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(wind blowing)
(dramatic orchestral music)
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The Himalayas,
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the world's tallest mountain range.
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(wind blowing)
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As earth meets the sky along this hostile terrain,
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powerful winds, subzero temperatures,
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and a lack of oxygen oppose virtually all forms of life.
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(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)
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But creatures have somehow conquered
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these cloud-piercing peaks,
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and more recently, people have also taken on
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the world's toughest terrain.
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(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)
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Although this enormous natural barrier
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shields and nurtures India's fertile lower plains,
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the pressure to survive at higher climbs
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fuels competition, pushing all who live here to the limit.
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(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)
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These are the Himalayas,
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where only the toughest of creatures survive.
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(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)
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(pensive orchestral music)
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(choir vocalizing)
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(bird squawking)
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(tense music)
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(bright pensive music)
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The Himalayas run west to east across Northern India,
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forming an arc 2-1/2 thousand kilometers long.
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Outside Asia, no peak reaches above 7,000 meters,
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but along the Himalayan Range,
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over 100 mountains exceed this height
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by at least 200 meters, and counting.
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At first sight, the Himalayas appear
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like any other snow-covered barren land.
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But this immense geological feature
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somehow supports one of the largest
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and most diverse collections of creatures on the planet.
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(tense pensive music)
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While these rugged highlands
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offer little direct refuge to humans,
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in the shadow below, over a billion people in India
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rely on the mountains for survival.
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As the seasons come and go,
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the mystery as to how these mountains
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fuel such a vast array of life soon becomes clear.
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(wind blowing)
(bright pensive music)
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100 million years ago,
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the Indian Island Continent started drifting north
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at a rate of over 16 centimeters a year
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on one of the fastest-moving tectonic plates in the world.
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Eventually, the floating mass slammed into Asia,
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and slid beneath the stationary continent.
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The crumpling and uplifting of the lands above
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created enormous earthquakes,
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and ultimately gave birth to the magnificent mountain range
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that is still rising today.
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(dramatic orchestral music)
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(wind blowing)
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Despite being the world's tallest mountains,
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the Himalayas are surprisingly
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one of the youngest ranges on the planet.
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Significant growth has taken place
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in just the last few hundred-thousand years.
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They currently have the highest rate of uplift in the world,
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rising by five millimeters every year.
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The next million years could see
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these already cloud-piercing peaks
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rise a further five kilometers.
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(tense pensive music)
(wind blowing)
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At 5,000 meters above sea level,
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among the most treacherous and untamed mountains
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in the world, certain highly-adapted species
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have made this desolate, cold desert their home.
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Blue sheep, also known as bharal,
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resemble goats rather than their wooly namesake.
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Living in small groups of around 20,
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they're active throughout the day.
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Winter food is so scarce,
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searching for hidden roots is a part of the daily routine,
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but the occasional stump of dried-up summer grass
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still provides a welcome bonus.
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Despite their excellent camouflage and sure-footed ability,
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bharal still fall victim to predators.
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(tense music)
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Young lambs are particularly vulnerable,
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especially when forced to break cover
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in search of a much-needed drink.
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(tense music)
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But aerial hunters aren't the main threat
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along these snow-covered plains.
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Another predator prowls the peaks,
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and there's no limit to the size of this creature's prey.
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(mysterious tense music)
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Stalking from above, the element of surprise
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is all part of the snow leopard's
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preferred method of capture.
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(tense music)
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Like many of the big cats,
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the snow leopard is a powerful ambush hunter.
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But like all mountain goats,
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these ibex have highly-tuned senses.
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Their eyes lock on to the impending danger
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before taking evasive action.
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(mysterious suspenseful music)
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Despite having large rock-gripping padded feet,
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and a long balance-assisting tail,
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this stalker stands little chance of catching
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one of the most agile creatures on the planet,
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unless it can avoid being spotted.
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But the snow leopard rarely goes hungry.
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It has a secret weapon.
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While most mountain goats become blind to the night,
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the snow leopard's excellent nocturnal vision kicks in.
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This advantage explains why the majority of kills
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take place closer to dawn and dusk.
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(suspenseful music)
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(wind blowing)
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(pensive music)
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(woman vocalizing)
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Himalayan snow levels rarely venture higher
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than 5-1/2 thousand meters,
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and it appears this oxygen-depleted altitude
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is the limit for another mammal
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that also struggles to survive
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in the mountains of India's most northern region, Ladakh.
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(mysterious pensive music with woman vocalizing)
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(people singing in foreign language)
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Following a six-hour trek
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from the Himalayas's higher plains,
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the Changpa tribe finally reach
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their temporary winter base.
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(man singing in foreign language)
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These nomadic herders can't survive
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the deathly winter cold above 5,000 meters,
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so instead, travel over 10 kilometers
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to reach the lower-altitude plains.
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(people singing in foreign language)
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Even here at 4,000 meters, in a blink of the sun,
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temperatures can suddenly plummet from plus-five
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to minus-30 degrees Celsius.
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(people singing in foreign language)
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(metallic clanging)
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Setting up camp by one of the previous seasons'
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dry stone corrals is top of the to-do list
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before the bone-chilling night air creeps in.
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(wind blowing)
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(pensive music)
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(birds chirping)
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As the early morning sun
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takes the ambient air above freezing,
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baby goats that spent the night
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under the warm cover of canvas are returned to the herd.
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(pensive music)
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For centuries, nomads like 61-year old Stanzen (indistinct)
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have been herding the goats whose delicate wool
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supplies the cashmere shawl industry.
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(pensive music)
(man vocalizing)
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Newborn kids guarantee the future supply of raw wool,
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known as pashm, so they receive special care
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and are always first to be tended to.
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(man speaking in foreign language)
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(Stanzen warbling)
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A constantly-smoking stove is the center point
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to nomadic life, alongside a decorated altar,
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used for daily worship.
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(man chanting in foreign language)
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(bright pensive music)
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With their origins in neighboring Tibet,
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the Changpa are devout followers of Tibetan Buddhism.
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(man chanting in foreign language)
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(Stanzen chanting in foreign language)
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They believe the world is divided
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into three distinct layers,
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the upper tier being the home of the gods,
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the lower, the domain of the underworld spirits.
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(bells ringing)
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And sandwiched in the middle is the layer shared
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by people and animals.
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(warm pensive music with woman vocalizing)
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(sheep bleating)
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Believing that their livestock are a gift from the gods,
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each morning, incense burned at the tent's altar
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is taken outside and offered to their animals.
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(warm pensive music with woman vocalizing)
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The number of goats, sheep, and yak a family owns
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defines wealth.
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The most well-off can possess over 1,000 animals.
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With trees unable to grow in this high-altitude climate,
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firewood is conveniently replaced
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by another renewable source.
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(Stanzen singing in foreign language)
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While his mother and father remain at camp
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tackling domestic duties,
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18-year-old Tupsten heads off for the day
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in search of grazing to satisfy his herd
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of 100 hungry mouths.
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(Tupsten whistling)
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(bright warm music)
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(Tupsten vocalizing)
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Boys start shepherding with their fathers
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at the age of eight, and when confident,
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head off into the hills on their own.
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Although sheep and yak fibers
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also provide a source of income,
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it's the indigenous Tibetan or Pashmina mountain goats
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that are most valued.
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(warm music)
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The harsh climate of the Ladakh Plateau
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forces the goats to grow an extra layer of downy fiber
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beneath their upper coat, producing some of the finest
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and most valuable wool available today.
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Back in the 18th century,
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the ever-scheming East India Company
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realized the value of such fibers,
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and were quick to coerce the Ladakhi king
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to side with the Empire.
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But the so-called Pashmina Wars
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between the region's various rulers
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date back over 400 years.
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(warm music)
(Tupsten whistling)
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(goats bleating)
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Although the lower grazing grounds aren't covered by snow
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like the higher plains,
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their short, dry grasses provide a very limited,
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vastly spread-out resource.
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Tupsten and his herd have no option
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but to cover over 10 kilometers each day
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in search of edible pasture.
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It's an arduous nine-hour roundtrip.
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(animals bleating)
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But the Changpa aren't the only ones forced to journey
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across this unforgiving land in order to survive.
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(wind blowing)
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(pensive orchestral music)
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High above the plateau, bar-headed geese
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head south over the Himalayas
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to the warmer winter feeding grounds of Northern India.
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(geese honking)
(pensive orchestral music)
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But traveling over 1,500 kilometers in a single day
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isn't this bird's only claim to fame.
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It chooses to fly at an altitude
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few other creatures could barely imagine,
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and that includes man,
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as this bird cruises even higher than a jumbo jet.
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(pensive orchestral music)
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Soaring at 10,000 meters,
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bar-headed geese have even been spotted
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flying over Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
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Although broader-than-average wings
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create a large uplifting surface-to-weight ratio,
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this species doesn't just glide with the wind.
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Part of its success is down to being a powerful flapper.
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(pensive orchestral music)
(goose honking)
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Under their own power, bar-headed geese can fly
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over 80 kilometers an hour.
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With a tail wind, this speed can easily be doubled.
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(pensive orchestral music)
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At minus-35-degrees Celsius,
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ice build-up on their wings would normally be an issue
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for most birds, but the bar-head's relentless flapping
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over the mountains produces excess body heat,
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which, in turn, acts as a de-icing mechanism.
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(pensive orchestral music)
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The atmosphere up here contains just a quarter
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of the oxygen found at sea level.
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But unlike other goose species,
267
00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,510
bar-headed geese have a greater number of blood capillaries
268
00:15:50,510 --> 00:15:52,053
servicing their wing muscles.
269
00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:57,220
This evolutionary trait means the limited oxygen absorbed
270
00:15:57,220 --> 00:15:59,375
is utilized much more efficiently.
271
00:15:59,375 --> 00:16:00,212
(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)
272
00:16:00,212 --> 00:16:02,879
(geese honking)
273
00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,103
(wind blowing)
274
00:16:11,103 --> 00:16:13,550
(warm flute music)
275
00:16:13,550 --> 00:16:16,670
Since their creation, the Himalayas have shaped
276
00:16:16,670 --> 00:16:18,263
the cultures of Southern Asia.
277
00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,220
Many peaks are seen as sacred,
278
00:16:22,220 --> 00:16:23,910
and religion, such as Buddhism,
279
00:16:23,910 --> 00:16:27,443
have a strong physical presence in the remotest of areas.
280
00:16:31,730 --> 00:16:34,440
Prayer flags flapping in the wind
281
00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,533
break the silence across the numerous mountain passes.
282
00:16:37,533 --> 00:16:40,430
(flags flapping)
(mysterious music)
283
00:16:40,430 --> 00:16:44,060
For centuries, Buddhist pilgrims have draped these pennants
284
00:16:44,060 --> 00:16:47,270
across valleys and places of spiritual practice
285
00:16:47,270 --> 00:16:49,530
for the wind to carry their written prayers
286
00:16:49,530 --> 00:16:50,988
across the landscape.
287
00:16:50,988 --> 00:16:54,170
(mysterious music with man vocalizing)
288
00:16:54,170 --> 00:16:56,250
Although the flags are said to bring happiness
289
00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:58,263
and prosperity to the flag planter,
290
00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,100
it's also believed they spread goodwill and compassion
291
00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:05,621
to all beings throughout the pervading space.
292
00:17:05,621 --> 00:17:08,538
(mysterious music)
293
00:17:09,990 --> 00:17:12,310
More permanent monuments to the Buddhist faith
294
00:17:12,310 --> 00:17:15,169
also reveal the magnitude of religion throughout the region.
295
00:17:15,169 --> 00:17:18,086
(mysterious music)
296
00:17:19,020 --> 00:17:21,033
Evoking the shape of the seated Buddha,
297
00:17:21,890 --> 00:17:24,340
monuments such as these have been central
298
00:17:24,340 --> 00:17:26,943
to Buddhist worship for over 2,000 years.
299
00:17:29,780 --> 00:17:32,940
Known as stupas, they take the same form
300
00:17:32,940 --> 00:17:36,220
as the prototype created by the religion's founder
301
00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:38,253
back in the 6th century BC.
302
00:17:40,420 --> 00:17:42,760
The main dome represents the sacred mountains
303
00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:44,203
linking heaven and earth,
304
00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:48,340
while crowning the structure is a single spike
305
00:17:48,340 --> 00:17:51,750
holding the three jewels denoting the Buddha,
306
00:17:51,750 --> 00:17:54,649
the law, and the community of monks.
307
00:17:54,649 --> 00:17:57,566
(mysterious music)
308
00:17:59,220 --> 00:18:01,560
Perched high above the valleys,
309
00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,190
isolated monastic retreats provide a permanent home
310
00:18:05,190 --> 00:18:06,747
for holy devotees.
311
00:18:06,747 --> 00:18:08,238
(wind blowing)
312
00:18:08,238 --> 00:18:09,680
(bells clanging softly)
313
00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:11,780
Also known as gompas,
314
00:18:11,780 --> 00:18:15,260
most Himalayan monasteries appear locked in time,
315
00:18:15,260 --> 00:18:19,248
having undergone little change over the past 400 years.
316
00:18:19,248 --> 00:18:22,540
(mysterious music with man vocalizing)
317
00:18:22,540 --> 00:18:26,579
Daily life at Stakna Gompa starts early in the morning.
318
00:18:26,579 --> 00:18:28,900
(prayer wheels rattling)
(soft warm music)
319
00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:30,660
The spinning of prayer wheels
320
00:18:30,660 --> 00:18:33,883
is believed to accumulate wisdom and positive karma.
321
00:18:35,270 --> 00:18:38,920
It also has the same effect as orally reciting the mantras
322
00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:40,659
that adorn the cylinders.
323
00:18:40,659 --> 00:18:45,659
(prayer wheel rattling)
(sot warm music)
324
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,910
Along with daily prayer routines
325
00:18:47,910 --> 00:18:49,573
and services to the community,
326
00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:53,253
religious study is the main theme of monastic life.
327
00:18:54,470 --> 00:18:57,640
It takes at least 18 years for newly-ordained monks
328
00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,530
to fully complete their scholarship,
329
00:19:00,530 --> 00:19:03,470
during which they retreat for hours upon hours
330
00:19:03,470 --> 00:19:06,410
to meditate and reflect on the meanings
331
00:19:06,410 --> 00:19:08,763
and implications of Buddhist philosophy.
332
00:19:08,763 --> 00:19:11,596
(soft warm music)
333
00:19:13,370 --> 00:19:15,110
Only a handful of talented monks
334
00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:17,300
end up leading a scholarly life,
335
00:19:17,300 --> 00:19:19,933
and advance to religious fulfillment.
336
00:19:19,933 --> 00:19:24,140
(monk chanting in foreign language)
337
00:19:24,140 --> 00:19:27,110
Many find themselves performing more secular roles,
338
00:19:27,110 --> 00:19:30,293
such as craftsmen, builders, and cooks.
339
00:19:30,293 --> 00:19:35,293
(warm mysterious music with man vocalizing)
340
00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:52,240
Traditionally, the youngest son from each family
341
00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,093
is sent to join the local monastery,
342
00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,403
but for one Changpa boy back in Ladakh,
343
00:19:58,350 --> 00:19:59,497
this wasn't an option.
344
00:19:59,497 --> 00:20:01,490
(animals bleating)
345
00:20:01,490 --> 00:20:04,470
With no other siblings to help tend the herd,
346
00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:07,253
it's down to Tupsten to maintain the family income.
347
00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,440
At the end of another nine-hour food trek,
348
00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,230
it's all hands on deck, as each animal is given
349
00:20:15,230 --> 00:20:17,120
a couple of handfuls of barley
350
00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:19,626
to supplement their reduced winter grazing.
351
00:20:19,626 --> 00:20:22,543
(animals bleating)
352
00:20:26,420 --> 00:20:30,660
Finally, the day is done, and the herd huddles together
353
00:20:30,660 --> 00:20:32,153
inside the stone corral.
354
00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:35,980
Alone, they'd stand little chance of surviving
355
00:20:35,980 --> 00:20:37,913
the subzero nighttime temperature,
356
00:20:39,655 --> 00:20:41,940
(pensive music)
357
00:20:41,940 --> 00:20:45,638
but cold isn't the only killer roaming the valley.
358
00:20:45,638 --> 00:20:48,305
(pensive music)
359
00:20:49,341 --> 00:20:52,174
(horse whinnying)
360
00:20:53,527 --> 00:20:55,870
Namgel, nearby neighbor,
361
00:20:55,870 --> 00:20:57,530
brings news of a growing problem
362
00:20:57,530 --> 00:20:59,673
facing the entire Changpa community.
363
00:21:00,998 --> 00:21:03,860
(Namgel speaking in foreign language)
364
00:21:03,860 --> 00:21:05,191
(Stanzen speaking in foreign language)
365
00:21:05,191 --> 00:21:06,930
(Namgel speaking in foreign language)
366
00:21:06,930 --> 00:21:10,246
Last night, another one of his goats was taken.
367
00:21:10,246 --> 00:21:11,840
(Namgel speaking in foreign language)
368
00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,320
In total, over 40 animals have been attacked
369
00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:15,528
and killed this winter,
370
00:21:15,528 --> 00:21:17,638
(men speaking in foreign language)
371
00:21:17,638 --> 00:21:20,941
and it appears they're dealing with a number of assassins.
372
00:21:20,941 --> 00:21:25,191
(Namgel speaking in foreign language)
373
00:21:27,020 --> 00:21:29,020
As the Changpa retreat to lower climbs
374
00:21:29,020 --> 00:21:32,423
to survive the winter, the snow leopards follow.
375
00:21:34,530 --> 00:21:37,589
And it seems the entire plateau could now be surrounded.
376
00:21:37,589 --> 00:21:41,656
(Namgel speaking in foreign language)
377
00:21:41,656 --> 00:21:42,750
(man wearing hat speaking in foreign language)
378
00:21:42,750 --> 00:21:45,500
Stanzen proposes the standard solution,
379
00:21:45,500 --> 00:21:47,370
and as night creeps in,
380
00:21:47,370 --> 00:21:50,570
it's apparent that Tupsten, being the youngest,
381
00:21:50,570 --> 00:21:52,733
has once again drawn the short straw.
382
00:21:54,499 --> 00:21:57,599
(pensive music)
(wind blowing)
383
00:21:57,599 --> 00:21:59,860
(fire crackling)
384
00:21:59,860 --> 00:22:03,158
(Stanzen speaking in foreign language)
385
00:22:03,158 --> 00:22:04,309
(Tupsten speaking in foreign language)
386
00:22:04,309 --> 00:22:06,630
Swapping the warmth of the family tent
387
00:22:06,630 --> 00:22:08,570
for the freezing night air
388
00:22:08,570 --> 00:22:10,323
is a frequent chore for Tupsten,
389
00:22:11,490 --> 00:22:13,390
but a human presence is the best way
390
00:22:13,390 --> 00:22:16,361
to protect the herd from predatory attacks.
391
00:22:16,361 --> 00:22:21,361
(tense music)
(fire crackling)
392
00:22:35,473 --> 00:22:38,865
(snow leopard barking)
(dramatic tense music)
393
00:22:38,865 --> 00:22:42,448
(mysterious pensive music)
394
00:22:45,990 --> 00:22:49,440
Morning comes, and it's soon apparent
395
00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:50,943
they've had a visitor.
396
00:22:54,590 --> 00:22:56,610
Drag marks offer a clear clue
397
00:22:56,610 --> 00:22:59,101
to which direction the assailant headed.
398
00:22:59,101 --> 00:23:04,101
(tense pensive music)
(animals bleating)
399
00:23:18,970 --> 00:23:20,820
Snow leopards usually drag their prey
400
00:23:20,820 --> 00:23:23,188
to a safe location before eating.
401
00:23:23,188 --> 00:23:27,030
(tense pensive music)
402
00:23:27,030 --> 00:23:30,573
But this goat is still intact, meaning one thing:
403
00:23:31,570 --> 00:23:34,018
The perpetrator can't be too far away.
404
00:23:34,018 --> 00:23:37,185
(tense pensive music)
405
00:23:47,070 --> 00:23:49,690
Despite their formidable reputation,
406
00:23:49,690 --> 00:23:52,333
snow leopards pose little direct threat to people.
407
00:23:54,750 --> 00:23:57,580
Unlike most of their big cat relatives,
408
00:23:57,580 --> 00:24:00,180
these highland hunters have never been known
409
00:24:00,180 --> 00:24:01,263
to attack a human.
410
00:24:03,250 --> 00:24:06,902
The biggest danger at this altitude is still the cold.
411
00:24:06,902 --> 00:24:11,902
(tense pensive music)
(wind blowing)
412
00:24:20,399 --> 00:24:23,982
(mysterious pensive music)
413
00:24:25,231 --> 00:24:26,970
At this time of year,
414
00:24:26,970 --> 00:24:29,440
the plateau's once fast-flowing rivers
415
00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,898
become just another frozen feature.
416
00:24:31,898 --> 00:24:35,650
(mysterious pensive music)
417
00:24:35,650 --> 00:24:38,410
Even the region's largest ecosystems,
418
00:24:38,410 --> 00:24:40,990
the high-altitude lakes, take a break
419
00:24:40,990 --> 00:24:43,120
from their summer wetland roles
420
00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:46,450
as ice claims every last drop of water.
421
00:24:46,450 --> 00:24:50,260
(mysterious pensive music)
422
00:24:50,260 --> 00:24:52,803
Lying 4-1/2 thousand meters above sea level,
423
00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:57,023
Tso Moriri isn't only one of the highest lakes in the world,
424
00:24:58,010 --> 00:25:01,060
at 28 kilometers long by eight wide,
425
00:25:01,060 --> 00:25:03,310
it's also the largest body of water
426
00:25:03,310 --> 00:25:04,930
in the Indian Himalayas.
427
00:25:04,930 --> 00:25:09,540
(mysterious pensive music with choir vocalizing)
428
00:25:09,540 --> 00:25:12,260
Surrounded by snow-capped peaks,
429
00:25:12,260 --> 00:25:15,023
the lake is mainly topped up by summer melt water.
430
00:25:16,230 --> 00:25:18,720
The region's rainfall adds very little,
431
00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,634
with an annual count of just 100 millimeters.
432
00:25:21,634 --> 00:25:25,300
(mysterious pensive music)
(water flowing)
433
00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:29,600
With no outlet, Tso Moriri's already-brackish water
434
00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,033
is becoming increasingly saline every year.
435
00:25:34,530 --> 00:25:37,490
Despite this slightly salty composition,
436
00:25:37,490 --> 00:25:39,500
the lake still remains completely frozen
437
00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:41,673
for around four months of the year.
438
00:25:41,673 --> 00:25:45,965
(mysterious pensive music)
439
00:25:45,965 --> 00:25:48,548
(wind blowing)
440
00:25:51,674 --> 00:25:55,160
(tense pensive music)
441
00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,980
But less than 25 kilometers away,
442
00:25:57,980 --> 00:25:59,573
it's a very different story.
443
00:26:03,570 --> 00:26:06,720
In the eastern parts of Ladakh's Puga Valley,
444
00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:09,450
steam rising from the freezing land
445
00:26:09,450 --> 00:26:13,350
is a stark reminder that these Himalayan mountains
446
00:26:13,350 --> 00:26:15,046
are no sleeping giants.
447
00:26:15,046 --> 00:26:18,010
(water gurgling)
(tense pensive music)
448
00:26:18,010 --> 00:26:20,590
Boiling-hot streams point to deep fractures
449
00:26:20,590 --> 00:26:21,653
in the rock beneath,
450
00:26:22,660 --> 00:26:26,020
a continuous reminder of the tectonic collision
451
00:26:26,020 --> 00:26:28,800
that began 50 million years ago,
452
00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,713
and that's still taking place today.
453
00:26:34,210 --> 00:26:37,430
The circulation of water throughout these underground faults
454
00:26:37,430 --> 00:26:40,237
has created over 100 thermal springs.
455
00:26:40,237 --> 00:26:43,500
(mysterious pensive music with choir vocalizing)
456
00:26:43,500 --> 00:26:47,200
Super-heated water from reservoirs over a kilometer down
457
00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,483
rises to the surface at a temperature of 84 degrees,
458
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:55,048
the reduced boiling point at this particular altitude.
459
00:26:55,048 --> 00:26:58,631
(mysterious pensive music)
460
00:27:01,619 --> 00:27:04,369
(water babbling)
461
00:27:08,614 --> 00:27:10,080
(wind blowing)
462
00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,130
Just as Ladakh's hot springs provide a constant reminder
463
00:27:13,130 --> 00:27:14,543
of the Himalayas's creation,
464
00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:20,190
400 kilometers further south lies India's greatest monument
465
00:27:20,190 --> 00:27:23,178
to the forces behind this magnificent range.
466
00:27:23,178 --> 00:27:26,761
(mysterious pensive music)
467
00:27:27,619 --> 00:27:31,210
At a cloud-caressing 7,800 meters,
468
00:27:31,210 --> 00:27:34,588
Nanda Devi is India's tallest mountain.
469
00:27:34,588 --> 00:27:38,720
(mysterious pensive music)
470
00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:41,440
Standing in a vast amphitheater,
471
00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,030
over 100 kilometers in circumference,
472
00:27:44,030 --> 00:27:47,040
and no less than 6,000 meters high,
473
00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,290
Nanda Devi shields an unlikely Eden
474
00:27:50,290 --> 00:27:52,816
in the heart of the Himalayas's hostile zone.
475
00:27:52,816 --> 00:27:57,010
(mysterious pensive music with choir vocalizing)
476
00:27:57,010 --> 00:28:00,370
Surrounded by a circle of 600 peaks,
477
00:28:00,370 --> 00:28:04,084
this secret valley has its own unique microclimate.
478
00:28:04,084 --> 00:28:07,390
(water babbling)
479
00:28:07,390 --> 00:28:10,530
It's the end of March, and while the rest of the region
480
00:28:10,530 --> 00:28:13,620
continues to suffer from the crippling cold,
481
00:28:13,620 --> 00:28:17,565
spring has already arrived in this fertile gorge.
482
00:28:17,565 --> 00:28:19,620
(birds chirping)
483
00:28:19,620 --> 00:28:21,640
Although known as the Valley of Flowers,
484
00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:23,290
it's still too early for the basin's
485
00:28:23,290 --> 00:28:25,493
colorful petaled plants to emerge.
486
00:28:27,010 --> 00:28:29,300
But the melting of snow cover is cue
487
00:28:29,300 --> 00:28:31,757
for another spectacle to make an appearance.
488
00:28:31,757 --> 00:28:34,507
(birds chirping)
489
00:28:35,518 --> 00:28:37,820
(bright pensive music)
490
00:28:37,820 --> 00:28:40,423
Not all Asiatic black bears hibernate,
491
00:28:41,470 --> 00:28:44,270
but here, in the colder northern parts of the world,
492
00:28:44,270 --> 00:28:46,040
they're forced to remain in their dens
493
00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,116
for around four months of the year.
494
00:28:48,116 --> 00:28:52,080
(bright pensive music)
495
00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,860
Despite being similar in size to its American relative,
496
00:28:55,860 --> 00:28:57,690
a distinctive cream-colored crescent
497
00:28:57,690 --> 00:29:01,150
at the center of its chest gives this Himalayan resident
498
00:29:01,150 --> 00:29:02,635
its unique identity.
499
00:29:02,635 --> 00:29:06,090
(bright pensive music)
500
00:29:06,090 --> 00:29:08,740
Thicker fur, up to 15 centimeters long
501
00:29:08,740 --> 00:29:11,340
around its neck and face, is another feature
502
00:29:11,340 --> 00:29:12,987
separating the two species.
503
00:29:12,987 --> 00:29:16,237
(bright pensive music)
504
00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,840
Armed with five-centimeter-long curved claws
505
00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,190
and canine teeth designed for tearing meat,
506
00:29:27,190 --> 00:29:30,883
surprisingly, this predator is primarily a vegetarian.
507
00:29:33,340 --> 00:29:36,470
Berries, grasses, and roots make up the majority
508
00:29:36,470 --> 00:29:39,663
of its diet, along with the occasional insect.
509
00:29:41,339 --> 00:29:43,200
(bright pensive music)
510
00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,770
With the fruits of autumn a long way off,
511
00:29:45,770 --> 00:29:48,960
the hunter relies on its most valuable weapon,
512
00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:51,733
an incredibly acute sense of smell.
513
00:29:51,733 --> 00:29:53,840
(bear sniffing)
514
00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:57,150
This nose is capable of detecting honey
515
00:29:57,150 --> 00:29:59,123
from over five kilometers away.
516
00:30:01,230 --> 00:30:04,830
Bugs and grubs hiding up to a meter below ground
517
00:30:04,830 --> 00:30:08,074
are also at risk of becoming part of this bear's breakfast.
518
00:30:08,074 --> 00:30:11,324
(bright pensive music)
519
00:30:13,590 --> 00:30:15,170
Beetles choosing the sanctuary
520
00:30:15,170 --> 00:30:17,470
of a rotten log stand little chance
521
00:30:17,470 --> 00:30:20,050
against such a highly-equipped opponent.
522
00:30:20,050 --> 00:30:21,411
(bright pensive music)
523
00:30:21,411 --> 00:30:24,161
(wood crunching)
524
00:30:38,290 --> 00:30:40,190
While the Valley of Flowers offers sanctuary
525
00:30:40,190 --> 00:30:42,640
to one of the most endangered bears in the world,
526
00:30:43,530 --> 00:30:46,940
Ladakh's thermal springs welcomes the early arrival
527
00:30:46,940 --> 00:30:49,597
of one of the planet's most endangered birds.
528
00:30:49,597 --> 00:30:52,050
(pensive music)
529
00:30:52,050 --> 00:30:55,700
(cranes squawking)
530
00:30:55,700 --> 00:30:58,620
Of the 15 species of crane in the world,
531
00:30:58,620 --> 00:31:00,850
the black-necked crane is the only one
532
00:31:00,850 --> 00:31:02,769
living at such high altitude.
533
00:31:02,769 --> 00:31:05,180
(cranes squawking)
534
00:31:05,180 --> 00:31:07,140
After overwintering in large flocks
535
00:31:07,140 --> 00:31:10,020
in the warmer valleys of China and Tibet,
536
00:31:10,020 --> 00:31:12,400
they separate into breeding pairs
537
00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:15,140
and head north to the wetlands and lakes
538
00:31:15,140 --> 00:31:16,823
of the high Himalayan Plateau.
539
00:31:19,470 --> 00:31:21,460
But even at this time of year,
540
00:31:21,460 --> 00:31:23,563
night temperatures can suddenly plummet.
541
00:31:25,950 --> 00:31:27,940
Fortunately, this particular bird
542
00:31:27,940 --> 00:31:30,150
doesn't just have a head for heights.
543
00:31:30,150 --> 00:31:33,083
It can survive temperatures down to minus 30.
544
00:31:33,083 --> 00:31:35,330
(crane squawking)
545
00:31:35,330 --> 00:31:38,140
At just under a meter-and-a-half in height,
546
00:31:38,140 --> 00:31:39,680
the black-necked crane is also
547
00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:41,330
one of the world's tallest birds.
548
00:31:42,185 --> 00:31:44,460
(crane squawking)
549
00:31:44,460 --> 00:31:47,830
The plumage of both sexes is virtually identical,
550
00:31:47,830 --> 00:31:50,044
but the male is bigger in size.
551
00:31:50,044 --> 00:31:53,050
(pensive music)
552
00:31:53,050 --> 00:31:56,160
Although traditionally thought to pair forever,
553
00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,220
recent studies have since shown
554
00:31:58,220 --> 00:32:01,120
cranes do change partners throughout their life,
555
00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:03,453
which often stretches over several decades.
556
00:32:05,730 --> 00:32:08,013
Breeding territories are zealously protected,
557
00:32:08,890 --> 00:32:11,968
and it appears this couple already have company.
558
00:32:11,968 --> 00:32:15,218
(dramatic tense music)
559
00:32:18,710 --> 00:32:20,573
The pair close in on the intruder.
560
00:32:22,930 --> 00:32:25,630
Once within range, it's time to unleash
561
00:32:25,630 --> 00:32:26,793
their defensive weapon.
562
00:32:28,712 --> 00:32:31,610
(cranes squawking)
563
00:32:31,610 --> 00:32:36,220
This loud territorial duet, known as the unison call,
564
00:32:36,220 --> 00:32:38,600
is not only used to thwart aggression,
565
00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,190
it's also a vital part of reinforcing bonds
566
00:32:41,190 --> 00:32:42,243
between the pair.
567
00:32:42,243 --> 00:32:45,160
(cranes squawking)
568
00:32:46,230 --> 00:32:50,020
The calling also helps synchronize their sexual cycle,
569
00:32:50,020 --> 00:32:52,040
and often accompanies one of nature's
570
00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,843
most spectacular courtship displays.
571
00:32:54,843 --> 00:32:59,843
(cranes squawking)
(bright orchestral music)
572
00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,193
To the lone male, the message is clear,
573
00:34:10,350 --> 00:34:12,843
and his quest for a mate continues.
574
00:34:15,884 --> 00:34:20,884
(wind blowing)
(water trickling)
575
00:34:21,306 --> 00:34:23,810
As springtime temperatures rise,
576
00:34:23,810 --> 00:34:27,030
frozen rivers begin to thaw and resume their role
577
00:34:27,030 --> 00:34:29,198
of channeling the April snow melt.
578
00:34:29,198 --> 00:34:34,198
(water babbling)
(pensive orchestral music)
579
00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:36,730
Although just shallow streams as they leave
580
00:34:36,730 --> 00:34:37,933
the Himalayan Plateau,
581
00:34:38,910 --> 00:34:42,220
on their journey towards the sea, they miraculously merge
582
00:34:42,220 --> 00:34:45,060
to form some of the greatest and most important
583
00:34:45,060 --> 00:34:47,118
life-fueling rivers on the planet.
584
00:34:47,118 --> 00:34:49,860
(pensive orchestral music)
585
00:34:49,860 --> 00:34:54,253
The mighty river Ganges, the Indus, and the Brahmaputra,
586
00:34:55,175 --> 00:34:57,410
all originate from tiny tributaries
587
00:34:57,410 --> 00:34:59,096
high up in these mountains.
588
00:34:59,096 --> 00:35:01,560
(pensive orchestral music)
(water rushing)
589
00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,100
On their combined journey of around 10,000 kilometers,
590
00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:09,410
these waterways support the lives of over a billion people,
591
00:35:09,410 --> 00:35:13,094
as well as one of the planet's most diverse ecosystems.
592
00:35:13,094 --> 00:35:16,927
(water rushing and splashing)
593
00:35:21,914 --> 00:35:24,940
(pensive music)
594
00:35:24,940 --> 00:35:28,190
Over 1,500 kilometers east of its source,
595
00:35:28,190 --> 00:35:30,340
the Brahmaputra River finally reaches
596
00:35:30,340 --> 00:35:32,441
the Himalayan foothills of Manas.
597
00:35:32,441 --> 00:35:33,749
(warm pensive music)
598
00:35:33,749 --> 00:35:36,310
(water rushing)
(birds chirping)
599
00:35:36,310 --> 00:35:38,930
Throughout this semitropical terrain,
600
00:35:38,930 --> 00:35:42,240
temperatures rarely fall below 15 degrees,
601
00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:44,249
making it a haven for wildlife.
602
00:35:44,249 --> 00:35:47,230
(birds chirping)
(warm pensive music)
603
00:35:47,230 --> 00:35:50,860
Along with a multitude of reptiles and colorful birds,
604
00:35:50,860 --> 00:35:53,030
over 50 species of mammal can be found
605
00:35:53,030 --> 00:35:56,100
throughout these gentle Himalayan slopes,
606
00:35:56,100 --> 00:35:58,883
including India's most iconic creatures.
607
00:35:59,922 --> 00:36:04,922
(warm pensive music)
(elephants trumpeting)
608
00:36:08,420 --> 00:36:11,230
The region's slightly higher temperate forests
609
00:36:11,230 --> 00:36:14,563
are also home to one of the world's most elusive animals.
610
00:36:14,563 --> 00:36:15,729
(birds chirping)
611
00:36:15,729 --> 00:36:19,062
(playful pensive music)
612
00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:27,490
Red pandas are about the same size as a domestic cat,
613
00:36:27,490 --> 00:36:29,173
and live a solitary life.
614
00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:34,253
Despite once being thought of as a raccoon, and then a bear,
615
00:36:35,170 --> 00:36:39,080
they've since been allocated their own unique family label,
616
00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:40,793
closely related to weasels.
617
00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:45,670
Like their giant black-and-white namesakes,
618
00:36:45,670 --> 00:36:48,600
red pandas are unable to digest the cellulose
619
00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:52,250
found in most plants, so their diet is almost entirely
620
00:36:52,250 --> 00:36:54,190
made up of bamboo,
621
00:36:54,190 --> 00:36:57,169
greenery their stomachs can just about cope with.
622
00:36:57,169 --> 00:37:02,169
(birds chirping)
(playful pensive music)
623
00:37:02,740 --> 00:37:06,210
Although they spend up to 13 hours of the day eating,
624
00:37:06,210 --> 00:37:08,652
the spindly plants provide little nutrition.
625
00:37:08,652 --> 00:37:13,652
(birds chirping)
(playful pensive music)
626
00:37:17,390 --> 00:37:21,421
Conserving energy is crucial to this creature's survival.
627
00:37:21,421 --> 00:37:24,400
(birds chirping)
628
00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:27,990
After marking sections of territory, it's back to the canopy
629
00:37:27,990 --> 00:37:30,093
for some important pampering.
630
00:37:30,093 --> 00:37:32,843
(birds chirping)
631
00:37:33,860 --> 00:37:36,650
With fur covering its entire body,
632
00:37:36,650 --> 00:37:39,170
this cat-like cleaning is one activity
633
00:37:39,170 --> 00:37:40,893
that cannot be rushed.
634
00:37:40,893 --> 00:37:43,643
(birds chirping)
635
00:37:44,652 --> 00:37:48,100
(playful music)
636
00:37:48,100 --> 00:37:49,750
But if there's one thing that can entice
637
00:37:49,750 --> 00:37:52,393
this Himalayan tree-hugger down from his perch,
638
00:37:53,322 --> 00:37:54,889
ti's a potential mate.
639
00:37:54,889 --> 00:37:57,556
(playful music)
640
00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:03,160
Male territories overlap that of several females,
641
00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:06,480
and although the mating season is just about over,
642
00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:08,812
this suitor is on a mission.
643
00:38:08,812 --> 00:38:13,812
(playful music)
(birds chirping)
644
00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:24,223
Despite the male's persistence, his efforts are futile.
645
00:38:25,660 --> 00:38:27,350
Female red pandas are fertile
646
00:38:27,350 --> 00:38:30,770
for just one 24-hour window per year,
647
00:38:30,770 --> 00:38:32,520
usually at the beginning of spring.
648
00:38:35,220 --> 00:38:38,350
If this doesn't coincide with encountering a male,
649
00:38:38,350 --> 00:38:41,453
then she won't be receptive and will not conceive.
650
00:38:42,930 --> 00:38:44,960
This male will just have to hope his visitor
651
00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:47,132
passes by a little earlier next year.
652
00:38:47,132 --> 00:38:49,882
(birds chirping)
653
00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:54,820
Closer to the river live a group of tree-climbing mammals
654
00:38:54,820 --> 00:38:57,721
that rarely face the problem of locating a mate.
655
00:38:57,721 --> 00:39:01,221
(golden langurs grunting)
656
00:39:02,340 --> 00:39:04,350
Gathered in tightly-knit social groups
657
00:39:04,350 --> 00:39:06,720
of around a dozen individuals,
658
00:39:06,720 --> 00:39:09,173
golden langurs give birth all year round.
659
00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:15,560
Found only here and the neighboring foothills of Bhutan,
660
00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:18,116
they're one of India's most endangered primates.
661
00:39:18,116 --> 00:39:21,450
(birds chirping)
662
00:39:21,450 --> 00:39:25,410
Unlike the red panda, langurs have a chambered stomach,
663
00:39:25,410 --> 00:39:27,283
which helps break down cellulose.
664
00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:31,910
Mature leaves and fresh bugs make up the majority
665
00:39:31,910 --> 00:39:35,310
of their diet, and large salivary glands
666
00:39:35,310 --> 00:39:37,093
also assist their digestion.
667
00:39:39,950 --> 00:39:42,380
Regardless of the vast food supply,
668
00:39:42,380 --> 00:39:45,381
competition over feeding still exists.
669
00:39:45,381 --> 00:39:48,881
(dramatic tense drumming)
670
00:39:56,990 --> 00:39:59,743
Minor skirmishes can quickly get out of hand,
671
00:40:01,750 --> 00:40:03,500
but golden langurs have a way of leaping
672
00:40:03,500 --> 00:40:05,221
to their own defense.
673
00:40:05,221 --> 00:40:08,050
(birds chirping)
674
00:40:08,050 --> 00:40:11,800
Large hind limbs provide powerful propulsion,
675
00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:13,400
while long padded fingers allow
676
00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:15,223
for effective hooking and grabbing.
677
00:40:18,370 --> 00:40:20,250
Langurs are one of the few primates
678
00:40:20,250 --> 00:40:22,650
to have all but lost their thumbs,
679
00:40:22,650 --> 00:40:25,120
an evolutionary adaptation to prevent the digit
680
00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:28,333
from being a hindrance while swinging through trees.
681
00:40:28,333 --> 00:40:31,290
(birds chirping)
682
00:40:31,290 --> 00:40:33,830
Although a long tail enhances balance,
683
00:40:33,830 --> 00:40:35,810
it also requires a little more effort
684
00:40:35,810 --> 00:40:37,110
when it comes to cleaning.
685
00:40:39,980 --> 00:40:42,023
Grooming isn't just a solo affair.
686
00:40:43,780 --> 00:40:45,660
Rummaging through a friend's fur
687
00:40:45,660 --> 00:40:48,940
is the langur's way of reinforcing social bonds,
688
00:40:48,940 --> 00:40:50,620
as well as relieving stress.
689
00:40:50,620 --> 00:40:53,910
(birds chirping)
690
00:40:53,910 --> 00:40:56,933
Golden langurs seldom leave the trees, even to drink.
691
00:40:57,830 --> 00:41:01,682
Most of their water comes from dew and rain-soaked leaves.
692
00:41:01,682 --> 00:41:04,432
(birds chirping)
693
00:41:05,450 --> 00:41:07,810
This tactic is adapted by some of the foothill's
694
00:41:07,810 --> 00:41:11,630
smaller animals too, such as Himalayan squirrels
695
00:41:11,630 --> 00:41:13,330
that find sanctuary in the foothill's
696
00:41:13,330 --> 00:41:15,591
flowering rhododendron forests.
697
00:41:15,591 --> 00:41:17,303
(birds chirping)
698
00:41:17,303 --> 00:41:21,150
(warm orchestral music)
699
00:41:21,150 --> 00:41:24,240
More than 90% of the world's rhododendron trees
700
00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:26,565
originate from this very region.
701
00:41:26,565 --> 00:41:31,565
(warm orchestral music)
(birds chirping)
702
00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:34,630
Some birds add more color to the mix
703
00:41:34,630 --> 00:41:37,998
as they feed on insects attracted to the springtime blossom.
704
00:41:37,998 --> 00:41:42,998
(warm orchestral music)
(birds chirping)
705
00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:49,730
The Himalayan foothill trees provide safe refuge
706
00:41:49,730 --> 00:41:50,863
to many creatures,
707
00:41:51,890 --> 00:41:53,910
but there's one predator that relies
708
00:41:53,910 --> 00:41:57,753
on their elevated branches for its hunting success.
709
00:41:57,753 --> 00:41:59,950
(birds chirping)
710
00:41:59,950 --> 00:42:03,080
Relatively short legs and broad paws
711
00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:06,463
make the clouded leopard an expert at climbing trees.
712
00:42:08,260 --> 00:42:11,343
Its exceptionally long tail provides excellent balance.
713
00:42:13,290 --> 00:42:15,880
Although it spends most of the day resting,
714
00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:20,528
this medium-sized stocky cat is no slumbering softy.
715
00:42:20,528 --> 00:42:23,710
(dramatic suspenseful music)
716
00:42:23,710 --> 00:42:27,000
The clouded leopard is a formidable predator.
717
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:30,960
And relative to its size, it has the longest canine teeth
718
00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:32,513
of any living carnivore.
719
00:42:34,620 --> 00:42:37,740
As dusk draws in, the nocturnal hunter
720
00:42:37,740 --> 00:42:39,333
spots a potential victim.
721
00:42:41,630 --> 00:42:43,620
Rotatable rear ankle joints
722
00:42:43,620 --> 00:42:46,975
allow for a controlled descent, head first.
723
00:42:46,975 --> 00:42:49,975
(suspenseful music)
724
00:42:53,521 --> 00:42:56,241
(bird clucking)
725
00:42:56,241 --> 00:42:58,991
(bird squawking)
726
00:43:00,050 --> 00:43:02,980
Blind by night, jungle fowl stand little chance
727
00:43:02,980 --> 00:43:06,123
against the leopard and its sharp nocturnal vision.
728
00:43:09,068 --> 00:43:14,068
(wind blowing)
(dungchen blaring)
729
00:43:16,407 --> 00:43:19,370
In the high Himalayan Plateau of Ladakh,
730
00:43:19,370 --> 00:43:22,637
Buddhist monks officially announce the arrival of spring.
731
00:43:24,600 --> 00:43:27,600
(dungchens blaring)
732
00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:37,353
Defrosted streams feed the thawed-out grasslands,
733
00:43:38,420 --> 00:43:41,380
and the high-altitude lakes prepare themselves
734
00:43:41,380 --> 00:43:43,703
for the return of their summertime residents.
735
00:43:44,769 --> 00:43:47,670
(water babbling)
(birds chirping)
736
00:43:47,670 --> 00:43:50,743
With temperatures topping around 20 degrees above freezing,
737
00:43:51,740 --> 00:43:54,629
Tso Moriri's waters are in full melt.
738
00:43:54,629 --> 00:43:57,712
(warm pensive music)
739
00:44:00,008 --> 00:44:03,170
(geese honking)
740
00:44:03,170 --> 00:44:05,440
The high-flying bar-headed geese
741
00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:07,770
begin arriving from their winter base
742
00:44:07,770 --> 00:44:11,867
in India's lower plains, over 1,500 kilometers away.
743
00:44:11,867 --> 00:44:16,867
(geese honking)
(warm orchestral music)
744
00:44:17,720 --> 00:44:19,740
Tso Moriri's the only place in India
745
00:44:19,740 --> 00:44:22,288
where bar-headed geese come to breed.
746
00:44:22,288 --> 00:44:27,288
(geese honking)
(warm orchestral music)
747
00:44:28,030 --> 00:44:31,370
Because there are few predators at this high altitude,
748
00:44:31,370 --> 00:44:34,130
the lake provides the perfect summer residence
749
00:44:34,130 --> 00:44:36,627
for a whole variety of water birds.
750
00:44:36,627 --> 00:44:39,960
(warm orchestral music)
751
00:44:40,830 --> 00:44:43,630
Shelducks, grebes, and gulls
752
00:44:44,490 --> 00:44:47,243
also rely on Tso Moriri for raising their young,
753
00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:50,000
making this Himalayan lake
754
00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:53,123
one of India's most important wetland ecosystems.
755
00:44:54,056 --> 00:44:59,056
(birds squawking)
(warm pensive music)
756
00:44:59,890 --> 00:45:03,440
(wind blowing)
(soft pensive music)
757
00:45:03,440 --> 00:45:05,650
With summer fast approaching,
758
00:45:05,650 --> 00:45:09,105
the snow leopards follow the mountain's retreating snowline.
759
00:45:09,105 --> 00:45:12,188
(soft pensive music)
760
00:45:13,933 --> 00:45:15,270
(bells clanging)
(animals bleating)
761
00:45:15,270 --> 00:45:18,143
The threat to the Changpa tribe's livestock is over,
762
00:45:19,010 --> 00:45:20,640
and they can now begin harvesting
763
00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:22,576
their most valued resource.
764
00:45:22,576 --> 00:45:26,993
(Namgel singing in foreign language)
765
00:45:28,370 --> 00:45:31,950
Through this ancient song, Namgel asks the goat
766
00:45:31,950 --> 00:45:34,960
for good pashm, and to be still
767
00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:37,793
as he gently combs out the soft fibers from underneath.
768
00:45:39,112 --> 00:45:43,850
(Namgel singing in foreign language)
769
00:45:43,850 --> 00:45:46,330
With 200 goats to comb,
770
00:45:46,330 --> 00:45:49,230
Namgel hopes to collect over 150 kilograms
771
00:45:49,230 --> 00:45:53,033
of Pashmina wool, a raw value of just over $6,000.
772
00:45:54,119 --> 00:45:58,536
(Namgel singing in foreign language)
773
00:46:01,980 --> 00:46:03,740
The warmer weather allows for other
774
00:46:03,740 --> 00:46:06,570
age-old traditional activities,
775
00:46:06,570 --> 00:46:09,758
skills passed down through hundreds of generations.
776
00:46:09,758 --> 00:46:11,511
(warm pensive music)
777
00:46:11,511 --> 00:46:15,928
(woman speaking in foreign language)
778
00:46:22,970 --> 00:46:25,840
With the herd's new arrivals fully weaned,
779
00:46:25,840 --> 00:46:27,860
Stanzen draws on another of the tribe's
780
00:46:27,860 --> 00:46:30,215
age-old domestic techniques.
781
00:46:30,215 --> 00:46:33,630
(warm pensive music)
782
00:46:33,630 --> 00:46:37,400
Using fat from the milk and a goat skin bag,
783
00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:39,610
the Changpa have been producing butter this way
784
00:46:39,610 --> 00:46:41,181
for thousands of years.
785
00:46:41,181 --> 00:46:44,264
(warm pensive music)
786
00:46:45,863 --> 00:46:49,613
(Stanzen blowing forcefully)
787
00:47:01,250 --> 00:47:05,550
This rhythmic shaking breaks down the butter fat membranes,
788
00:47:05,550 --> 00:47:08,264
allowing the particles to clump together.
789
00:47:08,264 --> 00:47:11,980
(warm pensive music)
790
00:47:11,980 --> 00:47:13,470
The entire churning process
791
00:47:13,470 --> 00:47:15,744
takes around half an hour to complete.
792
00:47:15,744 --> 00:47:18,827
(warm pensive music)
793
00:47:23,750 --> 00:47:27,820
Bags made from sheep intestine preserves the bowl's shape
794
00:47:27,820 --> 00:47:29,235
and keeps it clean.
795
00:47:29,235 --> 00:47:32,318
(warm pensive music)
796
00:47:34,290 --> 00:47:36,948
This way, the butter can be stored for several months.
797
00:47:36,948 --> 00:47:40,031
(warm pensive music)
798
00:47:51,810 --> 00:47:53,760
With the higher altitude plains
799
00:47:53,760 --> 00:47:56,290
again offering grazing pasture,
800
00:47:56,290 --> 00:47:59,370
the Changpa prepare to leave their winter camp.
801
00:47:59,370 --> 00:48:02,453
(warm pensive music)
802
00:48:03,998 --> 00:48:04,930
(shepherd whistling)
(goat bleating)
803
00:48:04,930 --> 00:48:07,350
These lower pastures remain strictly out of bounds
804
00:48:07,350 --> 00:48:11,997
during summer in order to guarantee a vital winter reserve.
805
00:48:11,997 --> 00:48:13,370
(sheep bleating)
806
00:48:13,370 --> 00:48:14,659
(warm pensive music)
807
00:48:14,659 --> 00:48:16,907
(people singing in foreign language)
808
00:48:16,907 --> 00:48:19,427
(bells clanging)
809
00:48:19,427 --> 00:48:22,010
(wind blowing)
810
00:48:27,335 --> 00:48:31,002
(dramatic orchestral music)
811
00:48:39,750 --> 00:48:43,750
With Nanda Devi's Valley of Flowers in full summer bloom,
812
00:48:43,750 --> 00:48:46,760
the Himalayan mountain range appears set to release
813
00:48:46,760 --> 00:48:49,629
its greatest gift to the world below.
814
00:48:49,629 --> 00:48:53,296
(dramatic orchestral music)
815
00:48:55,746 --> 00:48:58,329
(wind blowing)
816
00:49:01,460 --> 00:49:04,810
As India's warm, moist summer winds head north
817
00:49:04,810 --> 00:49:06,730
towards mainland Asia,
818
00:49:06,730 --> 00:49:10,948
they suddenly hit the Himalayas's gigantic natural barrier.
819
00:49:10,948 --> 00:49:14,115
(tense pensive music)
820
00:49:22,880 --> 00:49:27,233
Forced upwards, these vast vapor clouds condense,
821
00:49:27,233 --> 00:49:31,191
(melancholic pensive music)
822
00:49:31,191 --> 00:49:36,191
(lightning cracking)
(thunder rumbling)
823
00:49:38,220 --> 00:49:40,370
dumping billions of liters of rain
824
00:49:40,370 --> 00:49:41,893
on the parched ground below.
825
00:49:42,838 --> 00:49:47,838
(rain pattering)
(pensive orchestral music)
826
00:49:48,339 --> 00:49:49,172
(children yelling happily)
827
00:49:49,172 --> 00:49:51,870
These short-lived summer monsoons
828
00:49:51,870 --> 00:49:55,328
provide over 70% of India's annual rainfall.
829
00:49:55,328 --> 00:49:58,490
(rain pattering)
830
00:49:58,490 --> 00:50:01,710
Over 200 million farmers rely on this rain
831
00:50:01,710 --> 00:50:04,330
to grow their crops, and in turn,
832
00:50:04,330 --> 00:50:06,583
feed a nation of over a billion people.
833
00:50:07,443 --> 00:50:10,860
(dramatic pensive music)
834
00:50:24,940 --> 00:50:27,290
If it weren't for the Himalayas,
835
00:50:27,290 --> 00:50:30,783
India would effectively be a drought-ridden giant desert.
836
00:50:36,281 --> 00:50:38,900
(tense pensive music)
837
00:50:38,900 --> 00:50:41,380
The Himalayas are a hostile wilderness
838
00:50:43,830 --> 00:50:46,833
that challenge all who venture their snowy slopes.
839
00:50:49,590 --> 00:50:53,110
But these mammoth mountains also have a positive effect
840
00:50:53,110 --> 00:50:56,020
on climate, supporting the lives
841
00:50:56,020 --> 00:50:57,783
of an endless number of creatures,
842
00:51:00,130 --> 00:51:04,170
including one of the largest populations of people
843
00:51:04,170 --> 00:51:05,261
on the planet.
844
00:51:05,261 --> 00:51:09,250
(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)
845
00:51:09,250 --> 00:51:10,800
But the battle to survive
846
00:51:10,800 --> 00:51:14,140
on the world's toughest mountains continues.
847
00:51:14,140 --> 00:51:19,140
(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)
848
00:51:27,419 --> 00:51:30,318
(wind blowing)
849
00:51:30,318 --> 00:51:33,985
{\an8}(dramatic orchestral music)
850
00:51:39,641 --> 00:51:42,558
(choir vocalizing)
65064
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