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[ Birds calling ]
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Narrator: In the tropical waters
of the Indian Ocean
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lies the oldest island
on earth...
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♪♪
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...Madagascar.
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It's home to a staggering array
of ancient habitats.
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♪♪
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From the inhospitable deserts
of the West...
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to the lush rainforests
of the East...
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people and wildlife here
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have risen to the challenges
of this unique place.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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Isolated for longer
than any other island...
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life has had time to evolve
in the most remarkable ways...
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♪♪
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♪♪
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...creating a world of wildlife
unlike anywhere else
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on our planet.
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♪♪
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[ Calling ]
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♪♪
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Across the globe, islands lie
isolated in vast seas...
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...home to remarkable
animal castaways...
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...and extraordinary human
cultures.
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These islands of wonder
cradle precious life
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found nowhere else
on planet Earth.
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[ Cracking ]
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Nearly 90 million years ago,
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Madagascar was born
when one giant landmass,
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known as Gondwana,
broke apart.
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♪♪
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As Asia split from Africa,
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Madagascar was cast adrift.
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♪♪
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At over 200,000 square miles,
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it's a vast island,
almost the size of Texas.
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♪♪
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At its heart
lie the Highlands...
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...an immense mountainous spine
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that defines the island's
climate.
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♪♪
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Warm, wet air is blown in off
the Indian Ocean,
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drenching the East side
of Madagascar with rain.
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But the mountains block this
rain from reaching the West,
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creating
a great expanse of desert.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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This arid landscape stretches
halfway up the West Coast.
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And it was here,
around 55 million years ago,
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that a few animal castaways
arrived.
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It's thought that they survived
on rafts of vegetation
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washed 300 miles across the sea
from Africa.
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♪♪
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And one of the very first
mammals to arrive here.
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was an ancient species
of primate.
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Their direct descendants
still live in the desert today.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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Ring-tailed lemurs.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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In the cool dawn
of the desert...
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they soak up the warmth
of the early morning sun...
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saving vital energy.
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[ Birds chirping ]
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♪♪
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But this young lemur's survival
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depends on the troop
finding enough food...
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...not easy when their home
is in the harshest corner
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of this arid world.
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♪♪
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Known as the Spiny Forest,
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it's entirely unique
to Madagascar...
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[ Creature squawks ]
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♪♪
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Miniscule leaves
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have little to offer
a growing lemur.
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So the troop must devote up
to 8 hours a day
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scouring
this parched desert for food...
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...driven to even
the most hostile vegetation.
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The sticky sap that oozes
out of euphorbia plants
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can be caustic
and burn human skin.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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Yet ringtails are resistant
to their corrosive powers.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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Euphorbia sap is
also rich in fats...
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♪♪
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...precious fuel for their
growing youngster...
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♪♪
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...a unique adaptation
that may just allow
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this young lemur to survive
the harsh conditions
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of this hostile desert.
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♪♪
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Ringtails are just one
of the island's many lemurs.
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A family of primates
found only on Madagascar.
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Over millions of years,
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00:07:50,633 --> 00:07:52,300
their ancient ancestors
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gradually spread out from
the arid Western deserts...
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♪♪
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...crossing the highlands...
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♪♪
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...and eventually arriving
in the rainforests of the East.
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♪♪
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Slowly adapting
to the challenges
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of these remarkable landscapes,
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they've evolved into over
100 species of lemur.
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♪♪
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Their story echoes
all across Madagascar.
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♪♪
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Isolated for longer
than any other island,
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those that arrived here have had
to become as unique
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as the island itself.
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♪♪
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[ Creature whoops ]
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Just a few thousand years ago,
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people were the last to arrive
on this ancient island.
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They, too, had to adapt
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00:09:19,233 --> 00:09:23,066
to Madagascar's vast array
of extreme landscapes.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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On the arid West Coast...
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the Vezo people rely entirely
on the ocean for food.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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The skills needed to survive
are learned at an early age.
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And families will spend weeks
out at sea,
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fishing its waters.
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♪♪
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00:10:18,366 --> 00:10:21,900
But not all human colonizers
stayed on the coast.
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Over time,
people pushed further inland...
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00:10:29,533 --> 00:10:33,300
finding ingenious ways
to survive the desert.
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♪♪
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[ Goats bleating ]
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Just 20 miles from the coast
lies the village of Ampotaka.
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♪♪
139
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It's October and temperatures
reach over 100 degrees.
140
00:11:02,266 --> 00:11:05,533
The dry season here
can be long.
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not a drop of rain
has fallen for 10 months.
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With the nearest supply
over 40 miles away,
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life is a daily struggle.
144
00:11:20,166 --> 00:11:22,766
The remains of this year's
melon harvest
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provide just enough water to
cook with.
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00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:38,600
At 62, Adolphe has lived through
the driest of years.
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[ Adolphe speaking native
language ]
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Narrator: Today, Adolphe is
joined by his son Leris
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to visit an iconic giant...
150
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one that holds the key
to surviving
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in this waterless part
of the island.
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♪♪
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The baobab,
known as the tree of life.
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00:12:12,233 --> 00:12:17,800
♪♪
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Its thick, gnarled trunk
hides an ancient secret.
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Naturally holding overtwenty thousand gallons of water
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00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,800
within its structure,
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a baobab tree can grow up
to 100 feet...
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00:12:36,733 --> 00:12:38,700
...and survive for three years
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without a single drop of rain.
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These giants have been
a lifeline for Adolphe's family
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00:12:50,133 --> 00:12:51,866
for generations.
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[ Adolphe speaking
native language ]
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Narrator: By hollowing out
the broad trunk,
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they created a tank in which
they could store water
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through the long dry season.
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[ Speaking native language ]
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Narrator:
Each baobab tank can hold
hundreds of gallons of water,
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00:13:46,033 --> 00:13:49,000
but this dry season
has been long,
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00:13:49,033 --> 00:13:51,033
and their tree is already empty.
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00:13:59,933 --> 00:14:04,000
It's an important opportunityto trim back the growing bark...
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00:14:04,033 --> 00:14:06,366
maintaining the tank's size.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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00:14:18,666 --> 00:14:22,400
Everything must be prepared
for the brief rains ahead.
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♪♪
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00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:32,033
By digging big trenches
near the tree...
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00:14:32,066 --> 00:14:35,566
Adolphe and Leris will be able
to collect the rainwater
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00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,466
and refill their baobab.
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♪♪
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00:14:44,466 --> 00:14:48,166
Adolphe inherited 7 tanks
from his father...
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♪♪
183
00:14:52,900 --> 00:14:57,566
♪♪
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...but just one of them
still has water inside.
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00:15:01,033 --> 00:15:06,700
♪♪
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00:15:06,733 --> 00:15:08,933
[ Adolphe speaking
native language ]
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00:15:13,966 --> 00:15:18,800
♪♪
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00:15:18,833 --> 00:15:21,833
Narrator: With enough water
for just a few weeks,
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Adolphe can only hope that
things will soon change.
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Survival in this desert depends
on the arrival of the rains.
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♪♪
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00:15:37,033 --> 00:15:41,033
♪♪
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00:15:41,066 --> 00:15:43,566
On the forest floor,
there are signs
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00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,933
that the weather is changing.
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Tiny Labord's chameleons,
just over an long,
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begin to hatch.
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♪♪
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00:16:05,933 --> 00:16:08,166
Unique to Madagascar,
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00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,133
they live for only
four months...
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00:16:11,166 --> 00:16:14,300
the shortest lifespan
of any land vertebrate.
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♪♪
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00:16:21,366 --> 00:16:25,833
♪♪
203
00:16:25,866 --> 00:16:29,366
For this young male,
it's a race against time.
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00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:35,433
♪♪
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00:16:40,933 --> 00:16:44,700
♪♪
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00:16:44,733 --> 00:16:49,700
In the dry season
there is little food...
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00:16:49,733 --> 00:16:52,500
but his hatching
is perfectly timed.
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00:16:52,533 --> 00:16:56,533
♪♪
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00:16:56,566 --> 00:16:59,966
[ Wind blowing ]
210
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,733
[ Thunder rumbling ]
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00:17:08,733 --> 00:17:11,900
It's December and the start
of the rainy season.
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00:17:11,933 --> 00:17:17,066
♪♪
213
00:17:17,100 --> 00:17:22,233
♪♪
214
00:17:22,266 --> 00:17:27,400
♪♪
215
00:17:27,433 --> 00:17:30,133
The parched landscape
is transformed
216
00:17:30,166 --> 00:17:32,666
into a flush of green.
217
00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:36,333
♪♪
218
00:17:36,366 --> 00:17:38,800
Just what a growing
chameleon needs.
219
00:17:38,833 --> 00:17:41,033
[ Insect buzzing ]
220
00:17:41,066 --> 00:17:47,866
♪♪
221
00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:52,300
With unique eyes that can move
independently of each other,
222
00:17:52,333 --> 00:17:57,300
he can spot a meal
from any direction.
223
00:17:57,333 --> 00:18:01,166
Then, by locking both eyes
onto his target,
224
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,933
he can judge distance...
225
00:18:07,366 --> 00:18:09,500
...with deadly accuracy.
226
00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,800
♪♪
227
00:18:16,833 --> 00:18:21,066
♪♪
228
00:18:21,100 --> 00:18:25,333
♪♪
229
00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,766
[ Birds calling ]
230
00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:33,933
With an abundance of food,
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00:18:33,966 --> 00:18:37,033
he can grow to five times
his size.
232
00:18:41,333 --> 00:18:45,966
By February, he's transformed
into an adult male,
233
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,333
with a striking horn he hopes
will catch the eye
234
00:18:49,366 --> 00:18:51,200
of a potential mate.
235
00:19:00,933 --> 00:19:03,133
A female approaches.
236
00:19:03,166 --> 00:19:08,300
♪♪
237
00:19:08,333 --> 00:19:11,333
But he's not the only one
in pursuit.
238
00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,100
With such short lives,
there is fierce competition
239
00:19:18,133 --> 00:19:19,800
for a chance to mate.
240
00:19:22,633 --> 00:19:24,500
[ Hissing ]
241
00:19:24,533 --> 00:19:29,500
♪♪
242
00:19:29,533 --> 00:19:31,266
[ Hissing ]
243
00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:37,833
♪♪
244
00:19:37,866 --> 00:19:39,500
[ Hissing ]
245
00:19:39,533 --> 00:19:44,533
♪♪
246
00:19:44,566 --> 00:19:46,966
[ Splat ]
247
00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,666
[ Hissing ]
With his rival out of the way,
248
00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:52,633
he hasn't got long
to take this opportunity
249
00:19:52,666 --> 00:19:55,166
before his short life
will be over.
250
00:20:13,233 --> 00:20:18,466
♪♪
251
00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:23,733
♪♪
252
00:20:23,766 --> 00:20:26,733
After just four months,
this male and female
253
00:20:26,766 --> 00:20:30,666
have succeededin securing the next generation.
254
00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:34,600
♪♪
255
00:20:34,633 --> 00:20:36,933
As the dry season returns...
256
00:20:36,966 --> 00:20:41,233
not a single adult Labord's
chameleon will be left alive.
257
00:20:46,333 --> 00:20:49,633
[ Wind blowing ]
258
00:20:49,666 --> 00:20:52,633
The entire population existing
259
00:20:52,666 --> 00:20:54,600
just as eggs,
260
00:20:54,633 --> 00:20:56,666
buried underground,
261
00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:59,200
waiting for
the next rains to come.
262
00:20:59,233 --> 00:21:04,066
♪♪
263
00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:08,866
♪♪
264
00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:13,066
Arid regions cover more than
half of Western Madagascar...
265
00:21:15,166 --> 00:21:18,800
...including one of its most
extreme habitats...
266
00:21:18,833 --> 00:21:24,100
♪♪
267
00:21:24,133 --> 00:21:27,133
...the Grand Tsingy.
268
00:21:27,166 --> 00:21:34,000
♪♪
269
00:21:34,033 --> 00:21:39,266
More than 500 square miles
of sharp limestone pinnacles...
270
00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:44,933
...towering over 400 feet.
271
00:21:44,966 --> 00:21:50,566
They've been slowly eroded
by rain over millions of years.
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00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:56,766
♪♪
273
00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:01,633
The deep ravines
hold moisture...
274
00:22:01,666 --> 00:22:05,100
allowing tiny pockets of forest
to grow.
275
00:22:05,133 --> 00:22:08,600
♪♪
276
00:22:08,633 --> 00:22:12,900
They provide an oasis
for an extraordinary lemur...
277
00:22:12,933 --> 00:22:19,600
♪♪
278
00:22:19,633 --> 00:22:25,433
...found only in this corner
of Madagascar...
279
00:22:25,466 --> 00:22:27,633
Decken's sifaka.
280
00:22:27,666 --> 00:22:32,800
♪♪
281
00:22:41,066 --> 00:22:46,233
This youngster was born
just three months ago...
282
00:22:46,266 --> 00:22:50,033
but he's already mastering
the vital skill of leaping.
283
00:22:59,133 --> 00:23:06,200
No cluster of trees has enough
leaves to sustain a troop of 8.
284
00:23:06,233 --> 00:23:08,933
To provide enough food
for her son,
285
00:23:08,966 --> 00:23:11,966
this female must seek out
fresh vegetation...
286
00:23:16,633 --> 00:23:18,833
...and run a deadly gauntlet...
287
00:23:18,866 --> 00:23:22,133
♪♪
288
00:23:22,166 --> 00:23:24,600
...crossing the exposed rocks
289
00:23:24,633 --> 00:23:27,666
to reach the next pocket
of food.
290
00:23:27,700 --> 00:23:31,533
♪♪
291
00:23:31,566 --> 00:23:35,400
♪♪
292
00:23:35,433 --> 00:23:39,900
The limestone shards are sharp
enough to shred human skin.
293
00:23:39,933 --> 00:23:44,700
♪♪
294
00:23:44,733 --> 00:23:49,466
♪♪
295
00:23:49,500 --> 00:23:54,233
♪♪
296
00:23:54,266 --> 00:23:59,033
♪♪
297
00:23:59,066 --> 00:24:03,533
But protected by thick,
rubbery soles...
298
00:24:03,566 --> 00:24:08,300
and with springy long legs
that can leap up to 30 feet...
299
00:24:09,633 --> 00:24:13,166
...these lemurs have evolved
into blade runners.
300
00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:18,766
♪♪
301
00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:24,400
♪♪
302
00:24:24,433 --> 00:24:30,000
♪♪
303
00:24:30,033 --> 00:24:35,633
♪♪
304
00:24:35,666 --> 00:24:41,233
♪♪
305
00:24:41,266 --> 00:24:46,900
♪♪
306
00:24:54,866 --> 00:24:59,800
Safely across,
they claim their reward...
307
00:25:03,733 --> 00:25:07,800
...fresh leaves, essential
for both mother and son...
308
00:25:21,733 --> 00:25:26,100
Over millions of years,
the Decken's sifaka evolved
309
00:25:26,133 --> 00:25:29,800
to overcome the extreme
conditions of the Grand Tsingy.
310
00:25:33,966 --> 00:25:35,800
But as Madagascar's lemurs
311
00:25:35,833 --> 00:25:39,866
continued to spread east
across the island...
312
00:25:39,900 --> 00:25:45,100
they encountered its most
formidable barrier.
313
00:25:45,133 --> 00:25:49,266
over 100 miles east
of the Grand Tsingy...
314
00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:50,866
the Highlands.
315
00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:57,400
♪♪
316
00:25:57,433 --> 00:26:04,033
♪♪
317
00:26:04,066 --> 00:26:06,066
It's these towering peaks
318
00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:10,400
that create Madagascar's
uniquely divided climate.
319
00:26:10,433 --> 00:26:12,566
♪♪
320
00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,666
Rising over 6,000 feet...
321
00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:18,466
they capture the full force
of seasonal rain
322
00:26:18,500 --> 00:26:21,100
blowing in from the East.
323
00:26:21,133 --> 00:26:28,000
♪♪
324
00:26:28,033 --> 00:26:34,466
Millions of years of rainfall
have carved fertile valleys...
325
00:26:34,500 --> 00:26:37,300
prime rice-growing land,
326
00:26:37,333 --> 00:26:40,833
the staple food of the people
of Madagascar.
327
00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:45,700
Just a few thousand years ago,
328
00:26:45,733 --> 00:26:47,900
settlers from Asia
brought the skills
329
00:26:47,933 --> 00:26:51,300
to turn even
the steepest mountains
330
00:26:51,333 --> 00:26:53,666
into terraced rice paddies.
331
00:26:58,166 --> 00:27:02,066
Over 1,000,000 tons
are produced here every year,
332
00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:04,700
all by subsistence farmers.
333
00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:10,500
[ Conversing
in native language ]
334
00:27:15,266 --> 00:27:18,266
Marivelo
owns 4 paddy fields,
335
00:27:18,300 --> 00:27:22,300
providing just enough rice
for her family of 10.
336
00:27:25,066 --> 00:27:27,066
[ Marivelo speaking native
language ]
337
00:27:41,433 --> 00:27:45,466
♪♪
338
00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:46,833
Narrator: It's January,
339
00:27:46,866 --> 00:27:49,400
the height of
the rainy season,
340
00:27:49,433 --> 00:27:53,233
and the most important time
for any rice farmer.
341
00:27:53,266 --> 00:27:57,266
♪♪
342
00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:02,066
Each pound of rice needs over
300 gallons of water to grow.
343
00:28:02,100 --> 00:28:04,933
♪♪
344
00:28:04,966 --> 00:28:08,033
With rainwater flooding
the rice paddies,
345
00:28:08,066 --> 00:28:10,800
Marivelo must now get ready
for planting.
346
00:28:10,833 --> 00:28:15,466
♪♪
347
00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:17,866
Instead of plowing the soil,
348
00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:20,866
she uses her most
prized possession.
349
00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:27,800
♪♪
350
00:28:27,833 --> 00:28:31,966
Originally from Asia,
these are zebu cattle.
351
00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,266
♪♪
352
00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:38,633
[ Marivelo speaking native
language ]
353
00:28:38,666 --> 00:28:42,600
♪♪
354
00:28:42,633 --> 00:28:46,566
♪♪
355
00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:50,933
Narrator:
All the stampeding hooves
perfectly churn up the ground.
356
00:28:54,966 --> 00:28:58,633
[ Marivelo speaking native
language ]
357
00:28:58,666 --> 00:29:04,766
♪♪
358
00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:08,933
Narrator: An ancient practice,
unique to Madagascar,
359
00:29:08,966 --> 00:29:11,600
it brings the whole
community together.
360
00:29:11,633 --> 00:29:17,833
♪♪
361
00:29:17,866 --> 00:29:24,066
♪♪
362
00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:30,333
♪♪
363
00:29:30,366 --> 00:29:36,566
♪♪
364
00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:38,900
[ Marivelo speaking native
language ]
365
00:29:46,433 --> 00:29:50,000
[ Cattle lowing ]
366
00:29:50,033 --> 00:29:53,333
♪♪
367
00:29:53,366 --> 00:29:55,500
Narrator:
With the soil prepared,
368
00:29:55,533 --> 00:29:57,533
it's time to get planting.
369
00:29:57,566 --> 00:30:02,166
♪♪
370
00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,733
To make the most
of the peak rains,
371
00:30:04,766 --> 00:30:09,466
Marivelo and her daughters
have to work fast.
372
00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:13,000
All: Whoooo!
373
00:30:14,933 --> 00:30:17,033
[ Marivelo speaking native
language ]
374
00:30:21,966 --> 00:30:24,966
Narrator:
It's a highly skilled task...
375
00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,433
perfected over generations.
376
00:30:27,466 --> 00:30:30,133
All: Whooo!
377
00:30:30,166 --> 00:30:32,433
They're precision planters.
378
00:30:32,466 --> 00:30:37,033
Despite their speed,
every blade is 8 inches apart,
379
00:30:37,066 --> 00:30:39,400
ensuring maximum yield.
380
00:30:39,433 --> 00:30:44,633
♪♪
381
00:30:44,666 --> 00:30:49,900
♪♪
382
00:30:49,933 --> 00:30:55,133
♪♪
383
00:30:55,166 --> 00:30:57,633
[ Marivelo speaking native
language ]
384
00:31:05,966 --> 00:31:07,466
Narrator:
In three months time,
385
00:31:07,500 --> 00:31:10,400
the rice crop should be ready
for harvest,
386
00:31:10,433 --> 00:31:12,800
providing
Marivelo and her family
387
00:31:12,833 --> 00:31:15,100
with enough food
for the year ahead...
388
00:31:17,533 --> 00:31:19,933
...unless the crop is struck
389
00:31:19,966 --> 00:31:23,833
by one of the most destructive
creatures on the planet.
390
00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:32,800
Locusts.
391
00:31:36,100 --> 00:31:39,333
♪♪
392
00:31:39,366 --> 00:31:43,133
They're normally
solitary insects.
393
00:31:43,166 --> 00:31:45,866
But when there's an abundance
of crops...
394
00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:49,266
their numbers can reach
plague proportions.
395
00:31:49,300 --> 00:31:54,433
♪♪
396
00:31:54,466 --> 00:31:59,600
♪♪
397
00:31:59,633 --> 00:32:02,133
These flightless
marching hoppers
398
00:32:02,166 --> 00:32:04,466
devour everything in their path.
399
00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:10,966
♪♪
400
00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:15,533
But their devastation
is about to reach a new level.
401
00:32:15,566 --> 00:32:19,800
♪♪
402
00:32:19,833 --> 00:32:24,066
♪♪
403
00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:28,400
Morphing into fully
fledged adults...
404
00:32:28,433 --> 00:32:30,933
now they can take to the air
405
00:32:30,966 --> 00:32:32,866
in their billions.
406
00:32:32,900 --> 00:32:38,500
♪♪
407
00:32:38,533 --> 00:32:44,100
♪♪
408
00:32:44,133 --> 00:32:49,733
♪♪
409
00:32:49,766 --> 00:32:52,933
A swarm this size
may only appear
410
00:32:52,966 --> 00:32:55,500
once in a decade in Madagascar.
411
00:32:55,533 --> 00:33:00,400
♪♪
412
00:33:00,433 --> 00:33:05,233
♪♪
413
00:33:05,266 --> 00:33:10,066
♪♪
414
00:33:10,100 --> 00:33:13,500
Traveling over
50 miles a day...
415
00:33:13,533 --> 00:33:17,466
they can consume
over 40,000 tons of food...
416
00:33:20,266 --> 00:33:23,700
...including the farmers'
precious rice crops.
417
00:33:23,733 --> 00:33:28,733
♪♪
418
00:33:28,766 --> 00:33:33,766
♪♪
419
00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:36,266
But upon reaching
the Highlands...
420
00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:41,733
the plague is finally halted
by heavy mountain rains.
421
00:33:41,766 --> 00:33:45,500
[ Rain falling ]
422
00:33:45,533 --> 00:33:48,800
Wet wings prevent the locusts
from flying,
423
00:33:48,833 --> 00:33:53,633
until eventually, the swarm
runs out of food and dies.
424
00:34:06,133 --> 00:34:10,500
Beyond the Highlands,
the land to the east is bathed
425
00:34:10,533 --> 00:34:12,433
in warm, wet air,
426
00:34:12,466 --> 00:34:15,133
blown in off
the Indian Ocean.
427
00:34:22,666 --> 00:34:28,066
Receiving 10 times more rainfall
than the West...
428
00:34:28,100 --> 00:34:32,000
this side of the island
is home to lush rainforests.
429
00:34:32,033 --> 00:34:36,900
♪♪
430
00:34:36,933 --> 00:34:41,766
♪♪
431
00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:46,666
♪♪
432
00:34:46,700 --> 00:34:50,200
When Madagascar's
ancient castaways
433
00:34:50,233 --> 00:34:52,866
eventually made it here,
434
00:34:52,900 --> 00:34:54,733
they flourished.
435
00:34:54,766 --> 00:35:01,300
♪♪
436
00:35:01,333 --> 00:35:07,800
♪♪
437
00:35:07,833 --> 00:35:14,333
♪♪
438
00:35:14,366 --> 00:35:20,833
♪♪
439
00:35:20,866 --> 00:35:27,333
♪♪
440
00:35:27,366 --> 00:35:32,100
Over time, creatures evolved
in extraordinary ways
441
00:35:32,133 --> 00:35:35,000
colonizing every leaf
and vine.
442
00:35:35,033 --> 00:35:37,866
♪♪
443
00:35:37,900 --> 00:35:40,700
Today, two-thirds
of the island's
444
00:35:40,733 --> 00:35:42,700
unique plants and animals
445
00:35:42,733 --> 00:35:46,333
are found here
in the Eastern rainforests.
446
00:35:46,366 --> 00:35:50,400
♪♪
447
00:35:50,433 --> 00:35:54,466
♪♪
448
00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:56,233
[ Insects, birds chirping ]
449
00:35:56,266 --> 00:35:58,400
The forest floor provides
a haven
450
00:35:58,433 --> 00:36:01,266
for another ancient
African immigrant.
451
00:36:10,166 --> 00:36:12,066
It may look like a hedgehog,
452
00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:15,066
but this is a tenrec,
453
00:36:15,100 --> 00:36:18,000
found only on Madagascar.
454
00:36:21,666 --> 00:36:27,266
♪♪
455
00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:30,100
They give birth to more babies
456
00:36:30,133 --> 00:36:33,833
than any other mammal...
457
00:36:33,866 --> 00:36:36,733
as many as 32
458
00:36:36,766 --> 00:36:38,500
in a single litter.
459
00:36:38,533 --> 00:36:44,766
♪♪
460
00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:47,900
Like the lemurs, they've evolved
over time
461
00:36:47,933 --> 00:36:51,533
into many different species...
462
00:36:51,566 --> 00:36:55,666
adapting in unique ways
to their forest home.
463
00:36:58,733 --> 00:37:02,100
[ Birds calling ]
464
00:37:02,133 --> 00:37:05,566
At 4 weeks old,
these streaked tenrecs
465
00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,400
are just 5 inches long,
but nearly fully grown.
466
00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:14,600
Eagerly sniffing out a meal
467
00:37:14,633 --> 00:37:18,833
with their flexible snouts...
468
00:37:18,866 --> 00:37:21,833
they can eat over
30 worms a day.
469
00:37:29,233 --> 00:37:34,200
♪♪
470
00:37:34,233 --> 00:37:39,166
♪♪
471
00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:43,566
In these crowded forests,
dangers are everywhere...
472
00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:48,100
♪♪
473
00:37:48,133 --> 00:37:52,600
♪♪
474
00:37:52,633 --> 00:37:55,466
A deadly Madagascan ground boa.
475
00:38:02,633 --> 00:38:07,033
♪♪
476
00:38:07,066 --> 00:38:11,433
♪♪
477
00:38:11,466 --> 00:38:13,566
At the first sign of any threat,
478
00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:17,533
the mother has an ingenious way
to raise the alarm.
479
00:38:17,566 --> 00:38:20,300
[ Spines scraping ]
480
00:38:20,333 --> 00:38:24,200
She rubs together
modified spines on her back,
481
00:38:24,233 --> 00:38:27,600
creating a high-pitched sound
that's hard for US to hear,
482
00:38:27,633 --> 00:38:31,133
but not for her young.
[ Spines scraping ]
483
00:38:31,166 --> 00:38:34,000
Cutting through the noise
of the forest,
484
00:38:34,033 --> 00:38:37,366
the youngsters quickly home in
on her alarm call.
485
00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:39,900
[ Spines scraping ]
486
00:38:39,933 --> 00:38:44,566
♪♪
487
00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:49,266
♪♪
488
00:38:49,300 --> 00:38:52,700
This unique form
of communication
489
00:38:52,733 --> 00:38:56,200
is used by no other mammal
on the planet.
490
00:38:56,233 --> 00:39:01,466
♪♪
491
00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:06,666
♪♪
492
00:39:06,700 --> 00:39:10,000
The sheer abundance of life here
has resulted
493
00:39:10,033 --> 00:39:15,300
in some of the island's
most unusual creatures...
494
00:39:15,333 --> 00:39:19,266
each evolving in extreme ways
to beat the competition.
495
00:39:19,300 --> 00:39:26,066
♪♪
496
00:39:26,100 --> 00:39:32,900
♪♪
497
00:39:32,933 --> 00:39:37,433
Under the cover of darkness,
the pelican spider emerges...
498
00:39:37,466 --> 00:39:42,800
♪♪
499
00:39:42,833 --> 00:39:45,433
...aptly named
for their long jaws.
500
00:39:48,466 --> 00:39:54,933
♪♪
501
00:39:54,966 --> 00:40:01,433
♪♪
502
00:40:01,466 --> 00:40:03,566
He
can
produce silk,
503
00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:07,066
but he doesn't build a web
to catch food.
504
00:40:07,100 --> 00:40:10,466
Instead, he hunts down
his next meal.
505
00:40:11,866 --> 00:40:14,866
Using his extra long arms...
506
00:40:14,900 --> 00:40:17,100
he searches for clues...
507
00:40:19,966 --> 00:40:21,533
...like a silk thread.
508
00:40:21,566 --> 00:40:27,866
♪♪
509
00:40:27,900 --> 00:40:29,966
Following these guidelines
510
00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:32,566
leads him
straight to his prey...
511
00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:35,600
♪♪
512
00:40:35,633 --> 00:40:37,866
...because this spider
513
00:40:37,900 --> 00:40:40,066
is a spider killer.
514
00:40:43,300 --> 00:40:47,700
Silently he can creep up
on his unsuspecting victim.
515
00:40:47,733 --> 00:40:51,366
♪♪
516
00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:55,066
♪♪
517
00:40:55,100 --> 00:40:58,633
Not so simple when
your dinner has eight eyes.
518
00:40:58,666 --> 00:41:02,666
♪♪
519
00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:06,700
♪♪
520
00:41:10,933 --> 00:41:13,100
But he is a persistent hunter.
521
00:41:17,733 --> 00:41:20,866
Another potential victim --
522
00:41:20,900 --> 00:41:23,400
a female orb web spider.
523
00:41:23,433 --> 00:41:29,333
♪♪
524
00:41:29,366 --> 00:41:31,600
But in the safety of her web,
525
00:41:31,633 --> 00:41:34,633
she's surrounded
by a sticky fortress.
526
00:41:39,233 --> 00:41:40,800
What to do?
527
00:41:43,266 --> 00:41:47,266
Fortunately, the pelican spider
has had millions of years
528
00:41:47,300 --> 00:41:49,533
to fine-tune his technique.
529
00:41:49,566 --> 00:41:53,633
♪♪
530
00:41:53,666 --> 00:41:57,733
♪♪
531
00:41:57,766 --> 00:42:01,766
Mimicking the movements
of a struggling fly,
532
00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:03,866
he lures her towards him.
533
00:42:03,900 --> 00:42:09,000
♪♪
534
00:42:09,033 --> 00:42:14,166
♪♪
535
00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:19,333
♪♪
536
00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:27,866
His massive, pelican jaws hold
her safely away from his body,
537
00:42:27,900 --> 00:42:30,466
avoiding her lethal bite.
538
00:42:30,500 --> 00:42:34,233
And only after he's injected her
with his own venom
539
00:42:34,266 --> 00:42:36,600
is it safe to have his dinner.
540
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:44,633
[ Insects chirping ]
541
00:42:44,666 --> 00:42:49,600
♪♪
542
00:42:49,633 --> 00:42:54,566
♪♪
543
00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:57,333
With such intense competition
for food
544
00:42:57,366 --> 00:43:00,233
in these Eastern rainforests,
545
00:43:00,266 --> 00:43:02,333
even Madagascar's lemurs
546
00:43:02,366 --> 00:43:05,966
have been pushed to evolve
in the most extreme ways.
547
00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:11,133
♪♪
548
00:43:11,166 --> 00:43:16,333
♪♪
549
00:43:16,366 --> 00:43:18,433
This is an aye-aye...
550
00:43:18,466 --> 00:43:20,666
filmed in a special enclosure.
551
00:43:24,766 --> 00:43:27,133
[ Aye-aye chirping ]
552
00:43:27,166 --> 00:43:31,266
♪♪
553
00:43:31,300 --> 00:43:35,466
Her favorite food
is insect larvae,
554
00:43:35,500 --> 00:43:39,700
which can only be found deep
inside the branches of trees.
555
00:43:39,733 --> 00:43:41,800
[ Aye-aye sniffing ]
556
00:43:46,066 --> 00:43:49,733
But the aye-aye has evolved
a truly unique way
557
00:43:49,766 --> 00:43:53,266
of hunting them down...
558
00:43:53,300 --> 00:43:59,066
a technique that's thought
to take 4 years to master.
559
00:43:59,100 --> 00:44:01,000
By tapping on the tree,
560
00:44:01,033 --> 00:44:03,466
she can hear where
the branch is hollow.
561
00:44:03,500 --> 00:44:07,633
♪♪
562
00:44:07,666 --> 00:44:11,800
♪♪
563
00:44:11,833 --> 00:44:16,000
But one of her highly adapted
fingers has another job.
564
00:44:16,033 --> 00:44:20,866
♪♪
565
00:44:20,900 --> 00:44:25,733
♪♪
566
00:44:25,766 --> 00:44:27,966
At 3.5 inches long,
567
00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:30,700
it's perfect
for hooking out grubs.
568
00:44:30,733 --> 00:44:36,200
♪♪
569
00:44:40,366 --> 00:44:42,766
[ Aye-aye chirping ]
570
00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:45,233
Madagascar's unique wildlife
571
00:44:45,266 --> 00:44:48,566
has had millions of years
to slowly evolve.
572
00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:55,166
But in the last
few thousand years,
573
00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:59,700
the pace of change of island
life has increased rapidly,
574
00:44:59,733 --> 00:45:02,733
with some devastating
consequences...
575
00:45:06,100 --> 00:45:08,900
...examples of which have only
576
00:45:08,933 --> 00:45:11,133
just been discovered...
577
00:45:11,166 --> 00:45:14,633
in Madagascar's remote
Western desert.
578
00:45:19,466 --> 00:45:21,166
[ Birds calling ]
579
00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:26,666
This pool is a portal to a
previously unexplored world.
580
00:45:32,633 --> 00:45:36,700
♪♪
581
00:45:36,733 --> 00:45:40,566
In 2015, divers ventured
582
00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:44,033
into a vast network
of flooded passages.
583
00:45:44,066 --> 00:45:50,133
♪♪
584
00:45:50,166 --> 00:45:56,200
♪♪
585
00:45:56,233 --> 00:46:02,366
♪♪
586
00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:08,400
♪♪
587
00:46:08,433 --> 00:46:14,433
♪♪
588
00:46:14,466 --> 00:46:19,100
Over 160 feet below the surface,
589
00:46:19,133 --> 00:46:24,200
they entered
a truly magical underworld...
590
00:46:24,233 --> 00:46:28,300
discovering over 7 miles
of connected tunnels...
591
00:46:31,333 --> 00:46:34,766
...and some of the biggest
underwater chambers
592
00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:36,766
in the world.
593
00:46:36,800 --> 00:46:42,866
♪♪
594
00:46:42,900 --> 00:46:49,033
♪♪
595
00:46:57,366 --> 00:47:00,700
But it's what they found
inside these caves
596
00:47:00,733 --> 00:47:03,566
that was their most astounding
discovery.
597
00:47:15,633 --> 00:47:19,000
A vast graveyard...
598
00:47:19,033 --> 00:47:23,133
the preserved remains
of mysterious creatures.
599
00:47:23,166 --> 00:47:29,400
♪♪
600
00:47:29,433 --> 00:47:35,666
♪♪
601
00:47:35,700 --> 00:47:38,500
Horned crocodiles.
602
00:47:38,533 --> 00:47:43,900
♪♪
603
00:47:43,933 --> 00:47:46,433
A puma-like predator,
604
00:47:46,466 --> 00:47:49,800
and even pygmy hippos.
605
00:47:51,366 --> 00:47:54,366
But most impressive of all...
606
00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:56,666
the skulls of giant lemurs
607
00:47:56,700 --> 00:47:59,966
that grew to the size
of a gorilla.
608
00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:02,133
♪♪
609
00:48:02,166 --> 00:48:05,500
All now extinct on Madagascar.
610
00:48:05,533 --> 00:48:09,466
♪♪
611
00:48:09,500 --> 00:48:13,300
Their demise coincided
with the most disruptive change
612
00:48:13,333 --> 00:48:16,400
in Madagascar's long history.
613
00:48:18,233 --> 00:48:22,133
Just a few thousand years ago,
the arrival of people.
614
00:48:22,166 --> 00:48:27,800
♪♪
615
00:48:27,833 --> 00:48:33,466
♪♪
616
00:48:33,500 --> 00:48:39,133
♪♪
617
00:48:39,166 --> 00:48:42,500
Today, our impact
on the island
618
00:48:42,533 --> 00:48:44,766
is greater than ever before.
619
00:48:49,333 --> 00:48:52,533
Madagascar's forests
are disappearing
620
00:48:52,566 --> 00:48:56,700
faster thanin any other tropical country...
621
00:48:56,733 --> 00:48:59,700
cleared mainly
for subsistence farming.
622
00:49:03,900 --> 00:49:09,266
As little as 20% of the island's
original forest remains.
623
00:49:10,500 --> 00:49:14,600
[ Creatures calling ]
624
00:49:15,666 --> 00:49:19,500
And the impact on Madagascar's
unique wildlife
625
00:49:19,533 --> 00:49:22,633
has been devastating.
626
00:49:22,666 --> 00:49:27,300
♪♪
627
00:49:27,333 --> 00:49:33,033
95% of lemurs are now
threatened with extinction...
628
00:49:35,833 --> 00:49:39,333
...making them the most
vulnerable group of mammals
629
00:49:39,366 --> 00:49:41,600
in the world.
630
00:49:41,633 --> 00:49:47,000
♪♪
631
00:49:47,033 --> 00:49:52,433
♪♪
632
00:49:52,466 --> 00:49:57,833
♪♪
633
00:49:57,866 --> 00:50:00,366
One of the most endangered
634
00:50:00,400 --> 00:50:02,900
is found
in the East of the island,
635
00:50:02,933 --> 00:50:05,233
the greater bamboo lemur.
636
00:50:11,233 --> 00:50:15,733
Like all lemurs, they are
highly specialized.
637
00:50:15,766 --> 00:50:19,700
Bamboo makes up nearly
95% of their diet...
638
00:50:24,233 --> 00:50:26,300
...despite the fact
that these shoots
639
00:50:26,333 --> 00:50:29,100
are packed
full of deadly cyanide.
640
00:50:37,366 --> 00:50:41,200
Every day each lemur
can eat enough poison
641
00:50:41,233 --> 00:50:43,366
to kill 5 humans...
642
00:50:45,133 --> 00:50:47,966
...surviving only because
they have evolved
643
00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:50,200
to withstand
its toxic effects.
644
00:51:01,466 --> 00:51:03,600
This unique adaptation
645
00:51:03,633 --> 00:51:07,600
means they have these thickets
all to themselves...
646
00:51:07,633 --> 00:51:11,033
but it also means
they're trapped here,
647
00:51:11,066 --> 00:51:13,333
unable to live anywhere else.
648
00:51:16,733 --> 00:51:20,466
As their bamboo forests
are cleared for agriculture...
649
00:51:22,766 --> 00:51:23,933
...the lemurs are left
650
00:51:23,966 --> 00:51:27,100
with little to eat
and quickly disappear.
651
00:51:27,133 --> 00:51:30,700
♪♪
652
00:51:30,733 --> 00:51:32,733
The greater bamboo lemur
653
00:51:32,766 --> 00:51:35,200
was once thought
to have gone extinct.
654
00:51:38,333 --> 00:51:40,633
But thanks to a recent
concerted effort
655
00:51:40,666 --> 00:51:43,933
to protect them...
656
00:51:43,966 --> 00:51:46,633
there is now
a glimmer of hope.
657
00:51:46,666 --> 00:51:51,900
♪♪
658
00:51:51,933 --> 00:51:57,133
♪♪
659
00:51:57,166 --> 00:52:02,433
In the last year, this group
had a record number of babies,
660
00:52:02,466 --> 00:52:07,466
adding 72 to their
total population of just 500.
661
00:52:07,500 --> 00:52:12,800
♪♪
662
00:52:12,833 --> 00:52:18,100
♪♪
663
00:52:18,133 --> 00:52:23,433
♪♪
664
00:52:23,466 --> 00:52:28,733
♪♪
665
00:52:28,766 --> 00:52:32,333
The greater bamboo lemur is just
one of thousands
666
00:52:32,366 --> 00:52:36,366
of remarkable creatures
found only on Madagascar...
667
00:52:40,666 --> 00:52:45,133
♪♪
668
00:52:45,166 --> 00:52:47,366
...each one conquering
the challenges
669
00:52:47,400 --> 00:52:49,200
that they've faced here
670
00:52:49,233 --> 00:52:51,566
over millions of years.
671
00:52:51,600 --> 00:52:58,566
♪♪
672
00:52:58,600 --> 00:53:01,600
From the arid deserts
of the West...
673
00:53:01,633 --> 00:53:08,500
♪♪
674
00:53:08,533 --> 00:53:11,966
...to the island's
mountainous heart...
675
00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:18,966
♪♪
676
00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:22,500
...and into the lush rainforests
of the East...
677
00:53:22,533 --> 00:53:27,466
♪♪
678
00:53:27,500 --> 00:53:32,433
♪♪
679
00:53:32,466 --> 00:53:36,633
...now they face the challenges
of our changing world.
680
00:53:36,666 --> 00:53:41,333
♪♪
681
00:53:41,366 --> 00:53:46,033
♪♪
682
00:53:46,066 --> 00:53:48,533
But with our protection,
683
00:53:48,566 --> 00:53:53,000
there is hope that
this ancient island of wonder
684
00:53:53,033 --> 00:53:58,266
can continue to thrive
for millions of years to come.
685
00:53:58,300 --> 00:54:04,400
♪♪
686
00:54:04,433 --> 00:54:10,500
♪♪
687
00:54:11,666 --> 00:54:13,700
♪♪
688
00:54:13,733 --> 00:54:16,666
Narrator:
Next time, Borneo...
689
00:54:16,700 --> 00:54:20,466
home to a staggering variety
of habitats,
690
00:54:20,500 --> 00:54:23,966
from its bustling coral reefs
691
00:54:24,000 --> 00:54:26,866
and ancient rainforests
692
00:54:26,900 --> 00:54:29,066
to its mountainous heart...
693
00:54:29,100 --> 00:54:31,466
♪♪
694
00:54:31,500 --> 00:54:36,200
...Borneo holds possibly
the greatest diversity of life
695
00:54:36,233 --> 00:54:39,833
of any island on Earth.
696
00:54:41,666 --> 00:54:47,866
♪♪
697
00:54:47,900 --> 00:54:50,733
To order "Islands of Wonder"
on DVD,
698
00:54:50,766 --> 00:54:53,900
visit ShopPBS.org
or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
699
00:54:53,933 --> 00:54:57,800
This program is also available
on Amazon Prime Video.
700
00:54:57,833 --> 00:55:04,166
♪♪
701
00:55:04,200 --> 00:55:10,500
♪♪
702
00:55:10,500 --> 00:55:12,500
/�moov lmvhd � 2�
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