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Most of us love going on a journey.
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I've been incredibly lucky,
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exploring countries on
six different continents.
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Now that travel
has become a bit tricky,
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it's not a bad time to
have a look back.
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In this series,
I'm going to be showing you some of
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my most memorable adventures.
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WHISTLE BLOWS
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SIREN BLARES
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We're on the way.
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The landscape is incredible!
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The vegetation,
everywhere you look -
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green, all different
shades of green!
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If you're going to try
and imagine paradise,
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that's it.
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And this...
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This is the real treasure of Haiti.
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I've met hundreds of
incredible people.
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Hello, my friend.
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Welcome to Libya.
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MUFFLED: Welcome to El Salvador!
Thank you, mate.
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Welcome to Uzbekistan.
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SHE LAUGHS
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I'll be catching up
with some of them.
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ON PHONE: Because they're cheap,
they have nimble fingers.
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Oh, mate.
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This is a land of utter extremes.
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This is where Heaven and Hell
are said to collide.
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And I'll be sharing what
I've learned on my travels...
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I have no words, just good luck, OK?
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Good luck. Thank you. Good luck.
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Whatever you do. Good luck.
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..about the challenges and the
solutions for our incredible planet.
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There are buffalo once more
in the American plains.
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And that's a bloody wonderful thing.
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It's absolutely stunning, isn't it?
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It's the coast of Devon.
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I'm taking a bit of time
to explore closer to home.
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I'm heading to an island
that's one of Britain's
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oldest wildlife reserves.
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I've been so lucky on my travels to
see some of the most beautiful parts
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of the planet, and some
really stunning wildlife.
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In this programme, we're going
to look more at our wild world.
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Have we arrived? Yeah.
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HE VOCALISES
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There's still so much wildlife
and beauty out there.
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Oh, this is...
this is really quite...
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..quite breathtaking.
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Travelling around
the Equator back in 2006...
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Poor thing, look at you.
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..took me through the jungles
of the island of Borneo...
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Do you like that?
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You seem to.
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..and up close with orangutans.
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Bit more?
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These orphans had been
rescued from poachers,
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but dedicated conservationists were
battling to protect and train them.
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This forest is like
a practice for them,
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to the real forest.
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To the real jungle.
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Yeah. Here we go.
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Off you go.
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There he goes.
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Around the world,
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there's some colourful characters
protecting wildlife.
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Hello, big boy!
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Hello, big...
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Don't get too close,
he'll get cross. OK.
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Hello, big...
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SHE VOCALISES
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You're talking with him.
Does that work?
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Sometimes.
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THEY LAUGH
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Yet, from the start of my journeys,
I've seen how human activity
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threatens even the most
iconic creatures.
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Look at its back leg.
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So, trapped...
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Trapped? Yeah.
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Look what's happened to this,
it literally...
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This is the cost of the human-animal
conflict here, unfortunately.
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Off the north-west coast
of Australia, in 2007,
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I had an encounter with giant
wildlife that I'll remember forever.
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HE LAUGHS
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Look at them!
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I just got some spray
over me from them.
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Humpback whales are some of the
biggest creatures on the planet,
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weighing as much as
three double decker buses.
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Exmouth Gulf in Australia
is a crucial sanctuary,
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where mothers bring
their young to rest, feed,
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and put on half a tonne of fat
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before heading further south
on their great migration.
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Look at the size, look at this!
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In the 1960s, humpbacks were
hunted to near extinction.
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Their numbers have crept up,
thanks in part
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to crucial sanctuaries like this.
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But, like almost all marine life,
they still face major threats.
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That is incredible.
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It makes tears well up,
that's just such an awesome sight.
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My guides were
Curt and Mich Jenner,
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marine biologists studying
these huge animals.
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It's a privilege on this planet,
in this day and age,
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to have a place like this
that is so unique, so undisturbed.
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These are baby animals that need
some place to rest and to grow.
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But, like any nursery,
there's silly things that go on.
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These are precocious,
young little animals.
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They'll be rolling over Mum's nose
one moment, falling off backwards
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the other way, getting their
blow holes full of water.
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They'll come up...you know.
HE BLOWS
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There's a lot of just,
sort of, playing that goes on.
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To be able to see that in a place
like this, and literally one whale
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every square mile in this gulf,
it's phenomenal.
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It's a fantastic place.
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They're that close.
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And hello to you! Look!
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Mich had spent years compiling
a photographic record
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of thousands of whales
to help identify individuals.
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We've got a cow-calf escort pod
here and an escort is believed
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to be a male whale
that is accompanying the female.
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Now, you may think it's a noble...
For what purpose? What purpose?
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Well, really, only because
she is deemed successful,
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she has a calf already.
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And the breeding season means
to pass on genes. Ah...
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So, she might be able to have
another one? He realises... Exactly.
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One of his...men, eh? That's it.
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She invests two years of her life.
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And the male...
He invests two hours?
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Two hours or two days, yeah.
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Exmouth Gulf is one of the world's
most important sites for whales.
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But, that night, the Jenners
told me they feared for the future
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of the sanctuary.
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In the last six-to-12 months,
there's been plans put forward
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to develop a salt mine,
an evaporative salt mine,
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on the eastern side of the gulf.
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It's a huge area,
from north to south.
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It's an extensive range...
Of salt pans? That's right. Yeah.
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Apparently, the world has an amazing
appetite for plastic these days,
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as if we hadn't noticed,
so this is the key use for salt
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these days, is in making plastics.
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We all have an evil hand in this,
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in the need for this
sort of a product.
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How worried are you about the impact
on the whales who are coming here?
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Basically, what we're looking
at as a key threat, erm,
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in this resting area is noise.
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Shipping noise.
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And that sort of noise
is not compatible with resting.
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Imagine if you were trying
to rest with your newborn baby
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somewhere in a quiet spot,
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and dump trucks were going by
and people were banging
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garage doors shut...
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I'd want to move.
You'd want to move.
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And that's what we're worried
will happen with these whales.
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It's a critical habitat for them,
they have to rest here.
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If they can't do that, erm,
it's a population-threatening event.
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It's that serious? Exactly.
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If these calves cannot rest,
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they'll probably perish
on the way to the Antarctic.
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And that'll be the end of them.
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The pregnant female's been
lying on her back,
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and slapping her fins...
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..on the surface of the water.
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It creates an incredible sound,
and it's just an amazing sight.
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We've been so fortunate.
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Getting up close to humpback whales
was an incredible privilege.
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But it was upsetting and worrying
to hear about the threats to them.
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I can understand why people
want development and the jobs,
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and the wealth that comes with that.
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But at what cost?
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We don't want a planet of...
a planet empty of life, do we?
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Curt and Mich are still
very much involved in trying
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to protect the whales.
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And they sent me
a little video message.
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Hi, Simon. Hello!
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When you were last filming with us,
the issue for Exmouth Gulf at
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the time was the threat
of industrialisation.
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The public awareness that
was raised with that programme
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was very effective,
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and that particular project
was halted.
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Our population of humpback whales
continues to grow...
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SIMON GASPS
..as a result.
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And it's still the largest humpback
whale population on the planet.
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And we'll hope that you'll come
and visit us again, Simon,
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that would be great.
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Come and see us in Oz soon!
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Bye! Bye for now.
God, I'd love to!
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Oh, wow.
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That's brilliant.
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What heroes they are.
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Still out there, researching
and campaigning to protect
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those magnificent beasts.
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And, oh, my goodness, to think
that our little telly show
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might have played even a small part
in protecting that sanctuary.
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They did say that, didn't they?
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They said it helped.
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One of the aims of my journeys is
to capture not just the beauty
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and glory of our wild world,
but also the issues.
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You can definitely find both
that light and shade on the
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Indian Ocean island of Madagascar.
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It's a gem of a place,
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one of the world's great
wildlife hot spots.
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Cut off from the rest of
the planet for an age,
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life on Madagascar evolved
to be unique and spectacular.
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Where else in the world do you
think they'd let us do this?
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Madagascar is a favourite
for natural history documentaries.
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So, we've come to one of
the most famous wildlife reserves
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on the island.
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And we're looking...
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Well, we're creeping
through the bushes,
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looking for Madagascar's lemurs.
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HE WHISTLES
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They're just on the trees over here.
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Did you see them up there?
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The Berenty Reserve is well known
as a home to sifaka lemurs...
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Such a cute scene.
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..and their more famous cousins,
the ring-tailed lemurs.
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This place is beautiful, but -
and it's a huge "but" -
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this reserve contains a large chunk
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of the only remaining forest
of its kind in Madagascar.
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And this place is actually tiny!
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It's not much bigger than
some London parks.
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And this on an island that's
the fourth largest on the planet.
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The lemurs have really got
nothing left.
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Are you all right? Are you lost?
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Hm, no, hopefully not.
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Chances are, if you've seen
lemurs filmed in Madagascar,
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it was shot here.
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And it turns out,
we're reliably informed that almost
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all of the shots are generally
filmed in an area around
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these buildings, bungalows,
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with the cameraman straining to
keep the buildings out of shot.
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We're not going to do that,
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because I think you should see
the reality here.
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I think, if you take
the buildings out of the shot,
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in fact, this place generally
might give the impression that
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00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:23,280
there's a lot of wilderness of
wild paradise left in Madagascar.
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00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:24,920
And that is not the case.
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Wildlife documentaries have
helped cultivate our love of
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00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,480
the natural world, but some
still give us glorious shots
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00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,080
of animals in pristine wilderness
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00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:41,000
without showing the surrounding
reality of how humans threaten
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00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,440
the existence of many species -
through climate change or
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00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,680
the destruction of habitat
on an industrial scale.
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Ooh, this is what's outside.
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00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:56,840
Vast, vast plantations of sisal.
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My goodness.
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00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:02,880
Far as the eye can see...
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00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,360
..thousands and thousands
of acres of it.
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00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,400
In some instances, it's used for
making environmentally-friendly
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00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,400
packaging for Europe.
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00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,160
I felt like a veil had fallen,
250
00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,400
and, suddenly, I could see an
unvarnished reality.
251
00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,040
Yes, the wildlife of Madagascar
was magical,
252
00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,720
but the threats were more imminent
and overwhelming than I'd understood
253
00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,840
from wildlife films.
254
00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,520
The Berenty Reserve was a token
sanctuary for a small
255
00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,440
number of lemurs.
256
00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,120
The truth was 90% of the
original forest of Madagascar
257
00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:38,520
has been destroyed,
258
00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,320
and nearly every species of lemur
is threatened by extinction.
259
00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:47,040
I mean, it's ironic, really,
because the reserve is now seen by
260
00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,560
conservationists as a huge success.
261
00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:55,360
But if anyone had said, back when
this place first started up, erm,
262
00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,000
I think in the 1930s, erm,
263
00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:03,600
that what the owners were going to
do was going to cut down thousands
264
00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:09,560
and thousands of acres of pristine
forest and replace it with millions
265
00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,360
and millions of sisal plants,
266
00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:16,440
and leave one tiny little area
of forests for the lemurs,
267
00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,680
I think the conservationists
would have been
268
00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,080
absolutely up in arms.
269
00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,720
Well, that's what's happened.
270
00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:35,760
That experience in Madagascar
was really eye-opening.
271
00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:39,960
It reminded me of the power
of travel that, to sometimes really
272
00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,800
understand a place or a situation,
273
00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,000
you do have to go there and see it
for yourself with your own eyes.
274
00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,120
I never take a journey for granted.
275
00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,800
For me, they're all meaningful.
276
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,200
I'm getting on a boat down there,
in just a moment.
277
00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:01,480
In terms of all of us getting more
out of our travel experiences,
278
00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:05,720
the best advice I can offer anyone -
for what my view's worth -
279
00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:10,960
is when you take risks in life,
it can lead to the greatest rewards.
280
00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,920
Taking chances creates
the best memories.
281
00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,360
We all need pushing out of our
comfort zones, including me.
282
00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,280
Life would be so much less
interesting if we never faced
283
00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:25,880
a challenge or a fear.
284
00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,680
In 2011, I was off the coast
of South Africa
285
00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,360
with dive guide Gail Addison,
286
00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,960
about to face one
of humanity's primal fears.
287
00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:53,880
It was my first proper scuba dive -
and I was in at the deep end,
288
00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,880
dropping into a cave with
wildlife pretty much everyone
289
00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:58,240
is at least wary of.
290
00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,520
Within minutes, there they were.
291
00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,800
Six-foot-long oceanic
killing machines.
292
00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:12,440
Our great enemy.
293
00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:21,160
Except, of course, they're not.
294
00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:26,240
These ragged-tooth sharks,
like most sharks,
295
00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,680
weren't interested in humans.
296
00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,320
But they were inquisitive,
ancient, and elegant.
297
00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:35,560
It was a privilege
to be close to them.
298
00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,760
Gail, we saw sharks! We did.
299
00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:52,360
You got me to swim with sharks!
I did!
300
00:17:52,360 --> 00:17:53,880
HE LAUGHS
301
00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,480
The dive help change my attitude
to sharks forever.
302
00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:02,000
Gail, my dive instructor,
was from the group Shark Angels.
303
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,840
She'd spent years campaigning
to make more of us understand
304
00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:06,840
why sharks matter,
305
00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:08,960
and taking all ages into the ocean.
306
00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,160
Do you know that I take my little
eight-year-old?
307
00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:14,920
She comes swimming with us,
with the sharks.
308
00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,400
We're very specific about when
we put her in the water and how
309
00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,080
she goes in the water with us.
And it's the same with divers.
310
00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,120
Some people might think
that's a bit mad,
311
00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:24,120
to put your eight-year-old
in the water.
SHE LAUGHS
312
00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:26,160
Do you know what?
She's grown up with it.
313
00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,280
She's grown up swimming since
she was one-year-old,
314
00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:29,600
when she learned to swim.
315
00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,360
Sharks have an image problem.
316
00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:33,920
Gail was trying to change
our minds about them,
317
00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,680
getting people to realise that,
far from being feared,
318
00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,560
they need to be valued
for the critical role they play
319
00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,600
in maintaining the health
of our oceans.
320
00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,800
Why are they the most
important fish in the sea?
321
00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,480
Because they're apex predators.
322
00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,920
And, unfortunately, that means that
they're not used to being hunted,
323
00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:52,880
they're not meant to have
natural predators.
324
00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:54,600
They are the top of the food chain.
325
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,600
So, they keep everything else
underneath them
326
00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:57,840
balanced and healthy.
327
00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,640
So, it controls the ecosystem,
really?
328
00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,200
That's exactly what it does.
It keeps it balanced.
329
00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,160
And, without that balance,
everything starts crumbling.
330
00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,880
To find out more about
the challenges facing sharks,
331
00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:18,320
I headed north along the Indian
Ocean coast to Mozambique,
332
00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,600
where I met up with conservationist
333
00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,440
and all-round good guy
Carlos Macuacua.
334
00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,200
We've got a few more hours
on the road, though, haven't we?
335
00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:27,960
Maybe three more hours.
336
00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:29,520
Three more hours. OK.
337
00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,400
Hopefully we're going
to get there during daylight.
338
00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,880
All right, slow, slow, slow, slow!
339
00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,720
Mozambique wasn't exactly
famed for its roads.
340
00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,360
HE SIGHS
We're stuck in this.
341
00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,280
Best to let some air out. OK.
342
00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:55,120
Shall we give it a try?
343
00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,960
Eventually, we bounced our way
to our beds for the night.
344
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,160
7.35 on a Wednesday morning.
345
00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,840
Standing on a remote beach
in Mozambique.
346
00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:28,440
Such a thing of beauty.
347
00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,000
HE SPEAKS IN PORTUGUESE
348
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,880
We'd arrived at a village
near where Carlos grew up,
349
00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:40,800
and we headed out to sea with some
of the local fishermen - just lads.
350
00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:45,840
It's a tiny boat, eh?.
351
00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,680
The leader of the group
was a young man called Nelson.
352
00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:54,920
They're going.
353
00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,880
We followed Nelson and his crew
354
00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,680
to where they'd laid baited lines
the previous night.
355
00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:15,760
They're pulling now the line...
356
00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,920
Yeah.
..to see if they got any catch.
357
00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:24,680
HE SHOUTS IN PORTUGUESE
358
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:29,960
I think they've got something.
359
00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:36,280
Yeah, you can see it.
360
00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,360
You can see it. It's massive.
Wow. Wow. Oh, my goodness. Wow.
361
00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:43,200
Oh, my good Lord. This is big!
362
00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,040
Wow, it's a massive shark, huh?
363
00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:48,440
It's huge, isn't it?
364
00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,800
It was shocking to see this.
365
00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,840
Sharks have to
keep moving to breathe.
366
00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:01,160
Caught on the line for hours,
367
00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,240
this adult female bull shark
had no chance.
368
00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,760
Back on the beach,
rolling in the surf,
369
00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,200
the shark became a pathetic
and upsetting sight.
370
00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:15,840
Whoa.
371
00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:19,120
Look at that.
372
00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,520
And this sorry situation
had an especially bitter twist.
373
00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,760
Nelson and his crew were
fishing for sharks to harvest
374
00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,040
just one particular bit of them.
375
00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,480
One of the most valuable
fish products in the world.
376
00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,960
They're not interested
in the meat on this creature.
377
00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,000
They're just interested in the fins.
378
00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,320
Nelson, how much money
will you get for the fins?
379
00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:09,320
Uh-huh.
380
00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,040
Do you know who buys the shark fins?
381
00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,200
Do you know who...
what's done with them eventually?
382
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,080
The tasteless fins
are turned into shark fin soup -
383
00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:35,720
a traditional Chinese dish
considered a luxury
384
00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,160
and supposed to demonstrate wealth.
385
00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:42,040
China's economic growth meant
there was huge demand for fins.
386
00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,640
Even with a small boat,
these fishermen could catch
387
00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:46,920
hundreds of sharks a year.
388
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,960
Much more damage is done further out
to sea, where industrial fleets
389
00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,400
catch millions of sharks a year,
390
00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,960
slicing off the fins and throwing
the remainder back into the sea.
391
00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,400
More than a quarter of
the world's shark species
392
00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,560
are threatened with extinction.
393
00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,000
Without a critical apex predator,
394
00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,000
our oceans face catastrophe.
395
00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:13,720
My whole view on sharks
396
00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,360
has completely changed
in the last couple of weeks.
397
00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:20,360
I've gone from being fearful of them
398
00:24:20,360 --> 00:24:22,360
to fearful FOR them.
399
00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:24,320
They're an apex predator.
400
00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:28,720
They keep a lid on all other marine
life in our seas and our oceans...
401
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:31,680
..and we're annihilating them.
402
00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:33,840
We're wiping them out.
403
00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:39,240
And, in doing so, we're threatening
the entire marine ecosystem.
404
00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,160
Because sharks are the most
important fish in the sea.
405
00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,680
We have more than 40 species
of sharks in British waters.
406
00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:55,960
Sharks have been around
for more than 400 million years.
407
00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,400
And, just in the last few decades,
408
00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,840
some populations have collapsed
by up to 90%.
409
00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:09,240
Life is a connected web
established over eons of time.
410
00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,000
Remove an element from the web
and you fracture it,
411
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,080
you lose balance.
412
00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,720
Apex predators aren't even just an
element - they play a vital role.
413
00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:24,600
They control numbers, disease,
and they promote biodiversity.
414
00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,280
The rate at which unique life
is being lost now
415
00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,080
is completely breathtaking.
416
00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:34,760
Scientists think that, every year,
417
00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:38,240
thousands of species are
going extinct.
418
00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:43,120
On my journeys, I've met some
really heroic and often maverick
419
00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:47,960
conservationists who are battling
to save and to protect
420
00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,720
the wildlife glory that remains.
421
00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,200
Travelling across Russia,
422
00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,280
in the remote far east
of the country,
423
00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:00,240
I journeyed deep into the forest
with Alexander Batalov.
424
00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:03,000
Simon. Yes?
425
00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:08,480
His remote lodge is the HQ
for a wildlife reserve that,
426
00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,080
it's fair to say,
is Alexandre's life.
427
00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,000
I'm sensing, Alexander,
a little bit of an obsession.
428
00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:21,200
It's all tiger in this household.
429
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:22,360
Fantastic.
430
00:26:22,360 --> 00:26:23,680
THEY CHUCKLE
431
00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:31,640
Look at this.
432
00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:36,480
Alexander keeps an eye on tigers
in the area using hidden cameras.
433
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:37,920
Oh, my goodness!
434
00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,040
THEY LAUGH
435
00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,280
There was a leg-biting
going on there.
436
00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:54,920
These are Amur tigers,
the largest big cats in the world.
437
00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,880
In the millions of square miles
that make up Siberia,
438
00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,040
there are just 500 wild tigers.
439
00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:01,800
Bit of a spray from the back there.
440
00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,760
We headed out into the forest.
441
00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,200
What the hell am I getting
into the back of?
442
00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,760
With much of their habitat
under threat,
443
00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:21,200
Alexander's 80-square-mile reserve
is a vital sanctuary
444
00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,040
for these astonishing animals.
445
00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:41,000
Look just here.
446
00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:44,040
Bloody hell.
447
00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,240
Th-those are...that's a...
448
00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:47,720
Tiger prints there.
449
00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:50,640
Big, big tiger.
450
00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,280
You mean it's still there, eating?
451
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:11,480
CROWS CAWING
452
00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:13,000
WHISPERS: So, I can hear crows.
453
00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,920
So, this is a massive tiger poo.
454
00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:37,360
It's tiger poo.
455
00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,200
Protect the habitat,
that's the absolute key.
456
00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:00,560
Tigers have long been protected
in Russia,
457
00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:04,280
but vast areas of forest
are being cleared.
458
00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,200
It's only been a couple of years
since I filmed with Alexander,
459
00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:10,080
but his reserve now faces
a serious threat.
460
00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,520
The Russian government has approved
plans to mine it for gold.
461
00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:15,440
Prospectors have already arrived,
462
00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:17,800
and mining could start in
the next few months.
463
00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,320
Thousands of miles away in Namibia,
464
00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,480
I went to see another
conservationist protecting big cats.
465
00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,760
when I travelled around
the Tropic of Capricorn in 2007,
466
00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,840
Frenchman Olivier Houalet had
created a sanctuary for some of
467
00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:37,760
Namibia's iconic cheetahs.
468
00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,840
We have a wonderful project
with five male cheetahs,
469
00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:44,800
which were all orphans from...
470
00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,520
Their mum has been shot by hunters
when they were very small.
471
00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,800
And the concept, the project,
was to raise them all together.
472
00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,600
Olivia was rehabilitating
and training the big cats
473
00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,360
how to survive in the wild,
and how to hunt.
474
00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:03,880
Here they come.
475
00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:05,800
No. Oh, my God.
476
00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,160
That's not supposed to be like that.
Come, come, come.
477
00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:09,600
What the BLEEP?
478
00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,040
They're all here. They're all here.
CHEETAHS GROWL
479
00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,160
It's time to go.
Maybe a little bit quickly.
480
00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:18,720
Th-They're being quite serious.
481
00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:20,040
They are wild guys.
482
00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:22,600
They are able to hunt and kill
for themselves.
483
00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:26,920
And it's all about, now,
body language and no fear at all.
484
00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:28,880
Look, there's all five of them.
485
00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,920
Look at them, I mean,
these are really wild creatures.
486
00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:43,400
This one is the
biggest one of the group.
487
00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,800
He's the power of the group,
with his brother.
488
00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:47,560
He is the one who put down the prey.
489
00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:54,960
Across Africa, cheetahs are dying
out because of increasing farming.
490
00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,960
There's only 7,000 left in the wild.
491
00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,560
Namibia is one of their
last strongholds.
492
00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:07,280
Everything's fine now.
493
00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:10,600
It's thanks largely to
national parks and reserves
494
00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,640
where tourists pay to go
on a safari.
495
00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:17,440
If people come all over the world
to see that beautiful country,
496
00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,200
to see wildlife, to see something
unique in the world where there are
497
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,120
so few people and so many animals.
498
00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:26,160
So, I believe that would be a very
interesting thing, to protect them
499
00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:31,040
and be able to see them
in a free environment.
500
00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:33,480
The very important thing is
to convince government
501
00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,520
to help us to do that.
502
00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,560
Conservationists come in all
shapes and sizes.
503
00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:43,240
Travelling around the Indian Ocean
in 2011 took me to the Seychelles.
504
00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:47,840
My guide, Rita Gay,
took me to one of the hundred or so
505
00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:51,400
paradise islands that make up
this stunning country.
506
00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,000
DOG BARKS
507
00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,520
I'm Simon, Simon Reeve.
You're Simon. And you are...?
508
00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,560
This is Kray. Kray.
And who's this nice young lady?
509
00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,000
And this young lady is Rita. Rita.
510
00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,840
Nobody neater. Aw!
THEY LAUGH
511
00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:14,680
Yorkshiremen Brendon Grimshaw
bought Moyenne Island in 1962
512
00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,920
for the princely sum of £8,000.
513
00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,800
He ended up sharing it
with some unusual neighbours.
514
00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:23,280
So, this is your...
this is your home.
515
00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:27,560
Oh, there's a giant tortoise...
on the steps to your house.
516
00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:29,240
Well, they come in sometimes.
517
00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,560
They? How many have you got?
518
00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:33,800
120. 120?
519
00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:36,240
And they're totally free,
they go where they like.
520
00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,280
Giant tortoises are indigenous
to the Seychelles,
521
00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:43,960
but have been killed off
on most of the islands.
522
00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:46,800
Brendon had been gradually
reintroducing them to his corner
523
00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,640
of the Indian Ocean.
524
00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:50,680
These are one-year-old.
525
00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:52,320
Oh, my goodness.
526
00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,920
What I can't...
I can't find is my little one.
527
00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:58,360
He's disappeared. Where?
528
00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,400
In here? Where?
529
00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:03,840
You've got an...
THEY LAUGH
530
00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,720
You've got another tortoise
that's so small, it's vanished.
531
00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:09,360
Yes. Is it in there somewhere?
532
00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:10,680
I think it's...
533
00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,800
How the hell did it get in there?
534
00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,240
What're you doing in there,
you silly thing? Huh?
535
00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:16,440
HE SMOOCHES LOUDLY
536
00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:18,360
You're one of my favourites.
537
00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:19,680
How old would this one be?
538
00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:21,760
He's about two...two weeks.
539
00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,160
He was born in my bedroom.
540
00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:27,360
Over the decades,
with graft and local help,
541
00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:30,320
Brendon created
a one-of-a-kind sanctuary.
542
00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,120
There were only four trees
in this area. Four.
543
00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,240
I brought in, altogether,
544
00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:37,440
16,000 trees.
545
00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,440
We were not doing it
to make it a national park,
546
00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:42,280
or anything like this.
No, no, no, no.
547
00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,640
We're doing it to make
the place habitable for me.
548
00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,240
Look at this! Yeah.
549
00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,160
It's rather beautiful, eh?
550
00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,640
You've created paradise here,
Brendon.
551
00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:55,240
Oh, people say that -
I don't go as far as that.
552
00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:57,360
What would you call it?
553
00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,880
Hard work, but...
THEY LAUGH
554
00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:02,040
Brendon, would you ever
sell the island?
555
00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,120
No. The only reason somebody
would want to buy this island
556
00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:06,880
is to build a big hotel.
557
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,480
And have you never been tempted?
558
00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,360
You must've been offered
millions, surely.
559
00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:12,360
I have been offered millions. Yes.
560
00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:14,960
And you've said no every time?
And I've said no.
561
00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,440
All the best. Bye!
Thank you very much, indeed.
562
00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,080
Bye-bye!
563
00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:23,200
All the very best!
564
00:34:24,720 --> 00:34:28,160
Brendon passed away
a year after I met him,
565
00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:30,680
but the paradise he built
was secure.
566
00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:32,400
His island is now a national park,
567
00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:34,240
thought to be the smallest
in the world.
568
00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:41,520
National parks are home to much
of the planet's biodiversity.
569
00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:46,480
But as I discovered in
Belize in 2019,
570
00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:49,480
the large national parks face
giant-sized challenges.
571
00:34:53,240 --> 00:34:58,640
The Chiquibul Forest
covers 400 square miles,
572
00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,080
and is home to a stunning array
of wildlife.
573
00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:07,760
Conservationists here have been
forced to carry weapons to protect
574
00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,520
the national park - and themselves.
575
00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:19,720
Their leader, Rafael Manzanero,
had studied, lived,
576
00:35:19,720 --> 00:35:23,560
and worked here in the Chiquibul
Forest since he was a teenager.
577
00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:26,960
Rafael, what is out here?
578
00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:28,480
All the big things occur here.
579
00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:30,920
I mean, they call it the big five.
580
00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:34,400
You know, here, we're looking
at all the five species of cats,
581
00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,160
ranging from the jaguars to the
mountain lion, to the jaguarondi,
582
00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:38,880
to the ocelot, to the margay.
583
00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:42,280
What you're talking about
is a global treasure.
584
00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:43,320
Exactly.
585
00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:48,720
Rafael and his men have been trained
by the British Army to protect
586
00:35:48,720 --> 00:35:50,600
the park and its creatures.
587
00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:52,240
And they were deadly serious.
588
00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,600
We're with armed conservationists.
589
00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:05,080
It's astonishing that it's
come to that, but it has.
590
00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:07,160
The threats here come on two legs.
591
00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:11,360
From poachers, wildlife traffickers,
farmers and loggers,
592
00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:15,400
crossing the border illegally from
neighbouring Guatemala to plunder
593
00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:16,640
and chop down the forest.
594
00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,120
OK. Just going to check if
everything is clear.
595
00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:23,720
Or if anyone's there? Mm-hm.
596
00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:35,760
WHISPERS: Down, down, down.
597
00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:39,000
There's people up ahead...
who shouldn't be here.
598
00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,640
INDISTINCT SHOUTING
599
00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:50,160
GUNSHOT
600
00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:52,640
SHOUTING CONTINUES
601
00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,640
GUNSHOTS
602
00:36:58,160 --> 00:36:59,360
Go, go, go, go!
603
00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:01,000
GUNSHOTS
604
00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:07,600
The guys are now chasing people
on horseback.
605
00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:23,280
Straight to Guatemala?
Straight to Guatemala, yeah.
606
00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:25,520
So, is that where you think
they've come from?
607
00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:29,960
I mean, these guys
are good and young...
608
00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:32,200
..but they can't keep up
with people on horseback.
609
00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:35,440
And what was incredible about that
is they were firing warning shots
610
00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:38,080
in the air right next to these
people, and they took off.
611
00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,800
They knew that, if they were
captured, they would be prosecuted.
612
00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:44,560
And, for them, taking the risk
of running for it
613
00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:45,800
was better than the jail.
614
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:49,440
That's already Guatemala.
615
00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:53,680
Where they attach the posts...
Yeah. ..that's in Guatemala.
616
00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:55,560
So, we are now basically
at the border?
617
00:37:55,560 --> 00:37:57,160
Yes, we are on the border.
618
00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:59,080
On the horses. Can you see them?
619
00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,160
Wholesale deforestation like this
620
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:15,480
and the destruction of
national parks and wild habitats
621
00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:17,040
is a truly global problem.
622
00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:23,600
One consequence is that
wild animals are being forced into
623
00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:25,800
closer and closer contact
with human beings.
624
00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:29,760
I've seen it all over the world.
625
00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:31,920
Straight ahead.
One just went over the top.
626
00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,120
Look at that!
627
00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:36,440
My God!
628
00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:41,640
There's a huge,
beautiful brown bear.
629
00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:43,680
Look at the size of that.
630
00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:47,320
So, in eastern Turkey,
the loss of forests had pushed bears
631
00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:49,400
into foraging at a town
rubbish dump.
632
00:38:52,240 --> 00:38:55,080
It's a tragedy for these
magnificent animals,
633
00:38:55,080 --> 00:38:58,960
but a situation that also has huge
potential implications for humanity.
634
00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:08,120
Deadly and dangerous viruses,
including Covid-19,
635
00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:12,160
are thought to incubate
or originate in wild animals.
636
00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:15,200
Eating meat from wildlife and
other forms of close contact
637
00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,240
with the wild world
increases the risk of pandemics.
638
00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:22,200
You are not happy, are you?
639
00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:26,760
In Indonesia in 2011,
640
00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:28,880
we filmed undercover to expose
641
00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:31,840
an open-air pet and food market
in Jakarta.
642
00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:35,000
The conditions they're being held in
are totally inappropriate
643
00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:36,040
for any creature.
644
00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:41,000
On sale to anyone with the cash
645
00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:43,640
were reptiles, monkeys...
646
00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:44,840
..even eagles.
647
00:39:46,080 --> 00:39:50,120
The multibillion-pound global
trade in wild animals is one of
648
00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:55,080
the factors encouraging new diseases
to jump from animals to humans,
649
00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:58,120
making the protection of
wild animals and their habitats
650
00:39:58,120 --> 00:39:59,440
all the more urgent.
651
00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,920
Back off the coast of Devon,
in 2020,
652
00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:17,720
I was approaching my destination.
653
00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:21,800
So, this is Lundy Island.
654
00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:28,920
It's been a protected marine reserve
for nearly 50 years.
655
00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:32,480
It's also a haven for sea birds.
656
00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:35,480
Now, that's something that's
taken very careful management.
657
00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:39,880
They used to have an enormous
problem with rats on the island,
658
00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:42,720
which would eat the eggs and
the young of sea birds
659
00:40:42,720 --> 00:40:44,280
wanting to nest here.
660
00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:48,280
And, about 15 years ago,
the wardens took a tough decision to
661
00:40:48,280 --> 00:40:51,160
start catching and culling the rats.
662
00:40:51,160 --> 00:40:55,080
The island is now free of rats,
and the sea bird population
663
00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:56,840
has trebled as a result.
664
00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:02,440
Rats are often introduced
to islands from boats and ships.
665
00:41:02,440 --> 00:41:06,720
And they're a classic example of
a so-called invasive species
666
00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:10,360
which enters and then begins
damaging an ecosystem.
667
00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:14,880
All around the world,
668
00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:18,000
invasive species can be
an enormous problem.
669
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:26,760
Invasive species are a particular
issue in Australia.
670
00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:30,000
Dozens of different creatures
have been introduced to the island
671
00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:32,080
continent, mainly by Europeans.
672
00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,080
There's a group just
coming right here.
673
00:41:45,640 --> 00:41:49,920
Camels were originally introduced
to help early settlers move around
674
00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:52,480
the great interior, the Outback,
675
00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:55,520
But, by 2013,
when I visited Australia,
676
00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:59,120
they numbered some three-quarters
of a million, and they'd become
677
00:41:59,120 --> 00:42:02,360
the largest wild herd in the world.
678
00:42:02,360 --> 00:42:06,200
Farmers told me how destructive they
were to fences and watering holes,
679
00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:09,240
but, more importantly,
to the delicate ecosystem.
680
00:42:09,240 --> 00:42:13,040
A million animals in this
environment do a lot of damage
681
00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:15,960
to the environment,
cos they will just take everything
682
00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:17,400
in the landscape.
683
00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,440
And, if they destroy the trees,
if they eat the grasses,
684
00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,280
there's no kangaroos,
there's no emus.
685
00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:27,200
There's no small birds if there's
no trees, there's no reptiles.
686
00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:30,080
Some of the farmers out here
were shooting camels
687
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:31,840
and leaving them to rot.
688
00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:35,480
But I went to see one cattle herder
with a different approach.
689
00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:39,120
Ian Conway had invited me
to join a camel round-up
690
00:42:39,120 --> 00:42:41,960
on his huge Outback cattle ranch.
691
00:42:41,960 --> 00:42:43,800
Get a bit of pressure on it.
692
00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:47,880
Are they likely to rip off?
693
00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:49,880
No, you're going to have
a helicopter blowing over
694
00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:51,320
the top of this. Right.
695
00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:53,840
So, everything has to be
fairly secure.
696
00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:56,880
Ian was throwing everything
he had at the round-up.
697
00:42:56,880 --> 00:43:00,640
Heavily-modified Mad Max
all-terrain vehicles,
698
00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:02,520
and even putting eyes in the sky.
699
00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:08,480
The area they're operating in
is so huge that the chopper
700
00:43:08,480 --> 00:43:12,040
goes up to look for
the mobs of camels...
701
00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:13,880
..as they call them here.
702
00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:16,480
And, then, it's going to call in
the cars, and we're going to go out
703
00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:17,720
and bring the camels in.
704
00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:29,800
Finding a mob of camels
was no mean feat.
705
00:43:31,960 --> 00:43:34,960
They range over a vast
country-sized area,
706
00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:37,200
sometimes covering up to
40 miles a day.
707
00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:43,520
So, Ian, what's some...
708
00:43:43,520 --> 00:43:45,160
What's happening?
709
00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:47,360
We've got the helicopter coming in
here now and he's got
710
00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:48,640
a herd of camels coming in.
711
00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:50,640
Looks to be about 20-to-30 head.
712
00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:52,680
And they'll just keep
moving forwards.
713
00:43:52,680 --> 00:43:54,680
So, the idea is they're going
to come up here,
714
00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:56,920
we're going to stay quiet
while they go past and, then,
715
00:43:56,920 --> 00:43:58,480
we get the cars in behind them...
716
00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:00,760
We'll get in behind and give him
a hand to push 'em along
717
00:44:00,760 --> 00:44:02,600
a little bit quicker
than what they are.
718
00:44:08,320 --> 00:44:10,320
Not a great time for a flat battery.
719
00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:17,560
Jump-start, first trial!
720
00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:22,880
So, now,
we're going after the camels.
721
00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:29,320
What's that dead ahead? Look.
722
00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:36,120
14, 16, 18, 20...maybe 25 there.
723
00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:39,200
Now, that is a sight.
724
00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:40,960
We go round the corner
and, suddenly,
725
00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:42,640
there's a whopping great camel.
726
00:44:48,160 --> 00:44:50,720
Just going to let them go until
they get up close to the guards
727
00:44:50,720 --> 00:44:52,520
before we do any forcing, you know?
728
00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:57,240
Ian had kept the camels
herded together.
729
00:44:57,240 --> 00:44:59,960
Then it was time for the hardest
part of the whole round-up -
730
00:44:59,960 --> 00:45:01,720
getting them into the holding pen.
731
00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:06,360
This is the, sort of,
key moment, isn't it, really?
732
00:45:06,360 --> 00:45:08,680
This is the key moment. Yeah.
733
00:45:08,680 --> 00:45:10,440
You're putting your seat belt on?
734
00:45:10,440 --> 00:45:13,760
Yeah, my daughters insist,
cos I roll over quite often.
735
00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:14,880
Wonderful.
736
00:45:14,880 --> 00:45:16,160
IAN LAUGHS
737
00:45:18,040 --> 00:45:19,560
OK, let's go, fellas.
738
00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:26,800
Where are you, Alan? Where are you?
739
00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:31,360
Ian had been mustering animals
out here for more than 40 years.
740
00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:35,440
His experience showed.
741
00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:39,280
HE WHISTLES
742
00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:50,520
HE SHOUTS
743
00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:17,000
The team had rounded up 15 camels.
744
00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:20,520
Ian's plan was to sell them
to buyers in the Middle East -
745
00:46:20,520 --> 00:46:23,520
something that, to me,
seemed bizarre.
746
00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:27,160
But few people out here doubt that
camel numbers need controlling.
747
00:46:27,160 --> 00:46:30,400
For Ian, the round-up was a more
humane and moral alternative
748
00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:32,040
to just being shot by a marksman.
749
00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:35,800
They just shoot them,
and they lie on the ground.
750
00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:38,000
That's it.
Then nothing's done with them.
751
00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:41,280
We don't know whether there's any
system of where they might go along
752
00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:43,720
and check to see if they're dead
or whatever they are.
753
00:46:43,720 --> 00:46:45,640
So, they might lay there
for a few days.
754
00:46:48,520 --> 00:46:51,400
Since we filmed, the situation
with invading camels in
755
00:46:51,400 --> 00:46:53,240
the Outback has worsened.
756
00:46:53,240 --> 00:46:56,360
Experts say their numbers are
doubling every ten years or so.
757
00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:05,000
A couple of years later,
in Barbados,
758
00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:07,840
I encountered a very different
kind of invasive species.
759
00:47:18,440 --> 00:47:21,080
As well as famous
white sand beaches,
760
00:47:21,080 --> 00:47:24,960
the Caribbean is home to some of the
world's great coral reef systems.
761
00:47:24,960 --> 00:47:27,160
But it's under siege.
762
00:47:27,160 --> 00:47:28,800
Permission to come aboard.
763
00:47:28,800 --> 00:47:30,920
Come aboard. Andre. Simon.
764
00:47:30,920 --> 00:47:33,480
Hello, Simon Reeve. Hello.
Very nice to meet you, brother.
765
00:47:33,480 --> 00:47:36,720
Nice to meet you, too.
Thank you for having us.
766
00:47:36,720 --> 00:47:40,360
Marine biologist Andre Miller
was taking me to see how
767
00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:44,240
the island's beautiful and
vital coast was being threatened.
768
00:47:44,240 --> 00:47:47,880
The danger was from an enemy that,
at first glance, is stunning.
769
00:47:49,720 --> 00:47:51,120
Lionfish.
770
00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:55,760
Its natural home is
the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
771
00:47:55,760 --> 00:47:58,240
Scientists think they first got
to the Caribbean in the
772
00:47:58,240 --> 00:48:00,080
ballast tanks of ships.
773
00:48:00,080 --> 00:48:02,720
In the Caribbean,
they were causing mayhem,
774
00:48:02,720 --> 00:48:06,360
eating other young fish and
decimating life on coral reefs.
775
00:48:06,360 --> 00:48:09,120
An invasive species can be
like a hand grenade lobbed
776
00:48:09,120 --> 00:48:10,840
into a delicate ecosystem.
777
00:48:12,840 --> 00:48:15,720
They have, when grown,
no natural predators.
778
00:48:15,720 --> 00:48:18,760
Every single day, they can eat
half their body weight.
779
00:48:18,760 --> 00:48:21,400
Are you really quite worried, then,
about what they're going to do?
780
00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:22,600
We are extremely worried.
781
00:48:22,600 --> 00:48:25,560
If we don't do something now,
in a few years,
782
00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:27,920
we might just be diving
and looking at lionfish.
783
00:48:29,840 --> 00:48:33,440
Across the Caribbean,
conservationists like Andre had
784
00:48:33,440 --> 00:48:37,040
begun culling the lionfish to
preserve other life on the reef.
785
00:48:55,920 --> 00:48:58,880
Good job, first, I must say.
Well, thank you.
786
00:48:58,880 --> 00:49:01,200
You filled up a container. Good job.
787
00:49:01,200 --> 00:49:05,640
This is about 15 less lionfish
we have to worry about. 15 less?
788
00:49:05,640 --> 00:49:09,240
It's a start. Cos the more people
on shore start eating these,
789
00:49:09,240 --> 00:49:11,760
then 15 becomes 1,500.
790
00:49:11,760 --> 00:49:15,040
Eating them? Yeah, more and more
of our Barbadian people -
791
00:49:15,040 --> 00:49:16,600
more of us are eating these.
792
00:49:18,480 --> 00:49:20,880
Instead of just randomly
killing them,
793
00:49:20,880 --> 00:49:23,480
Andre was hoping he could
persuade locals to develop
794
00:49:23,480 --> 00:49:25,600
a taste for lionfish -
795
00:49:25,600 --> 00:49:28,440
something that would mean fishermen
had an incentive to catch them
796
00:49:28,440 --> 00:49:31,320
in large enough numbers
to control them.
797
00:49:31,320 --> 00:49:34,720
We are going to, first of all,
cut those spines off.
798
00:49:34,720 --> 00:49:37,360
Lionfish have long, venomous spines.
799
00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:38,920
Not the most appetising.
800
00:49:38,920 --> 00:49:40,840
That's the business side
right there.
801
00:49:40,840 --> 00:49:44,880
And it is, of course, the venom,
which I think really puts people
802
00:49:44,880 --> 00:49:46,800
off the idea of eating them.
803
00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:50,000
You don't actually sell
lionfish here? No.
804
00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:52,320
You give it up for free. Yeah.
805
00:49:52,320 --> 00:49:54,520
You give it away for free? Yeah.
806
00:49:54,520 --> 00:49:56,680
Why?
807
00:49:56,680 --> 00:49:59,120
Cos people are scared of it.
People are scared of it.
808
00:49:59,120 --> 00:50:01,720
Once you cut these off,
it's a normal fish.
809
00:50:01,720 --> 00:50:05,000
If we take these to cook them,
will you stay and try it?
810
00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:07,200
Will you try the meat? No, no!
THEY LAUGH
811
00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:08,640
Oh, go on! No!
812
00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:11,720
You don't like the idea of it,
813
00:50:11,720 --> 00:50:13,520
or you've got something
better to do?
814
00:50:18,480 --> 00:50:22,320
With a bit of careful cutting,
the fish was ready for cooking.
815
00:50:22,320 --> 00:50:25,680
So, we headed over to Oistins,
a popular local food market.
816
00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:33,920
What happens if you can't get
people here eating lionfish,
817
00:50:33,920 --> 00:50:36,320
and control their numbers
in some sort of way?
818
00:50:36,320 --> 00:50:37,800
What will the consequences be?
819
00:50:37,800 --> 00:50:41,560
The word I would use is "critical".
820
00:50:41,560 --> 00:50:44,320
We need to do something now.
We need to be proactive.
821
00:50:44,320 --> 00:50:46,040
We need to act.
822
00:50:46,040 --> 00:50:49,600
Lionfish has only been in Barbados
for two years and, already,
823
00:50:49,600 --> 00:50:52,880
it's on every single reef
that I have ever dived on.
824
00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:54,720
We're seeing them everywhere we go.
825
00:50:57,280 --> 00:51:01,720
Thanks a lot. That's lovely of you,
thank you very much. OK!
826
00:51:01,720 --> 00:51:03,840
Lionfish. Lionfish.
827
00:51:07,960 --> 00:51:09,720
That's really good.
828
00:51:09,720 --> 00:51:13,040
It's delicious, actually,
it's sort of...buttery.
829
00:51:14,680 --> 00:51:17,320
Oh, come on, you've got to get
more people trying this.
830
00:51:17,320 --> 00:51:19,320
All the ladies said
they're going to try.
831
00:51:19,320 --> 00:51:22,360
Try some! Who's going to try?
Come on!
832
00:51:22,360 --> 00:51:24,840
Tell me what it tastes like.
833
00:51:24,840 --> 00:51:26,440
Yes, baby!
834
00:51:28,480 --> 00:51:30,280
Ah? Tastes just like snapper.
835
00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:31,920
Tastes just like snapper.
836
00:51:31,920 --> 00:51:33,600
Just like snapper!
837
00:51:33,600 --> 00:51:37,200
I think that's the best thing
you could possibly hear.
838
00:51:37,200 --> 00:51:38,560
SIMON LAUGHS
839
00:51:38,560 --> 00:51:41,040
And you've got to recommend it
to people, as well. I will.
840
00:51:41,040 --> 00:51:42,640
Promise? I will.
841
00:51:42,640 --> 00:51:45,200
I'm coming back next week...
I'll try to get it on George's menu.
842
00:51:45,200 --> 00:51:47,360
You'll try and get this on
Georgie's menu? I will try.
843
00:51:47,360 --> 00:51:49,160
That's what we're talking about.
844
00:51:49,160 --> 00:51:50,800
Excellent! That's it. That's it.
845
00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:54,440
Congratulations, mate,
that's brilliant.
846
00:51:54,440 --> 00:51:56,280
Well done, well done.
847
00:51:56,280 --> 00:51:58,000
You worked hard there. Mm-hm!
848
00:51:59,560 --> 00:52:02,080
Lionfish is now very much
on the menu,
849
00:52:02,080 --> 00:52:05,720
and that's helping
to control lionfish numbers.
850
00:52:05,720 --> 00:52:08,960
So, if you're ever lucky enough
to visit the Caribbean,
851
00:52:08,960 --> 00:52:10,120
you know what to order.
852
00:52:18,520 --> 00:52:22,120
Who knows when we'll be able
to start travelling widely again?
853
00:52:22,120 --> 00:52:26,040
Many think we should be staying
at home for environmental reasons.
854
00:52:26,040 --> 00:52:30,040
But I believe responsible travel
can be a powerful force for good.
855
00:52:33,880 --> 00:52:37,320
I used to think that travel
and tourism was just a disaster
856
00:52:37,320 --> 00:52:38,720
for the planet.
857
00:52:38,720 --> 00:52:43,480
And I am definitely not ignoring
or blind to the environmental
858
00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:46,520
consequences of our journeys
and our holidays.
859
00:52:46,520 --> 00:52:48,040
Absolutely not.
860
00:52:48,040 --> 00:52:53,200
But I also know that we are losing
iconic wildlife on this planet.
861
00:52:53,200 --> 00:52:56,240
And one of the best chances
of protecting what's left
862
00:52:56,240 --> 00:52:58,040
is in places like Lundy.
863
00:53:04,120 --> 00:53:10,640
National parks and marine-protected
areas around the planet are partly,
864
00:53:10,640 --> 00:53:15,520
or sometimes entirely dependent
on tourism money to survive.
865
00:53:15,520 --> 00:53:17,360
So, when we go on our holidays
866
00:53:17,360 --> 00:53:20,640
or adventures and we visit these
places, we pay an entrance fee.
867
00:53:20,640 --> 00:53:23,320
Even if we don't know it,
it's bundled up in the price.
868
00:53:23,320 --> 00:53:27,040
If we don't visit these places,
we will lose some of them.
869
00:53:27,040 --> 00:53:28,920
When it's run right,
870
00:53:28,920 --> 00:53:33,440
tourism can help
to protect and preserve.
871
00:53:38,360 --> 00:53:42,320
In Mozambique, the conservationist
Carlos Macuacua was brilliant
872
00:53:42,320 --> 00:53:46,400
at persuading villagers to
stop killing sharks.
873
00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:49,080
You get some music playing
to draw in a crowd,
874
00:53:49,080 --> 00:53:52,360
then start a football match
to get kids involved.
875
00:53:52,360 --> 00:53:56,080
And, then, he spread the message
that the ocean is more valuable
876
00:53:56,080 --> 00:53:57,760
when it's full of life,
877
00:53:57,760 --> 00:53:59,600
more valuable as
a draw for tourists.
878
00:54:10,440 --> 00:54:11,520
Huh?
879
00:54:24,480 --> 00:54:28,640
Poorer countries like Mozambique
can earn crucial foreign currency
880
00:54:28,640 --> 00:54:32,520
from tourism, which employs
millions globally.
881
00:54:32,520 --> 00:54:36,160
Responsible travel can really
help with conservation,
882
00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:40,040
because visitors can provide
a huge economic incentive for locals
883
00:54:40,040 --> 00:54:42,880
to protect and preserve
the natural world.
884
00:54:42,880 --> 00:54:46,440
It's a philosophy Costa Rica in
Central America has made its own.
885
00:54:51,600 --> 00:54:53,040
This is very nice.
886
00:54:55,880 --> 00:54:58,760
A bit of rest for a weary traveller.
887
00:55:00,080 --> 00:55:04,000
Look...at that view!
888
00:55:04,000 --> 00:55:05,800
HE GASPS
889
00:55:05,800 --> 00:55:07,280
The Pacific Ocean.
890
00:55:09,600 --> 00:55:11,520
No, it's not...
is that a toucan? Look.
891
00:55:13,320 --> 00:55:16,200
Well, this is all very eco-touristy.
892
00:55:16,200 --> 00:55:19,240
And that's very much the image
of Costa Rica that
893
00:55:19,240 --> 00:55:21,240
many foreign visitors have.
894
00:55:22,280 --> 00:55:23,480
It's not bad, is it?
895
00:55:24,720 --> 00:55:27,440
Costa Rica has put sustainable
tourism at the heart
896
00:55:27,440 --> 00:55:29,400
of its green plan.
897
00:55:29,400 --> 00:55:31,760
Of course, that has contradictions.
898
00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:34,760
Many of the two million travellers
who usually visit each year,
899
00:55:34,760 --> 00:55:38,320
like me, fly in on polluting planes.
900
00:55:38,320 --> 00:55:41,400
But at least in Costa Rica,
they're trying to keep a balance
901
00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:44,520
with nature by countering
and offsetting pollution.
902
00:55:50,920 --> 00:55:53,080
Look, an iguana.
903
00:55:53,080 --> 00:55:56,440
You see it? And there's an iguana,
just by the side of the road.
904
00:55:56,440 --> 00:55:59,040
Adventure guide Mari Jimenez
showed me around.
905
00:56:02,880 --> 00:56:05,880
How beautiful! A lot of butterflies.
906
00:56:07,760 --> 00:56:09,960
Oh, look, this one.
907
00:56:09,960 --> 00:56:16,520
It's so cool how just one tree
can attract so many insects.
908
00:56:16,520 --> 00:56:20,160
Wow. And this is just, like,
a tiny sample of what we have
909
00:56:20,160 --> 00:56:21,480
here in Costa Rica.
910
00:56:23,200 --> 00:56:26,880
For its size, Costa Rica is one
of the most biodiverse countries
911
00:56:26,880 --> 00:56:28,520
in the world.
912
00:56:28,520 --> 00:56:31,720
There are more than half a million
different species of animals
913
00:56:31,720 --> 00:56:37,040
and plants, more than 800 different
birds and unique types of frogs,
914
00:56:37,040 --> 00:56:40,040
lizards, snakes, spiders,
monkeys, crocodiles.
915
00:56:40,040 --> 00:56:41,880
The whole place is just alive.
916
00:56:44,520 --> 00:56:46,080
Look at...
917
00:56:46,080 --> 00:56:48,800
I mean, this is...
918
00:56:48,800 --> 00:56:50,160
..right here.
919
00:56:51,640 --> 00:56:54,640
This tree attracts scarlet macaws.
920
00:56:54,640 --> 00:56:57,960
They usually travel in pairs.
921
00:56:57,960 --> 00:57:01,200
And one... They mate for life,
don't they? Exactly.
922
00:57:01,200 --> 00:57:05,280
They are so endangered across
the rest of Central America.
923
00:57:05,280 --> 00:57:08,120
It's... We are very, very lucky.
Here, as well? Yeah.
924
00:57:08,120 --> 00:57:09,360
Here, as well.
925
00:57:10,960 --> 00:57:14,800
Costa Ricans have worked hard
to preserve this paradise.
926
00:57:14,800 --> 00:57:18,480
Since the 1980s,
forests have doubled in size.
927
00:57:18,480 --> 00:57:21,720
Half the country's forests
are now protected parks,
928
00:57:21,720 --> 00:57:24,760
and much of the conservation
is thanks to money from tourism.
929
00:57:26,160 --> 00:57:28,560
Bloody hell!
930
00:57:28,560 --> 00:57:31,240
That looks amazing!
Welcome to Costa Rica, Simon.
931
00:57:31,240 --> 00:57:32,280
THEY LAUGH
932
00:57:41,680 --> 00:57:43,440
Wo-o-ow!
933
00:57:47,920 --> 00:57:51,360
That is overwhelming!
934
00:57:51,360 --> 00:57:54,240
Did you expect something like that?
No! No, I didn't!
935
00:57:54,240 --> 00:57:58,880
When you said "waterfall", I thought
it would be significantly smaller!
936
00:57:58,880 --> 00:58:01,200
That is totally breathtaking!
937
00:58:05,600 --> 00:58:08,360
Costa Ricans have put
conservation at the centre of
938
00:58:08,360 --> 00:58:10,240
their plans for the future.
939
00:58:10,240 --> 00:58:12,600
Perhaps other countries
could learn from them.
940
00:58:12,600 --> 00:58:16,000
There can't be much doubt that
national parks and the natural world
941
00:58:16,000 --> 00:58:18,280
are under threat like never before,
942
00:58:18,280 --> 00:58:21,040
and wildlife urgently needs
better protection.
943
00:58:25,880 --> 00:58:28,960
Next time, I'll be looking back
on my travels in some of the
944
00:58:28,960 --> 00:58:30,760
Earth's great wilderness areas...
945
00:58:30,760 --> 00:58:33,000
What a place.
946
00:58:33,000 --> 00:58:34,960
..and the people who live in them.
947
00:58:34,960 --> 00:58:36,440
Alexei.
76435
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