wolf pup howling)
(suspenseful music)

The alpha male heads
out into the storm.

The pup is weakening fast.
(wolf pup howls)

But his scent trail lingers.

(triumphant music)
he's got him.

Father leads the way home,
to the warmth of the den.

There'll be time enough for
adventures when he's older.

(gently chiming bells)

(light gentle music)

The monsoon blows over.

And the familiar shades
of summer return.

(birds chirping)

(birds squawking)

As morning breaks, the
chiru head down to feed

On the shores of zhuonai lake.

This time, wolves
shadow the herd.

Soon this abundance
of prey will be gone,

As the chiru head back to
their wintering grounds.

(suspenseful music)

The wolves' window of
opportunity is closing.

(dramatic music)

They make their move.

The adults are too fast.

They must aim younger.

(dramatic music)

Under attack, the chiru
seek safety in numbers.

But not everyone can
keep up with the herd.

(fast climactic music)

A wolf closes in.

It's a strategic move,
separating mother and calf.

(water burbling)
(somber music)

The pack's pursuit
is relentless.

Two more youngsters
are separated.

One's trapped.

And it's fate is sealed.

(triumphant music)

The other calf makes it back
to the safety of the herd.

The wolves have
claimed their prize,

But the chiru herd
remains strong.

High above, in the peaks,
lean times are coming.

Soon, deep snow and
ice will transform

These hunting grounds.

(light happy music)

The snow leopard enjoys her
last feast of the season.

The blue sheep will keep
her going for a while.

The alpha pair have
served their family well.

(wolves whining)

The pack is loyal.

(bird cawing)

And the pups are thriving.

(wolf pups yipping)

(dramatic orchestral music)

Summer is tough enough

But when winter descends,

They'll have to brave the
full force of the elements.

And learn what it really takes

To survive on the
tibetan plateau.

Here, winter comes
early, and hard.

In August, it's time to leave.

Barely a month old, the
chiru youngsters face

An arduous journey back to
their wintering grounds.

With a turn of the
head, the exodus begins.

And the herd falls into step.

(hooves stomping)

In a matter of days,
they'll all be gone.

They arrived as a sisterhood,

But they're leaving as families.

The pika families stay put,
toughing out the winter.

They, at least, can
escape underground.

But the wolves must endure

Whatever the tibetan
plateau throws their way.

These are the hardy few.

The ones who March
boldly into winter.

And those who stand firm.

(wolf pups yipping)

They all fight for survival.

Here on the roof of the world.
(wind howls)