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(dramatic music)
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India's great desert,
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(man chanting)
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baking heat, desiccating winds,
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and near-permanent drought have earned
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this unforgiving land another name,
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the Region of Death.
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(dramatic music)
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But this desert is full of life.
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It's a hotspot for nature,
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home to some of the toughest and rarest creatures on earth.
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Millions of people live here, too.
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It's the most crowded desert in the world.
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Humans and animals have forged
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incredible alliances to survive.
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This is no ordinary wilderness.
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(man chanting)
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This is the Thar, the desert of life.
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(inspirational music)
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(peacock squawks)
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(gentle music)
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(air whooshing)
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(tense music)
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The Thar Desert, a land of contrasts.
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Temperature soar to over 50 degrees C.
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And less than five centimeters of rain falls each year.
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It's one of the harshest places on the planet.
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Yet somehow, life has existed here for millennia,
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and not just typically tough desert characters.
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Beyond the dunes, lies a tapestry of landscapes,
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woodlands, desert scrub,
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salt pans, grassy plains,
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dry forests, and even cities.
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(dramatic music)
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These habitats provide homes
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for an incredible array of animals.
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(dramatic music)
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Humans have flourished here since the Stone Age,
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(dramatic music)
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tribes with colorful histories,
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ancient traditions,
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and a spiritual connection with nature.
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(people laughing)
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The world's most crowded desert is home
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to over 80 people per square kilometer,
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compared with just 7 in the Sahara.
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Together, people and animals have changed the face
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of this desolate landscape.
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In some places, it's unrecognizable.
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(dramatic music)
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The cities are man-made oases,
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perfect for light-fingered opportunists.
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But with so many mouths to feed,
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even here, life is tough.
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All the desert's inhabitants struggle
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to find food and water.
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(dramatic music)
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Their lives dictated by heat and drought.
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Despite the difficulty simply trying to survive,
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the Thar is still overcrowded.
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And miraculously, this scorched land continues
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to support a wealth of life.
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Exploring India's great desert reveals its hidden secrets
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and the unique spiritual relationships that exist here.
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On these sacred sands,
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the lives of man and beast are so closely entwined,
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but they owe their survival to each other.
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(dramatic music)
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(air whooshes)
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India's desert covers 200,000 square kilometers
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across the far northwest of the country.
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Taking in the states of northern Gujarat and Rajasthan,
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the desert engulfs 10% of India's land mass,
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before sweeping north across the border into Pakistan.
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(solemn music)
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This border country is the empty heart
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of an otherwise crowded desert.
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It's effectively a giant dust bowl.
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(solemn music)
(wind whistling)
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Billions of sand grains are whipped up
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by 100 kilometer-an-hour winds.
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They form immense sand dunes, some almost a kilometer high.
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Some never stop moving.
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Others have stood for thousands of years.
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Dune ridges ripple like waves
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in a seemingly endless sea of sand.
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(solemn music)
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(air whooshes)
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With no shade or water,
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few animals make their home on these shifting sands.
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(camel grunts)
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This is a land of nomads.
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Many of the region's tribes move through the desert
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in a constant search for water
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and grazing for their livestock.
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And every spring, they travel from the far corners
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of the Thar, to a small town at its heart, Nagaur.
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(people chattering)
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20,000 people gather
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for the desert's largest livestock market, the Nagaur Fair.
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They come to celebrate their traditional way of life
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and their ancient alliance with nature.
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(people speak in foreign language)
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These people are farmers.
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But with regular droughts,
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they can't rely on crops for food or income.
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(man speaks in foreign language)
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Instead, they owe their survival to domesticated animals.
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(people speak in foreign language)
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Because of this dependence on animal farming,
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the desert is home to 10 times more livestock
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than anywhere else in India.
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(dramatic music)
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Camels are central to desert life,
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because they can withstand the intense heat
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and lack of water that would kill other species.
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Owners take great pride in their precious animals.
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(owner coughs)
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(solemn music)
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With painstaking attention to detail,
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they're transformed into living works of art.
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(solemn music)
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The Marwari horse is also highly valued.
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Its unique smooth step, the revaal,
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enables the rider to travel across sand, in comfort.
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(solemn music)
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Marwari means from the land of death.
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Originally bred for desert warriors,
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it's a warhorse of incredible stamina,
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that can thrive with little food or water.
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Desert people have always shared their lives with animals
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and relied on them for survival.
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This has created an ingrained tradition
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of respect for animals,
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fundamental to life all over the Thar.
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200 kilometers from Nagaur, on the desert's eastern edge,
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is the state's capital, Jaipur.
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(energetic music)
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It's another world, a man-made oasis,
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plumbed into deep water supplies and fed by desert farms.
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Jaipur is a desert in disguise.
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Approaching three million people,
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it's one of the fastest-growing places on the planet.
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(engines revving)
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But people don't have the city to themselves.
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Animals threaten to take over the streets.
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The most successful invaders are Jaipur's monkeys.
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(lively music)
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Alongside humans,
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rhesus macaques are the world's most adaptable primates.
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The urban jungle is full of opportunities.
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There's great food and plenty to drink.
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Traditionally, macaques live in forests.
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But as Jaipur has expanded into their natural home,
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they've adapted to city life.
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40 street gangs now terrorize the neighborhood.
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(dramatic music)
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(pig grunts)
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(cow moos)
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(goat bleats)
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(cow moos)
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(dramatic music)
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(monkey squeaks)
(pig grunts)
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But above Jaipur's hectic streets,
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one macaque family occupies a privileged position.
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This is the 60-strong temple troop.
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Though protected by a male,
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it's the alpha female who's in charge.
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Female macaques stay together for life
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and are the core of the group.
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This family thrives because they live
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in a temple dedicated to monkeys.
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Every year, thousands of pilgrims come here
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to worship Hanuman, the monkey god.
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According to Hindu religion, Hanuman defeated evil,
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and as a result, all monkeys are considered sacred.
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(bell rings)
(solemn music)
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The temple troop is treated like royalty.
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Pilgrims show their respect for Hanuman
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by feeding the macaques.
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This is monkey heaven, where the family can afford
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to relax and have fun.
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(lighthearted music)
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(monkey squeaking)
(upbeat music)
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Life will get harder in time.
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When summer sets in, the city will heat up.
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Supplies of food and water will dwindle.
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And the troop will have to fight for survival.
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(monkeys squeaking)
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But spring is a time of plenty.
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Pilgrims have enough food to be generous.
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(monkeys squeaking)
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(man speaks in foreign language)
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It's not just monkeys that are sacred here.
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90% of India's population is Hindu,
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a religion that worships many animal gods.
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Hindus believe that humans and animals are one family,
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so all creatures should be treated
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with respect and kindness.
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And in the Thar, that includes a creature much
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of the world loves to hate.
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300 kilometers northwest
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of Jaipur is the isolated town of Deshnoke.
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The city is famous for its temple of nightmares.
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(eerie music)
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It's crawling with rats.
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(rats squeaking)
(eerie music)
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Even today, rats spread bubonic plague, salmonella,
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and tuberculosis via infected fleas.
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Seen as vermin worldwide,
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rats are often killed on sight.
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(bell rings)
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But here, they are revered.
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(people chattering)
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Thousands of Hindus flock to the temple
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to honor the miracle goddess, Karni Mata.
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(bell rings)
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The temple's rats are believed to be Karni Mata's children,
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reincarnated in a rat's body.
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They are known as kabas.
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The sight of a kaba brings good luck.
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Feeding the rats is an even greater honor.
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(people chattering)
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Worshipers offer the rats a sweetmeat known as prasad.
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(people chattering)
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Flour, sugar, and clarified butter are mixed
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into huge quantities, in the temple kitchens.
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(steam hisses)
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(people speak in foreign language)
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Visiting the rat temple
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is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some.
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Others come here, every day.
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(man speaks in foreign language)
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Devdam is one of the temple elite.
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He can trace his family back to the goddess, Karni Mata.
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He believes that when he dies,
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he will return here, reborn as a rat.
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Three times a day, he comes to pray to his holy aunt
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and share food with his relatives.
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(Devdam speaks in foreign language)
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20,000 rats live a life of luxury in the temple.
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There's never been an outbreak of disease here,
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even though people share food with rats,
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which is considered the ultimate honor.
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Hindus believe people and animals share an eternal journey.
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Born as a human in this life,
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you may be a rat in the next.
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Such reverence isn't reserved for rats.
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In another part of the desert,
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scavengers get special treatment, too.
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(bell rings)
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(air whooshing)
(dramatic music)
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160 kilometers south of Deshnoke's rat temple is a city
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known as the gateway to the desert, Jodhpur.
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(air whooshes)
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(camera clicks)
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It's dominated by one
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of India's most impressive buildings, Mehrangarh Fort,
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also known as Mountain of Birds.
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(flag whipping)
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Its battlements tower 120 meters above the city.
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And they've been occupied for centuries.
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(birds chirping)
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(man speaks in foreign language)
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The fort is a stronghold for birds of prey,
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thanks to the people of Jodhpur.
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(inspirational music)
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In the fabled blue city, raptors have long been protected.
269
00:15:47,193 --> 00:15:50,190
(birds screeching)
(inspirational music)
270
00:15:50,190 --> 00:15:52,680
Caring for the black kite population
271
00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,645
is a task Latif Qureshi takes to heart.
272
00:15:55,645 --> 00:15:58,812
(inspirational music)
273
00:15:59,690 --> 00:16:02,010
Latif feeds the kites every day,
274
00:16:02,010 --> 00:16:04,023
as his family has done for generations.
275
00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:06,136
It's a great honor.
276
00:16:06,136 --> 00:16:11,136
(black kites screeching)
(inspirational music)
277
00:16:23,390 --> 00:16:25,020
Nurtured by the city,
278
00:16:25,020 --> 00:16:27,727
the kites thrive in their desert fortress.
279
00:16:27,727 --> 00:16:30,894
(inspirational music)
280
00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,950
They share their home with long-billed vultures
281
00:16:40,950 --> 00:16:42,513
that nest on its battlements.
282
00:16:45,730 --> 00:16:47,880
But India's vultures haven't been so lucky.
283
00:16:48,950 --> 00:16:51,523
Their numbers fell by 90%, in recent years,
284
00:16:52,380 --> 00:16:55,313
accidentally poisoned by a drug that is now banned.
285
00:16:57,820 --> 00:16:59,403
Fewer vultures nest here now.
286
00:17:00,310 --> 00:17:02,943
But Jodhpur's fort remains a vital breeding ground.
287
00:17:03,990 --> 00:17:05,583
Numbers are slowly recovering.
288
00:17:09,070 --> 00:17:11,150
Vultures rise on thermals
289
00:17:11,150 --> 00:17:14,532
and soar effortlessly above the blue city.
290
00:17:14,532 --> 00:17:17,115
(man chanting)
291
00:17:24,430 --> 00:17:27,173
The streets below are crowded with working animals.
292
00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,040
Cows are sacred to Hindus
293
00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,400
and cannot be eaten when they die.
294
00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,913
Instead, they must be respectfully disposed of.
295
00:17:39,850 --> 00:17:43,730
Every day, carcasses are wheeled to the edge of the city
296
00:17:43,730 --> 00:17:45,833
where they're left to the scavengers.
297
00:17:50,470 --> 00:17:53,803
Birds of prey are invaluable to society.
298
00:17:54,638 --> 00:17:57,721
(vultures squawking)
299
00:18:04,667 --> 00:18:06,063
The vultures are fed.
300
00:18:07,010 --> 00:18:10,080
In return, they clean up the city,
301
00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:12,403
helping ensure disease doesn't get a grip.
302
00:18:21,410 --> 00:18:25,010
Mehrangarh Fort isn't only a haven for birds.
303
00:18:25,010 --> 00:18:28,103
It's a sanctuary for another of India's most sacred animals.
304
00:18:30,987 --> 00:18:33,140
(monkey screeching)
305
00:18:33,140 --> 00:18:36,523
Revered above all monkeys is the Hanuman langur,
306
00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,113
believed to be the living incarnation of the monkey god.
307
00:18:43,850 --> 00:18:46,420
This adaptable primate can survive everywhere,
308
00:18:46,420 --> 00:18:49,063
from steaming jungles to frozen forests.
309
00:18:50,230 --> 00:18:53,153
No other monkey lives in the center of a parched desert.
310
00:18:55,770 --> 00:18:58,660
Langurs know which desert plants are edible
311
00:18:58,660 --> 00:19:01,410
and get most of the moisture they need from solid food.
312
00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,053
But they also seize man-made opportunities.
313
00:19:07,690 --> 00:19:10,520
Every morning, the family leave their trees
314
00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:11,770
to take a trip into town.
315
00:19:16,150 --> 00:19:20,500
Incredible acrobats, they gracefully scale the rooftops
316
00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:22,100
on their way to Mehrangarh Fort.
317
00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:33,750
It's usually a good place to get handouts
318
00:19:33,750 --> 00:19:37,550
from generous pilgrims, but today,
319
00:19:37,550 --> 00:19:40,373
there's a very different welcoming committee.
320
00:19:40,373 --> 00:19:42,873
(tense music)
321
00:19:49,750 --> 00:19:53,043
Rogue bachelor males patrol the ramparts.
322
00:19:55,030 --> 00:19:56,830
Without a troop of their own,
323
00:19:56,830 --> 00:19:59,253
they team up to try and steal one.
324
00:20:00,897 --> 00:20:01,913
And they use force.
325
00:20:04,388 --> 00:20:07,760
(monkey growls)
326
00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,117
Troop takeovers can be brutal.
327
00:20:10,117 --> 00:20:13,710
(monkeys screeching)
328
00:20:13,710 --> 00:20:16,333
New males never adopt existing youngsters.
329
00:20:17,230 --> 00:20:20,006
If they win, they will kill the infants.
330
00:20:20,006 --> 00:20:21,502
(ominous music)
331
00:20:21,502 --> 00:20:23,950
(monkeys screeching)
332
00:20:23,950 --> 00:20:26,083
Mothers are desperate to save their babies.
333
00:20:26,083 --> 00:20:31,083
(tense music)
(monkeys screeching)
334
00:20:33,220 --> 00:20:34,973
The bachelors dwarf the females.
335
00:20:36,120 --> 00:20:38,023
But the sisterhood stands strong.
336
00:20:38,023 --> 00:20:41,023
(monkey screeching)
337
00:20:44,950 --> 00:20:47,333
The alpha female shows incredible bravery.
338
00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,093
She risks life and limb to repel the attackers.
339
00:20:52,217 --> 00:20:54,717
(tense music)
340
00:20:59,270 --> 00:21:00,473
It's not their time yet.
341
00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:06,143
The bachelors flee, but they'll be back.
342
00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:10,183
Male takeovers are part and parcel of langur life.
343
00:21:11,350 --> 00:21:12,980
The alpha male is only strong enough
344
00:21:12,980 --> 00:21:14,883
to retain a troop for a few years.
345
00:21:15,940 --> 00:21:18,480
Scarred from previous battles,
346
00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,259
his days at the top are numbered.
347
00:21:21,259 --> 00:21:24,100
(monkeys squeaking)
348
00:21:24,100 --> 00:21:27,450
With frequent droughts, food shortages, and fierce fights
349
00:21:27,450 --> 00:21:31,343
between rivals troops desert life is a struggle for langurs.
350
00:21:34,270 --> 00:21:37,734
But thanks to their holy status, help is at hand.
351
00:21:37,734 --> 00:21:41,984
(people speak in foreign language)
352
00:21:43,690 --> 00:21:46,300
Mr. Borana runs a charity dedicated
353
00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:48,603
to caring for Jodhpur's sacred monkeys.
354
00:21:51,396 --> 00:21:54,063
(horns honking)
355
00:21:55,580 --> 00:21:57,173
After their bruising encounter,
356
00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,450
the langurs are ready to see a friendly face,
357
00:22:02,630 --> 00:22:04,780
particularly when he's handing out a feast.
358
00:22:06,715 --> 00:22:08,211
(Mr. Borana laughs)
359
00:22:08,211 --> 00:22:12,878
(Mr. Borana speaks in foreign language)
360
00:22:20,250 --> 00:22:22,640
Many of the langurs have known Mr. Borana
361
00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,403
since they were born, and they're not shy.
362
00:22:32,414 --> 00:22:35,830
Though bananas aren't the natural food of desert monkeys,
363
00:22:35,830 --> 00:22:37,280
they're the troop's favorite.
364
00:22:47,210 --> 00:22:49,030
The alpha female is wise enough to know
365
00:22:49,030 --> 00:22:51,763
that Mr. Borana is a lifeline for her family.
366
00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,350
There's no risk of starvation here,
367
00:22:55,350 --> 00:22:57,945
despite the constant threat of drought.
368
00:22:57,945 --> 00:23:02,030
(Mr. Borana speaks in foreign language)
369
00:23:02,030 --> 00:23:05,040
In this desert community, people take the welfare
370
00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:07,083
of animals into their own hands.
371
00:23:10,750 --> 00:23:12,030
Mr. Borana's devotion
372
00:23:12,030 --> 00:23:14,900
to these monkeys has created a unique bond
373
00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:17,393
between man and his primate cousins.
374
00:23:21,950 --> 00:23:23,610
Langurs thrive because
375
00:23:23,610 --> 00:23:25,653
of their close relationship with humans.
376
00:23:26,730 --> 00:23:30,800
But in the summer, desert life gets tougher for everyone,
377
00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,143
even holy monkeys.
378
00:23:33,790 --> 00:23:37,412
Fed year-round, Jodhpur's langurs are the lucky ones.
379
00:23:37,412 --> 00:23:39,820
(air whooshing)
(dramatic music)
380
00:23:39,820 --> 00:23:44,137
Their big-city relatives must steal to survive.
381
00:23:44,137 --> 00:23:46,820
(engines revving)
382
00:23:46,820 --> 00:23:50,573
Jaipur is hot and hectic, with millions to feed.
383
00:23:52,410 --> 00:23:54,693
Summer drought cuts supplies to the city.
384
00:23:56,630 --> 00:23:58,623
With less food to feed their families,
385
00:23:59,470 --> 00:24:02,093
the pilgrims' handouts at the monkey temple dry up.
386
00:24:03,050 --> 00:24:05,203
But there's still plenty to eat, downtown.
387
00:24:06,950 --> 00:24:09,323
The temple troop is on a mission to find food.
388
00:24:10,410 --> 00:24:12,150
But in the blistering heat,
389
00:24:12,150 --> 00:24:15,020
the youngsters take time out to cool down.
390
00:24:15,020 --> 00:24:17,603
(upbeat music)
391
00:24:29,562 --> 00:24:32,580
The rest of the family is anxious to move on.
392
00:24:32,580 --> 00:24:35,541
They've got a date with Jaipur's central market.
393
00:24:35,541 --> 00:24:38,330
(suspenseful music)
394
00:24:38,330 --> 00:24:40,280
For the hungry troop,
395
00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,683
this is a banquet too tempting to resist.
396
00:24:44,710 --> 00:24:46,924
The family moves into position.
397
00:24:46,924 --> 00:24:49,924
(suspenseful music)
398
00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:05,693
From their rooftop vantage point, they plan their strategy.
399
00:25:07,651 --> 00:25:10,651
(people chattering)
400
00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,714
It's a slick, carefully coordinated operation.
401
00:25:24,714 --> 00:25:27,214
(tense music)
402
00:25:32,820 --> 00:25:35,053
The thieves move with stealth and speed.
403
00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,480
(monkeys squeaking)
404
00:25:42,700 --> 00:25:44,611
It's daylight robbery.
405
00:25:44,611 --> 00:25:47,194
(solemn music)
406
00:25:52,364 --> 00:25:55,460
(dramatic music)
(people yelling)
407
00:25:55,460 --> 00:25:57,950
Hindus may worship monkeys,
408
00:25:57,950 --> 00:25:59,840
but their patience is pushed to the limit,
409
00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:01,383
during the long, hot summer.
410
00:26:04,370 --> 00:26:07,163
The city's brazen macaques become a serious nuisance.
411
00:26:11,227 --> 00:26:14,144
(monkey squeaking)
412
00:26:22,270 --> 00:26:24,763
But the people of Jaipur have a secret weapon,
413
00:26:25,771 --> 00:26:29,476
(dramatic music)
(engine rattling)
414
00:26:29,476 --> 00:26:32,545
Dhanna Lal, the monkey catcher.
415
00:26:32,545 --> 00:26:35,128
(solemn music)
416
00:26:38,260 --> 00:26:41,962
Dhanna is employed to rid the city of problem monkeys.
417
00:26:41,962 --> 00:26:44,545
(solemn music)
418
00:26:48,740 --> 00:26:51,480
He knows where the troublemakers hide,
419
00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,053
and he's one step ahead.
420
00:26:57,830 --> 00:27:00,010
Macaques might be clever,
421
00:27:00,010 --> 00:27:02,453
but it's hard to outsmart the monkey catcher.
422
00:27:06,530 --> 00:27:10,210
Dhanna Lal takes the problem macaques on the return journey,
423
00:27:10,210 --> 00:27:12,733
150 kilometers outside Jaipur,
424
00:27:14,230 --> 00:27:17,503
to their ancestral home, the Aravalli hills.
425
00:27:19,050 --> 00:27:22,140
India's oldest mountain range forms a natural barrier
426
00:27:22,140 --> 00:27:25,080
to the Thar Desert, running 800 kilometers
427
00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:26,423
on its southeastern edge.
428
00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,350
The ancient mountains are a source of many rivers
429
00:27:31,350 --> 00:27:33,733
and home to a rich diversity of life.
430
00:27:34,860 --> 00:27:37,290
Rare creatures, like the sloth bear,
431
00:27:37,290 --> 00:27:38,903
find refuge in these hills.
432
00:27:41,260 --> 00:27:43,400
But to city-bred monkeys,
433
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,810
it's a shock to the system.
(engine revving)
434
00:27:46,810 --> 00:27:50,070
Having never experienced life in the wild before,
435
00:27:50,070 --> 00:27:51,820
they have a lot of adjusting to do.
436
00:27:52,830 --> 00:27:54,930
They will have to relearn the survival skills
437
00:27:54,930 --> 00:27:56,403
of their forest ancestors.
438
00:27:59,310 --> 00:28:02,853
Until then, they'll have to make due with a roadside snack.
439
00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,223
The Aravalli hills are blessed with water,
440
00:28:11,230 --> 00:28:14,483
but in the baking heat, the forest is tinder-dry.
441
00:28:16,940 --> 00:28:19,973
In the summer, animals crowd the waterholes.
442
00:28:22,780 --> 00:28:25,150
The sambar deer cakes himself in mud,
443
00:28:25,150 --> 00:28:26,600
as a way of keeping cool.
444
00:28:28,672 --> 00:28:31,950
(boar grunting)
445
00:28:31,950 --> 00:28:34,810
Female wild boar feel the heat, too,
446
00:28:34,810 --> 00:28:37,163
especially with the demands of thirsty piglets.
447
00:28:38,349 --> 00:28:41,266
(piglets grunting)
448
00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,173
For many animals, it's the breeding season.
449
00:28:46,990 --> 00:28:49,183
Male sambar deer prepare for the rut.
450
00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,260
Male peacocks are competing, too,
451
00:28:59,260 --> 00:29:00,723
with beautiful displays.
452
00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:07,970
Females prefer males with big tails.
453
00:29:07,970 --> 00:29:10,856
But fabulous feathers can attract deadly admirers.
454
00:29:10,856 --> 00:29:13,860
(ominous music)
455
00:29:13,860 --> 00:29:17,073
This region is home to India's most iconic predator.
456
00:29:18,006 --> 00:29:20,673
(ominous music)
457
00:29:21,990 --> 00:29:24,373
All forest animals share a common enemy,
458
00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:27,573
and they work together to try and survive.
459
00:29:30,290 --> 00:29:32,838
Many eyes are alert to danger.
460
00:29:32,838 --> 00:29:35,338
(tense music)
461
00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,000
The neighbors operate an early warning system.
462
00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,083
(peacocks screeches)
463
00:30:00,740 --> 00:30:03,393
One of the langur troop didn't make it to safety.
464
00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,913
Down on the ground, a monkey can provide an easy meal.
465
00:30:10,881 --> 00:30:13,798
(monkeys grunting)
466
00:30:14,860 --> 00:30:17,410
The Aravalli forest is home to around 30
467
00:30:17,410 --> 00:30:21,186
of India's remaining 1,500 Bengal tigers.
468
00:30:21,186 --> 00:30:23,936
(birds chirping)
469
00:30:28,510 --> 00:30:30,700
The Thar Desert provides a sanctuary
470
00:30:30,700 --> 00:30:33,550
to many of India's native species.
471
00:30:33,550 --> 00:30:36,571
And it also attracts visitors from much further afield.
472
00:30:36,571 --> 00:30:39,520
(camera clicks)
473
00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,930
One migrates thousands of kilometers
474
00:30:41,930 --> 00:30:44,203
from China and Russia to reach the desert.
475
00:30:45,250 --> 00:30:46,770
On its epic journey,
476
00:30:46,770 --> 00:30:49,133
it must scale the world's highest mountains.
477
00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:55,980
The Himalayas stretch for 2,400 kilometers across Asia.
478
00:30:55,980 --> 00:30:58,830
The tallest peak rises almost nine kilometers
479
00:30:58,830 --> 00:31:01,533
above sea level, Everest.
480
00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:04,620
Everest is known in Tibet
481
00:31:04,620 --> 00:31:07,913
as the mountain so high no bird can fly over it.
482
00:31:08,980 --> 00:31:11,949
But one remarkable species has proved otherwise,
483
00:31:11,949 --> 00:31:13,449
(inspirational music)
484
00:31:13,449 --> 00:31:15,080
the demoiselle crane.
485
00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,247
(inspirational music)
486
00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:27,000
To escape Asia's bitter winters,
487
00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,814
the cranes take on the planet's ultimate mountain challenge.
488
00:31:30,814 --> 00:31:33,981
(inspirational music)
489
00:31:35,530 --> 00:31:38,060
These delicate-looking birds find the strength
490
00:31:38,060 --> 00:31:39,850
to battle freezing winds
491
00:31:39,850 --> 00:31:43,463
and air so thin they're literally starved of oxygen.
492
00:31:45,217 --> 00:31:48,240
(inspirational music)
493
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:51,480
Flying alongside their parents are juveniles,
494
00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:53,013
only recently fledged.
495
00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,110
But their parents can't protect them
496
00:31:56,110 --> 00:31:58,707
from masterful mountain predators.
497
00:31:58,707 --> 00:32:01,374
(ominous music)
498
00:32:02,843 --> 00:32:05,676
(cranes warbling)
499
00:32:06,650 --> 00:32:09,808
Golden eagles work in pairs to hunt down the weak.
500
00:32:09,808 --> 00:32:12,475
(ominous music)
501
00:32:13,370 --> 00:32:17,757
The flock is exhausted, especially the youngsters.
502
00:32:17,757 --> 00:32:20,340
(solemn music)
503
00:32:22,910 --> 00:32:26,410
Identifying a target, the eagles close in,
504
00:32:26,410 --> 00:32:28,243
at over 300 kilometers an hour.
505
00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:30,710
There's little chance of escape.
506
00:32:30,710 --> 00:32:33,460
(dramatic music)
507
00:32:39,289 --> 00:32:41,956
(crane squawks)
508
00:32:44,187 --> 00:32:46,770
(somber music)
509
00:32:51,830 --> 00:32:54,663
This is the most perilous leg of the crane's migration.
510
00:32:56,190 --> 00:32:58,373
It's a miracle they survived their journey.
511
00:33:00,719 --> 00:33:02,020
(camera clicks)
512
00:33:02,020 --> 00:33:04,870
The flocks fly 3,000 kilometers nonstop,
513
00:33:04,870 --> 00:33:08,060
in just seven days, to get here,
514
00:33:08,060 --> 00:33:10,508
the tiny desert town of Kichan.
515
00:33:10,508 --> 00:33:13,425
(cranes squawking)
516
00:33:18,010 --> 00:33:21,300
The townspeople are honored to welcome the survivors
517
00:33:21,300 --> 00:33:23,653
and feed them throughout their six-month stay.
518
00:33:26,530 --> 00:33:30,270
Their generosity is a mark of their respect for the cranes,
519
00:33:30,270 --> 00:33:31,693
and it's justly rewarded.
520
00:33:34,010 --> 00:33:36,053
9,000 cranes flock to Kichan,
521
00:33:37,210 --> 00:33:39,672
one of the largest congregations in the world.
522
00:33:39,672 --> 00:33:42,589
(cranes squawking)
523
00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,003
It's a safe, warm place to winter,
524
00:33:49,930 --> 00:33:52,880
and there's enough food to recover from their arduous trip.
525
00:34:00,780 --> 00:34:04,593
In some countries, cranes are shot and face extinction.
526
00:34:05,550 --> 00:34:07,513
But here, they're protected.
527
00:34:10,810 --> 00:34:12,840
The people of Kichan consider it a privilege
528
00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,398
to host these incredible migrants.
529
00:34:15,398 --> 00:34:19,130
(cranes squawking)
530
00:34:19,130 --> 00:34:21,130
But it's not just animals that are highly valued
531
00:34:21,130 --> 00:34:22,416
in this desert region.
532
00:34:22,416 --> 00:34:24,999
(solemn music)
533
00:34:26,630 --> 00:34:28,970
There's something else so precious,
534
00:34:28,970 --> 00:34:30,813
people have died protecting it.
535
00:34:34,750 --> 00:34:38,883
It's the ultimate desert survivor, the Khejri tree.
536
00:34:40,870 --> 00:34:44,720
Its nutritious leaves are known as famine food,
537
00:34:44,720 --> 00:34:46,943
lifesavers for animals and people.
538
00:34:48,580 --> 00:34:52,473
During a 40-year famine, people survived on its bark alone.
539
00:34:53,450 --> 00:34:56,123
And it's central to the lives of one unique tribe.
540
00:34:57,780 --> 00:35:02,060
The Bishnoi live according to 29 strict principles
541
00:35:02,060 --> 00:35:04,363
to ensure they don't harm any living thing,
542
00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:07,503
most importantly, trees.
543
00:35:12,990 --> 00:35:15,850
The Bishnoi depend on fires for cooking,
544
00:35:15,850 --> 00:35:17,750
but it's forbidden to cut living wood.
545
00:35:19,150 --> 00:35:21,153
They only ever collect dead branches.
546
00:35:23,190 --> 00:35:25,820
A brutal event in history united the Bishnoi
547
00:35:25,820 --> 00:35:27,933
and the Khejri tree forever,
548
00:35:28,890 --> 00:35:30,854
a tragedy that's never been forgotten.
549
00:35:30,854 --> 00:35:32,430
(elder speaks in foreign language)
550
00:35:32,430 --> 00:35:35,520
Even today, the village elders recount
551
00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:37,864
the story of the 393.
552
00:35:37,864 --> 00:35:41,670
(elder speaks in foreign language)
553
00:35:41,670 --> 00:35:43,200
300 years ago,
554
00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,943
the Maharaja of Jodhpur was building his vast fort.
555
00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:50,806
He needed wood and sent loggers to cut the Khejri trees.
556
00:35:50,806 --> 00:35:53,190
(elder speaks in foreign language)
557
00:35:53,190 --> 00:35:57,290
When a brave villager, Amrita Devi, protested,
558
00:35:57,290 --> 00:35:59,223
she paid with her life.
559
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,180
Other villagers tried to protect the trees, too.
560
00:36:03,180 --> 00:36:04,963
But the loggers showed no mercy.
561
00:36:06,340 --> 00:36:09,721
In total, 393 people were martyred.
562
00:36:09,721 --> 00:36:13,971
(elder speaks in foreign language)
563
00:36:16,980 --> 00:36:20,563
It may sound like a myth, but this massacre really happened.
564
00:36:21,930 --> 00:36:23,580
The martyr's legacy is a tradition
565
00:36:23,580 --> 00:36:26,240
of conservation among their descendants.
566
00:36:26,240 --> 00:36:28,657
(bell rings)
567
00:36:31,270 --> 00:36:32,700
The Bishnoi tribe are considered
568
00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:35,260
the world's first ecologists.
569
00:36:35,260 --> 00:36:37,910
Wild animals flock to Bishnoi villages,
570
00:36:37,910 --> 00:36:40,360
because they're cared for like one of the family.
571
00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:45,973
Known as the guardians of the desert,
572
00:36:46,820 --> 00:36:50,750
the Bishnoi protect large areas of pristine habitat,
573
00:36:50,750 --> 00:36:53,053
vital sanctuaries for native wildlife,
574
00:36:55,488 --> 00:36:57,211
like the spiny-tailed lizard.
575
00:36:57,211 --> 00:36:58,600
(playful music)
576
00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:00,893
Often found living near Bishnoi villages,
577
00:37:02,270 --> 00:37:04,753
it's known to eat the beans of the Khejri tree.
578
00:37:05,956 --> 00:37:07,980
(playful music)
579
00:37:07,980 --> 00:37:10,393
Elsewhere, it's hunted for meat and medicine.
580
00:37:11,710 --> 00:37:14,413
Its only predator here is the tawny eagle.
581
00:37:16,439 --> 00:37:18,939
(tense music)
582
00:37:35,310 --> 00:37:38,780
Blackbuck, India's most elegant antelope,
583
00:37:38,780 --> 00:37:40,763
are rare outside Bishnoi land.
584
00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:45,523
Herds of 10,000 once roamed the desert,
585
00:37:46,530 --> 00:37:49,150
but numbers have crashed, due to poaching
586
00:37:49,150 --> 00:37:51,463
and competition with livestock for grazing.
587
00:37:56,610 --> 00:37:58,843
Its spiral antlers may look elegant,
588
00:37:59,950 --> 00:38:01,573
but they're designed for combat.
589
00:38:03,084 --> 00:38:05,917
(energetic music)
590
00:38:08,580 --> 00:38:11,823
Jousting follows well-established rules to minimize injury.
591
00:38:13,150 --> 00:38:16,080
But with weapons as sharp as samurai swords,
592
00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:17,852
fights can be deadly.
593
00:38:17,852 --> 00:38:20,685
(energetic music)
594
00:38:29,410 --> 00:38:31,700
With the males preoccupied,
595
00:38:31,700 --> 00:38:34,113
female blackbuck must be extra vigilant.
596
00:38:36,378 --> 00:38:38,961
(solemn music)
597
00:38:40,710 --> 00:38:43,830
Indian wolves patrol these grasslands.
598
00:38:43,830 --> 00:38:46,920
(ominous music)
599
00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:49,433
Blackbuck are its natural prey.
600
00:38:50,308 --> 00:38:52,975
(ominous music)
601
00:38:57,510 --> 00:39:00,630
But the antelope are one of the world's fastest animals.
602
00:39:00,630 --> 00:39:02,313
Reaching 80 kilometers an hour,
603
00:39:03,390 --> 00:39:04,533
they're no easy catch.
604
00:39:12,820 --> 00:39:15,653
A leaping herd proves too much for a lone wolf.
605
00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:26,800
The Thar is a stronghold for the Indian wolf,
606
00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:29,023
which thrives in undisturbed areas.
607
00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:34,330
The wolves live in tightly-knit family groups,
608
00:39:34,330 --> 00:39:35,920
led by a dominant pair.
609
00:39:39,370 --> 00:39:41,973
Once, they were widespread across the country.
610
00:39:43,110 --> 00:39:45,739
Now, fewer than 3,000 survive.
611
00:39:45,739 --> 00:39:49,130
(cubs squealing)
612
00:39:49,130 --> 00:39:51,290
Sheep make easy prey.
613
00:39:51,290 --> 00:39:53,070
And in some parts of India,
614
00:39:53,070 --> 00:39:55,113
wolves have even hunted human children.
615
00:39:56,260 --> 00:39:59,210
Understandably, this has made them public enemy number one.
616
00:40:00,850 --> 00:40:03,573
But Hindu tribes consider killing wolves taboo.
617
00:40:04,730 --> 00:40:07,140
Though still persecuted by some,
618
00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:10,138
the Indian wolf is now also protected by law.
619
00:40:10,138 --> 00:40:12,477
(cubs barking)
620
00:40:12,477 --> 00:40:14,620
(wolf howls)
621
00:40:14,620 --> 00:40:18,420
The Thar is a home to a surprising number of predators.
622
00:40:18,420 --> 00:40:19,543
Indian foxes,
623
00:40:21,130 --> 00:40:21,963
hyenas,
624
00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:24,460
and the king of them all,
625
00:40:24,460 --> 00:40:26,705
an animal that once rivaled the tiger.
626
00:40:26,705 --> 00:40:28,800
(camera clicks)
627
00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:31,310
At the far southern edge of the desert,
628
00:40:31,310 --> 00:40:33,570
in Gujarat Gir Forest,
629
00:40:33,570 --> 00:40:36,343
lives a predator normally associated with Africa.
630
00:40:38,870 --> 00:40:42,780
This parched forest is at its most dangerous in the summer,
631
00:40:42,780 --> 00:40:44,940
when one of the world's most formidable predators
632
00:40:44,940 --> 00:40:46,090
has youngsters to feed.
633
00:40:50,990 --> 00:40:53,745
Lifesaving water sources become death traps.
634
00:40:53,745 --> 00:40:56,662
(animals grunting)
635
00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,103
This is lion country.
636
00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:13,050
Females have cubs during the hottest months of the year
637
00:41:13,950 --> 00:41:17,450
when prey is forced to visit shrinking waterholes,
638
00:41:17,450 --> 00:41:19,000
and it's easier to make a kill.
639
00:41:20,822 --> 00:41:23,822
(suspenseful music)
640
00:41:41,350 --> 00:41:44,530
Indian lions can hunt successfully alone,
641
00:41:44,530 --> 00:41:45,980
using the cover of the trees
642
00:41:45,980 --> 00:41:48,199
to get within striking distance.
643
00:41:48,199 --> 00:41:51,199
(suspenseful music)
644
00:41:52,409 --> 00:41:54,317
(animals grunting)
645
00:41:54,317 --> 00:41:55,892
(dramatic music)
646
00:41:55,892 --> 00:41:58,725
(animals wailing)
647
00:42:00,900 --> 00:42:03,370
Unlike their African cousins,
648
00:42:03,370 --> 00:42:05,630
Indian lions have a thinner mane
649
00:42:05,630 --> 00:42:08,203
and a long line of skin running down their belly.
650
00:42:11,150 --> 00:42:14,220
The Gir Forest is the last stronghold of lions
651
00:42:14,220 --> 00:42:18,203
which once roamed all over Europe, Asia, and India.
652
00:42:23,420 --> 00:42:26,250
After a century of big game hunting,
653
00:42:26,250 --> 00:42:28,100
they were at the brink of extinction.
654
00:42:29,170 --> 00:42:32,283
In 1900, there were just 20 lions left.
655
00:42:33,330 --> 00:42:34,633
Now, there are around 500.
656
00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:39,300
They owe their survival to the Maldhari herdsmen
657
00:42:39,300 --> 00:42:41,790
who gave up their ancestral homelands
658
00:42:41,790 --> 00:42:43,363
to create a lion reserve.
659
00:42:46,500 --> 00:42:49,310
With nothing but thorn fences for protection,
660
00:42:49,310 --> 00:42:52,113
the Maldhari's tolerance for big cats is remarkable.
661
00:42:53,750 --> 00:42:57,253
The Maldharis are Hindus and consider the lion sacred.
662
00:42:58,250 --> 00:43:03,250
They worship the man-lion, Narasimha, a supreme god.
663
00:43:04,810 --> 00:43:08,300
Even though lions are venturing outside the reserve,
664
00:43:08,300 --> 00:43:11,363
the Maldhari continue to tolerate their dangerous neighbor.
665
00:43:14,410 --> 00:43:17,630
When the oppressive summer heat is at its peak,
666
00:43:17,630 --> 00:43:19,053
it's too hot to move.
667
00:43:20,300 --> 00:43:23,780
Temperatures soar to 50 degrees centigrade.
668
00:43:23,780 --> 00:43:26,731
Without a drop of rain, the desert is gripped by drought.
669
00:43:26,731 --> 00:43:29,920
(dramatic music)
(horns honking)
670
00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:32,250
The region's capital city, Jaipur,
671
00:43:32,250 --> 00:43:34,973
feels the effects of food and water shortages.
672
00:43:36,930 --> 00:43:39,360
The temple troop is forced downtown,
673
00:43:39,360 --> 00:43:41,320
in search of something to eat.
674
00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:43,903
(somber music)
675
00:43:48,650 --> 00:43:50,970
Venerated monkeys reduced to rummaging
676
00:43:50,970 --> 00:43:53,332
through rubbish for scraps.
677
00:43:53,332 --> 00:43:55,530
(monkeys squeaking)
678
00:43:55,530 --> 00:43:57,410
They're thirsty, too,
679
00:43:57,410 --> 00:43:59,521
but the city taps are padlocked.
680
00:43:59,521 --> 00:44:02,521
(monkeys squeaking)
681
00:44:06,550 --> 00:44:10,223
Water supplies are drying out, even at the temple.
682
00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:18,463
But the resident troop still has one precious pool left.
683
00:44:20,670 --> 00:44:23,803
At this time of year, they're permanently on guard.
684
00:44:25,180 --> 00:44:26,720
Given half a chance,
685
00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:29,589
neighboring troops will steal their prime territory.
686
00:44:29,589 --> 00:44:32,339
(dramatic music)
687
00:44:36,500 --> 00:44:38,420
In macaque society,
688
00:44:38,420 --> 00:44:41,093
you have to defend your home if you want to keep it.
689
00:44:43,210 --> 00:44:46,750
The temple troop has lived here in luxury for generations.
690
00:44:46,750 --> 00:44:49,133
It's the main reason so many have survived.
691
00:44:50,245 --> 00:44:51,570
(invaders growling)
692
00:44:51,570 --> 00:44:53,303
But their rivals are closing in.
693
00:44:54,370 --> 00:44:56,760
They'll do almost anything to claim the temple
694
00:44:56,760 --> 00:44:58,673
and its priceless water supplies.
695
00:45:00,630 --> 00:45:03,427
The temple troop forms a defensive wall.
696
00:45:03,427 --> 00:45:06,427
(invaders growling)
697
00:45:09,100 --> 00:45:12,690
But desperation is a powerful driving force.
698
00:45:12,690 --> 00:45:16,081
The intruders take their chance and attack.
699
00:45:16,081 --> 00:45:21,081
(temple troop screeching)
(solemn music)
700
00:45:25,780 --> 00:45:28,030
They break the temple troop's defensive line.
701
00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:30,866
Now anything's possible.
702
00:45:30,866 --> 00:45:33,616
(dramatic music)
703
00:45:35,422 --> 00:45:36,255
(monkey screeches)
704
00:45:36,255 --> 00:45:38,210
It's hard to know who's who,
705
00:45:38,210 --> 00:45:41,061
until the rival's dominant male makes his move.
706
00:45:41,061 --> 00:45:43,561
(tense music)
707
00:45:48,080 --> 00:45:50,123
He attacks the alpha female.
708
00:45:54,990 --> 00:45:56,253
It's a big mistake.
709
00:45:57,120 --> 00:45:59,830
Her family leaps to her defense.
710
00:45:59,830 --> 00:46:02,559
The big male turns tail and flees.
711
00:46:02,559 --> 00:46:05,309
(dramatic music)
712
00:46:06,570 --> 00:46:07,833
His troop follow suit.
713
00:46:09,610 --> 00:46:11,363
Their attack crumbles.
714
00:46:11,363 --> 00:46:14,113
(dramatic music)
715
00:46:16,720 --> 00:46:18,623
The macaques cling on to the temple,
716
00:46:19,890 --> 00:46:22,413
but one female has suffered a terrible loss.
717
00:46:24,827 --> 00:46:27,410
(somber music)
718
00:46:29,912 --> 00:46:32,495
(man chanting)
719
00:46:34,180 --> 00:46:37,799
Caught up in the fighting, her baby has died.
720
00:46:37,799 --> 00:46:40,382
(man chanting)
721
00:46:53,538 --> 00:46:57,330
A solemn mood settles over the whole family.
722
00:46:57,330 --> 00:46:59,036
They know something is wrong.
723
00:46:59,036 --> 00:47:01,619
(man chanting)
724
00:47:04,950 --> 00:47:08,380
It's impossible to know what the mother is thinking,
725
00:47:08,380 --> 00:47:11,090
but she carries her baby around for hours
726
00:47:11,090 --> 00:47:13,301
before finally letting go.
727
00:47:13,301 --> 00:47:15,884
(man chanting)
728
00:47:30,758 --> 00:47:34,264
It's a confusing time for the youngsters.
729
00:47:34,264 --> 00:47:36,377
(monkey cries)
730
00:47:36,377 --> 00:47:40,323
And there'll be more deaths if the rains don't arrive soon.
731
00:47:45,820 --> 00:47:48,500
If they don't get enough food and water,
732
00:47:48,500 --> 00:47:50,480
female macaques are sometimes forced
733
00:47:50,480 --> 00:47:51,943
to abandon their babies.
734
00:47:53,380 --> 00:47:56,563
For now, all they can do is watch and wait.
735
00:48:00,570 --> 00:48:04,833
After 10 months of drought, the baking desert is rock-hard.
736
00:48:04,833 --> 00:48:06,340
(wind whistling)
737
00:48:06,340 --> 00:48:09,700
Suddenly, a change in the air.
738
00:48:09,700 --> 00:48:11,343
The monsoon stirs.
739
00:48:13,160 --> 00:48:15,240
Low pressure sucks moisture-laden air
740
00:48:15,240 --> 00:48:18,120
from the Indian Ocean towards the Himalayas.
741
00:48:18,120 --> 00:48:20,570
As it rises and cools,
(thunder crackling)
742
00:48:20,570 --> 00:48:24,000
heavy storm clouds, charged with electricity,
743
00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:26,189
finally release what's longed for.
744
00:48:26,189 --> 00:48:30,930
(thunder roars)
(rain pattering)
745
00:48:30,930 --> 00:48:33,053
The monsoon transforms the city.
746
00:48:34,230 --> 00:48:37,223
A year's rain falls in a matter of hours.
747
00:48:40,467 --> 00:48:42,470
(thunder rumbles)
748
00:48:42,470 --> 00:48:44,570
It may be a lifesaver,
749
00:48:44,570 --> 00:48:47,913
but the deluge is a shock to some of Jaipur's residents.
750
00:48:49,910 --> 00:48:52,203
It's the same scene all over the Thar.
751
00:48:52,203 --> 00:48:54,953
(rain pattering)
752
00:49:00,150 --> 00:49:01,764
But the mood is changing.
753
00:49:01,764 --> 00:49:04,230
(energetic music)
754
00:49:04,230 --> 00:49:06,393
The city streets flow like rivers.
755
00:49:07,470 --> 00:49:09,610
Precious water is everywhere.
756
00:49:12,214 --> 00:49:15,047
(energetic music)
757
00:49:16,890 --> 00:49:18,673
This is a time for celebration.
758
00:49:19,940 --> 00:49:22,997
The monsoon is vital to all life here.
759
00:49:22,997 --> 00:49:25,830
(energetic music)
760
00:49:27,610 --> 00:49:30,383
Within days, the desert is transformed.
761
00:49:32,700 --> 00:49:35,120
Soils become fertile.
762
00:49:35,120 --> 00:49:36,593
Crops regrow.
763
00:49:39,410 --> 00:49:41,763
Jaipur is quick to reap the benefits.
764
00:49:42,690 --> 00:49:45,944
Fresh food and water stocks are replenished.
765
00:49:45,944 --> 00:49:48,570
(bell rings)
766
00:49:48,570 --> 00:49:50,623
Pilgrims return to the monkey temple.
767
00:49:51,480 --> 00:49:53,893
And now, they have plenty to share.
768
00:49:55,942 --> 00:49:59,000
(monkey squealing)
769
00:49:59,000 --> 00:50:02,623
The temple troop females will not abandon their babies.
770
00:50:05,350 --> 00:50:07,200
And there are new faces in the crowd.
771
00:50:09,430 --> 00:50:12,430
At last, the family has time to groom
772
00:50:12,430 --> 00:50:14,403
and renew old friendships.
773
00:50:19,240 --> 00:50:21,970
For now, the macaques can relax,
774
00:50:21,970 --> 00:50:25,613
but survival in this harsh desert will always be a struggle.
775
00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:28,823
And with India's population booming,
776
00:50:29,780 --> 00:50:32,510
and global temperatures rising,
777
00:50:32,510 --> 00:50:34,193
life can only get harder.
778
00:50:37,570 --> 00:50:40,500
The spiritual relationships that unite the Thar's human
779
00:50:40,500 --> 00:50:44,410
and animal inhabitants will increasingly shape their future,
780
00:50:44,410 --> 00:50:46,763
in the world's most crowded desert.
781
00:50:46,763 --> 00:50:48,470
(camera clicks)
(dramatic music)
782
00:50:48,470 --> 00:50:50,070
The Thar desert,
783
00:50:50,070 --> 00:50:53,142
so harsh yet so full of life,
784
00:50:53,142 --> 00:50:55,500
(birds squawking)
(man chanting)
785
00:50:55,500 --> 00:50:58,250
where animals and people have always needed each other,
786
00:50:59,230 --> 00:51:01,050
competition is fierce,
787
00:51:01,050 --> 00:51:03,331
and the fight for survival can be desperate.
788
00:51:03,331 --> 00:51:07,100
(monkeys screeching)
(dramatic music)
789
00:51:07,100 --> 00:51:09,480
But on these sacred sands,
790
00:51:09,480 --> 00:51:12,107
a spirit of compassion saves lives.
791
00:51:12,107 --> 00:51:15,540
(dramatic music)
792
00:51:15,540 --> 00:51:17,310
The Thar is home to more creatures
793
00:51:17,310 --> 00:51:19,060
than any other desert in the world,
794
00:51:20,660 --> 00:51:23,130
because its people have a long tradition
795
00:51:23,130 --> 00:51:25,817
of respect for nature.
796
00:51:25,817 --> 00:51:28,400
(man chanting)
797
00:51:30,105 --> 00:51:32,938
{\an8}(uplifting music)
59175
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