Original subtitles

(wind blowing) (dramatic orchestral music)

The Himalayas,

the world's tallest mountain range.

(wind blowing)

As earth meets the sky along this hostile terrain,

powerful winds, subzero temperatures,

and a lack of oxygen oppose virtually all forms of life.

(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)

But creatures have somehow conquered

these cloud-piercing peaks,

and more recently, people have also taken on

the world's toughest terrain.

(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)

Although this enormous natural barrier

shields and nurtures India's fertile lower plains,

the pressure to survive at higher climbs

fuels competition, pushing all who live here to the limit.

(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)

These are the Himalayas,

where only the toughest of creatures survive.

(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)

(pensive orchestral music)

(choir vocalizing)

(bird squawking)

(tense music)

(bright pensive music)

The Himalayas run west to east across Northern India,

forming an arc 2-1/2 thousand kilometers long.

Outside Asia, no peak reaches above 7,000 meters,

but along the Himalayan Range,

over 100 mountains exceed this height

by at least 200 meters, and counting.

At first sight, the Himalayas appear

like any other snow-covered barren land.

But this immense geological feature

somehow supports one of the largest

and most diverse collections of creatures on the planet.

(tense pensive music)

While these rugged highlands

offer little direct refuge to humans,

in the shadow below, over a billion people in India

rely on the mountains for survival.

As the seasons come and go,

the mystery as to how these mountains

fuel such a vast array of life soon becomes clear.

(wind blowing) (bright pensive music)

100 million years ago,

the Indian Island Continent started drifting north

at a rate of over 16 centimeters a year

on one of the fastest-moving tectonic plates in the world.

Eventually, the floating mass slammed into Asia,

and slid beneath the stationary continent.

The crumpling and uplifting of the lands above

created enormous earthquakes,

and ultimately gave birth to the magnificent mountain range

that is still rising today.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(wind blowing)

Despite being the world's tallest mountains,

the Himalayas are surprisingly

one of the youngest ranges on the planet.

Significant growth has taken place

in just the last few hundred-thousand years.

They currently have the highest rate of uplift in the world,

rising by five millimeters every year.

The next million years could see

these already cloud-piercing peaks

rise a further five kilometers.

(tense pensive music) (wind blowing)

At 5,000 meters above sea level,

among the most treacherous and untamed mountains

in the world, certain highly-adapted species

have made this desolate, cold desert their home.

Blue sheep, also known as bharal,

resemble goats rather than their wooly namesake.

Living in small groups of around 20,

they're active throughout the day.

Winter food is so scarce,

searching for hidden roots is a part of the daily routine,

but the occasional stump of dried-up summer grass

still provides a welcome bonus.

Despite their excellent camouflage and sure-footed ability,

bharal still fall victim to predators.

(tense music)

Young lambs are particularly vulnerable,

especially when forced to break cover

in search of a much-needed drink.

(tense music)

But aerial hunters aren't the main threat

along these snow-covered plains.

Another predator prowls the peaks,

and there's no limit to the size of this creature's prey.

(mysterious tense music)

Stalking from above, the element of surprise

is all part of the snow leopard's

preferred method of capture.

(tense music)

Like many of the big cats,

the snow leopard is a powerful ambush hunter.

But like all mountain goats,

these ibex have highly-tuned senses.

Their eyes lock on to the impending danger

before taking evasive action.

(mysterious suspenseful music)

Despite having large rock-gripping padded feet,

and a long balance-assisting tail,

this stalker stands little chance of catching

one of the most agile creatures on the planet,

unless it can avoid being spotted.

But the snow leopard rarely goes hungry.

It has a secret weapon.

While most mountain goats become blind to the night,

the snow leopard's excellent nocturnal vision kicks in.

This advantage explains why the majority of kills

take place closer to dawn and dusk.

(suspenseful music)

(wind blowing)

(pensive music)

(woman vocalizing)

Himalayan snow levels rarely venture higher

than 5-1/2 thousand meters,

and it appears this oxygen-depleted altitude

is the limit for another mammal

that also struggles to survive

in the mountains of India's most northern region, Ladakh.

(mysterious pensive music with woman vocalizing)

(people singing in foreign language)

Following a six-hour trek

from the Himalayas's higher plains,

the Changpa tribe finally reach

their temporary winter base.

(man singing in foreign language)

These nomadic herders can't survive

the deathly winter cold above 5,000 meters,

so instead, travel over 10 kilometers

to reach the lower-altitude plains.

(people singing in foreign language)

Even here at 4,000 meters, in a blink of the sun,

temperatures can suddenly plummet from plus-five

to minus-30 degrees Celsius.

(people singing in foreign language)

(metallic clanging)

Setting up camp by one of the previous seasons'

dry stone corrals is top of the to-do list

before the bone-chilling night air creeps in.

(wind blowing)

(pensive music)

(birds chirping)

As the early morning sun

takes the ambient air above freezing,

baby goats that spent the night

under the warm cover of canvas are returned to the herd.

(pensive music)

For centuries, nomads like 61-year old Stanzen (indistinct)

have been herding the goats whose delicate wool

supplies the cashmere shawl industry.

(pensive music) (man vocalizing)

Newborn kids guarantee the future supply of raw wool,

known as pashm, so they receive special care

and are always first to be tended to.

(man speaking in foreign language)

(Stanzen warbling)

A constantly-smoking stove is the center point

to nomadic life, alongside a decorated altar,

used for daily worship.

(man chanting in foreign language)

(bright pensive music)

With their origins in neighboring Tibet,

the Changpa are devout followers of Tibetan Buddhism.

(man chanting in foreign language)

(Stanzen chanting in foreign language)

They believe the world is divided

into three distinct layers,

the upper tier being the home of the gods,

the lower, the domain of the underworld spirits.

(bells ringing)

And sandwiched in the middle is the layer shared

by people and animals.

(warm pensive music with woman vocalizing)

(sheep bleating)

Believing that their livestock are a gift from the gods,

each morning, incense burned at the tent's altar

is taken outside and offered to their animals.

(warm pensive music with woman vocalizing)

The number of goats, sheep, and yak a family owns

defines wealth.

The most well-off can possess over 1,000 animals.

With trees unable to grow in this high-altitude climate,

firewood is conveniently replaced

by another renewable source.

(Stanzen singing in foreign language)

While his mother and father remain at camp

tackling domestic duties,

18-year-old Tupsten heads off for the day

in search of grazing to satisfy his herd

of 100 hungry mouths.

(Tupsten whistling)

(bright warm music)

(Tupsten vocalizing)

Boys start shepherding with their fathers

at the age of eight, and when confident,

head off into the hills on their own.

Although sheep and yak fibers

also provide a source of income,

it's the indigenous Tibetan or Pashmina mountain goats

that are most valued.

(warm music)

The harsh climate of the Ladakh Plateau

forces the goats to grow an extra layer of downy fiber

beneath their upper coat, producing some of the finest

and most valuable wool available today.

Back in the 18th century,

the ever-scheming East India Company

realized the value of such fibers,

and were quick to coerce the Ladakhi king

to side with the Empire.

But the so-called Pashmina Wars

between the region's various rulers

date back over 400 years.

(warm music) (Tupsten whistling)

(goats bleating)

Although the lower grazing grounds aren't covered by snow

like the higher plains,

their short, dry grasses provide a very limited,

vastly spread-out resource.

Tupsten and his herd have no option

but to cover over 10 kilometers each day

in search of edible pasture.

It's an arduous nine-hour roundtrip.

(animals bleating)

But the Changpa aren't the only ones forced to journey

across this unforgiving land in order to survive.

(wind blowing)

(pensive orchestral music)

High above the plateau, bar-headed geese

head south over the Himalayas

to the warmer winter feeding grounds of Northern India.

(geese honking) (pensive orchestral music)

But traveling over 1,500 kilometers in a single day

isn't this bird's only claim to fame.

It chooses to fly at an altitude

few other creatures could barely imagine,

and that includes man,

as this bird cruises even higher than a jumbo jet.

(pensive orchestral music)

Soaring at 10,000 meters,

bar-headed geese have even been spotted

flying over Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

Although broader-than-average wings

create a large uplifting surface-to-weight ratio,

this species doesn't just glide with the wind.

Part of its success is down to being a powerful flapper.

(pensive orchestral music) (goose honking)

Under their own power, bar-headed geese can fly

over 80 kilometers an hour.

With a tail wind, this speed can easily be doubled.

(pensive orchestral music)

At minus-35-degrees Celsius,

ice build-up on their wings would normally be an issue

for most birds, but the bar-head's relentless flapping

over the mountains produces excess body heat,

which, in turn, acts as a de-icing mechanism.

(pensive orchestral music)

The atmosphere up here contains just a quarter

of the oxygen found at sea level.

But unlike other goose species,

bar-headed geese have a greater number of blood capillaries

servicing their wing muscles.

This evolutionary trait means the limited oxygen absorbed

is utilized much more efficiently.

(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)

(geese honking)

(wind blowing)

(warm flute music)

Since their creation, the Himalayas have shaped

the cultures of Southern Asia.

Many peaks are seen as sacred,

and religion, such as Buddhism,

have a strong physical presence in the remotest of areas.

Prayer flags flapping in the wind

break the silence across the numerous mountain passes.

(flags flapping) (mysterious music)

For centuries, Buddhist pilgrims have draped these pennants

across valleys and places of spiritual practice

for the wind to carry their written prayers

across the landscape.

(mysterious music with man vocalizing)

Although the flags are said to bring happiness

and prosperity to the flag planter,

it's also believed they spread goodwill and compassion

to all beings throughout the pervading space.

(mysterious music)

More permanent monuments to the Buddhist faith

also reveal the magnitude of religion throughout the region.

(mysterious music)

Evoking the shape of the seated Buddha,

monuments such as these have been central

to Buddhist worship for over 2,000 years.

Known as stupas, they take the same form

as the prototype created by the religion's founder

back in the 6th century BC.

The main dome represents the sacred mountains

linking heaven and earth,

while crowning the structure is a single spike

holding the three jewels denoting the Buddha,

the law, and the community of monks.

(mysterious music)

Perched high above the valleys,

isolated monastic retreats provide a permanent home

for holy devotees.

(wind blowing)

(bells clanging softly)

Also known as gompas,

most Himalayan monasteries appear locked in time,

having undergone little change over the past 400 years.

(mysterious music with man vocalizing)

Daily life at Stakna Gompa starts early in the morning.

(prayer wheels rattling) (soft warm music)

The spinning of prayer wheels

is believed to accumulate wisdom and positive karma.

It also has the same effect as orally reciting the mantras

that adorn the cylinders.

(prayer wheel rattling) (sot warm music)

Along with daily prayer routines

and services to the community,

religious study is the main theme of monastic life.

It takes at least 18 years for newly-ordained monks

to fully complete their scholarship,

during which they retreat for hours upon hours

to meditate and reflect on the meanings

and implications of Buddhist philosophy.

(soft warm music)

Only a handful of talented monks

end up leading a scholarly life,

and advance to religious fulfillment.

(monk chanting in foreign language)

Many find themselves performing more secular roles,

such as craftsmen, builders, and cooks.

(warm mysterious music with man vocalizing)

Traditionally, the youngest son from each family

is sent to join the local monastery,

but for one Changpa boy back in Ladakh,

this wasn't an option.

(animals bleating)

With no other siblings to help tend the herd,

it's down to Tupsten to maintain the family income.

At the end of another nine-hour food trek,

it's all hands on deck, as each animal is given

a couple of handfuls of barley

to supplement their reduced winter grazing.

(animals bleating)

Finally, the day is done, and the herd huddles together

inside the stone corral.

Alone, they'd stand little chance of surviving

the subzero nighttime temperature,

(pensive music)

but cold isn't the only killer roaming the valley.

(pensive music)

(horse whinnying)

Namgel, nearby neighbor,

brings news of a growing problem

facing the entire Changpa community.

(Namgel speaking in foreign language)

(Stanzen speaking in foreign language)

(Namgel speaking in foreign language)

Last night, another one of his goats was taken.

(Namgel speaking in foreign language)

In total, over 40 animals have been attacked

and killed this winter,

(men speaking in foreign language)

and it appears they're dealing with a number of assassins.

(Namgel speaking in foreign language)

As the Changpa retreat to lower climbs

to survive the winter, the snow leopards follow.

And it seems the entire plateau could now be surrounded.

(Namgel speaking in foreign language)

(man wearing hat speaking in foreign language)

Stanzen proposes the standard solution,

and as night creeps in,

it's apparent that Tupsten, being the youngest,

has once again drawn the short straw.

(pensive music) (wind blowing)

(fire crackling)

(Stanzen speaking in foreign language)

(Tupsten speaking in foreign language)

Swapping the warmth of the family tent

for the freezing night air

is a frequent chore for Tupsten,

but a human presence is the best way

to protect the herd from predatory attacks.

(tense music) (fire crackling)

(snow leopard barking) (dramatic tense music)

(mysterious pensive music)

Morning comes, and it's soon apparent

they've had a visitor.

Drag marks offer a clear clue

to which direction the assailant headed.

(tense pensive music) (animals bleating)

Snow leopards usually drag their prey

to a safe location before eating.

(tense pensive music)

But this goat is still intact, meaning one thing:

The perpetrator can't be too far away.

(tense pensive music)

Despite their formidable reputation,

snow leopards pose little direct threat to people.

Unlike most of their big cat relatives,

these highland hunters have never been known

to attack a human.

The biggest danger at this altitude is still the cold.

(tense pensive music) (wind blowing)

(mysterious pensive music)

At this time of year,

the plateau's once fast-flowing rivers

become just another frozen feature.

(mysterious pensive music)

Even the region's largest ecosystems,

the high-altitude lakes, take a break

from their summer wetland roles

as ice claims every last drop of water.

(mysterious pensive music)

Lying 4-1/2 thousand meters above sea level,

Tso Moriri isn't only one of the highest lakes in the world,

at 28 kilometers long by eight wide,

it's also the largest body of water

in the Indian Himalayas.

(mysterious pensive music with choir vocalizing)

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks,

the lake is mainly topped up by summer melt water.

The region's rainfall adds very little,

with an annual count of just 100 millimeters.

(mysterious pensive music) (water flowing)

With no outlet, Tso Moriri's already-brackish water

is becoming increasingly saline every year.

Despite this slightly salty composition,

the lake still remains completely frozen

for around four months of the year.

(mysterious pensive music)

(wind blowing)

(tense pensive music)

But less than 25 kilometers away,

it's a very different story.

In the eastern parts of Ladakh's Puga Valley,

steam rising from the freezing land

is a stark reminder that these Himalayan mountains

are no sleeping giants.

(water gurgling) (tense pensive music)

Boiling-hot streams point to deep fractures

in the rock beneath,

a continuous reminder of the tectonic collision

that began 50 million years ago,

and that's still taking place today.

The circulation of water throughout these underground faults

has created over 100 thermal springs.

(mysterious pensive music with choir vocalizing)

Super-heated water from reservoirs over a kilometer down

rises to the surface at a temperature of 84 degrees,

the reduced boiling point at this particular altitude.

(mysterious pensive music)

(water babbling)

(wind blowing)

Just as Ladakh's hot springs provide a constant reminder

of the Himalayas's creation,

400 kilometers further south lies India's greatest monument

to the forces behind this magnificent range.

(mysterious pensive music)

At a cloud-caressing 7,800 meters,

Nanda Devi is India's tallest mountain.

(mysterious pensive music)

Standing in a vast amphitheater,

over 100 kilometers in circumference,

and no less than 6,000 meters high,

Nanda Devi shields an unlikely Eden

in the heart of the Himalayas's hostile zone.

(mysterious pensive music with choir vocalizing)

Surrounded by a circle of 600 peaks,

this secret valley has its own unique microclimate.

(water babbling)

It's the end of March, and while the rest of the region

continues to suffer from the crippling cold,

spring has already arrived in this fertile gorge.

(birds chirping)

Although known as the Valley of Flowers,

it's still too early for the basin's

colorful petaled plants to emerge.

But the melting of snow cover is cue

for another spectacle to make an appearance.

(birds chirping)

(bright pensive music)

Not all Asiatic black bears hibernate,

but here, in the colder northern parts of the world,

they're forced to remain in their dens

for around four months of the year.

(bright pensive music)

Despite being similar in size to its American relative,

a distinctive cream-colored crescent

at the center of its chest gives this Himalayan resident

its unique identity.

(bright pensive music)

Thicker fur, up to 15 centimeters long

around its neck and face, is another feature

separating the two species.

(bright pensive music)

Armed with five-centimeter-long curved claws

and canine teeth designed for tearing meat,

surprisingly, this predator is primarily a vegetarian.

Berries, grasses, and roots make up the majority

of its diet, along with the occasional insect.

(bright pensive music)

With the fruits of autumn a long way off,

the hunter relies on its most valuable weapon,

an incredibly acute sense of smell.

(bear sniffing)

This nose is capable of detecting honey

from over five kilometers away.

Bugs and grubs hiding up to a meter below ground

are also at risk of becoming part of this bear's breakfast.

(bright pensive music)

Beetles choosing the sanctuary

of a rotten log stand little chance

against such a highly-equipped opponent.

(bright pensive music)

(wood crunching)

While the Valley of Flowers offers sanctuary

to one of the most endangered bears in the world,

Ladakh's thermal springs welcomes the early arrival

of one of the planet's most endangered birds.

(pensive music)

(cranes squawking)

Of the 15 species of crane in the world,

the black-necked crane is the only one

living at such high altitude.

(cranes squawking)

After overwintering in large flocks

in the warmer valleys of China and Tibet,

they separate into breeding pairs

and head north to the wetlands and lakes

of the high Himalayan Plateau.

But even at this time of year,

night temperatures can suddenly plummet.

Fortunately, this particular bird

doesn't just have a head for heights.

It can survive temperatures down to minus 30.

(crane squawking)

At just under a meter-and-a-half in height,

the black-necked crane is also

one of the world's tallest birds.

(crane squawking)

The plumage of both sexes is virtually identical,

but the male is bigger in size.

(pensive music)

Although traditionally thought to pair forever,

recent studies have since shown

cranes do change partners throughout their life,

which often stretches over several decades.

Breeding territories are zealously protected,

and it appears this couple already have company.

(dramatic tense music)

The pair close in on the intruder.

Once within range, it's time to unleash

their defensive weapon.

(cranes squawking)

This loud territorial duet, known as the unison call,

is not only used to thwart aggression,

it's also a vital part of reinforcing bonds

between the pair.

(cranes squawking)

The calling also helps synchronize their sexual cycle,

and often accompanies one of nature's

most spectacular courtship displays.

(cranes squawking) (bright orchestral music)

To the lone male, the message is clear,

and his quest for a mate continues.

(wind blowing) (water trickling)

As springtime temperatures rise,

frozen rivers begin to thaw and resume their role

of channeling the April snow melt.

(water babbling) (pensive orchestral music)

Although just shallow streams as they leave

the Himalayan Plateau,

on their journey towards the sea, they miraculously merge

to form some of the greatest and most important

life-fueling rivers on the planet.

(pensive orchestral music)

The mighty river Ganges, the Indus, and the Brahmaputra,

all originate from tiny tributaries

high up in these mountains.

(pensive orchestral music) (water rushing)

On their combined journey of around 10,000 kilometers,

these waterways support the lives of over a billion people,

as well as one of the planet's most diverse ecosystems.

(water rushing and splashing)

(pensive music)

Over 1,500 kilometers east of its source,

the Brahmaputra River finally reaches

the Himalayan foothills of Manas.

(warm pensive music)

(water rushing) (birds chirping)

Throughout this semitropical terrain,

temperatures rarely fall below 15 degrees,

making it a haven for wildlife.

(birds chirping) (warm pensive music)

Along with a multitude of reptiles and colorful birds,

over 50 species of mammal can be found

throughout these gentle Himalayan slopes,

including India's most iconic creatures.

(warm pensive music) (elephants trumpeting)

The region's slightly higher temperate forests

are also home to one of the world's most elusive animals.

(birds chirping)

(playful pensive music)

Red pandas are about the same size as a domestic cat,

and live a solitary life.

Despite once being thought of as a raccoon, and then a bear,

they've since been allocated their own unique family label,

closely related to weasels.

Like their giant black-and-white namesakes,

red pandas are unable to digest the cellulose

found in most plants, so their diet is almost entirely

made up of bamboo,

greenery their stomachs can just about cope with.

(birds chirping) (playful pensive music)

Although they spend up to 13 hours of the day eating,

the spindly plants provide little nutrition.

(birds chirping) (playful pensive music)

Conserving energy is crucial to this creature's survival.

(birds chirping)

After marking sections of territory, it's back to the canopy

for some important pampering.

(birds chirping)

With fur covering its entire body,

this cat-like cleaning is one activity

that cannot be rushed.

(birds chirping)

(playful music)

But if there's one thing that can entice

this Himalayan tree-hugger down from his perch,

ti's a potential mate.

(playful music)

Male territories overlap that of several females,

and although the mating season is just about over,

this suitor is on a mission.

(playful music) (birds chirping)

Despite the male's persistence, his efforts are futile.

Female red pandas are fertile

for just one 24-hour window per year,

usually at the beginning of spring.

If this doesn't coincide with encountering a male,

then she won't be receptive and will not conceive.

This male will just have to hope his visitor

passes by a little earlier next year.

(birds chirping)

Closer to the river live a group of tree-climbing mammals

that rarely face the problem of locating a mate.

(golden langurs grunting)

Gathered in tightly-knit social groups

of around a dozen individuals,

golden langurs give birth all year round.

Found only here and the neighboring foothills of Bhutan,

they're one of India's most endangered primates.

(birds chirping)

Unlike the red panda, langurs have a chambered stomach,

which helps break down cellulose.

Mature leaves and fresh bugs make up the majority

of their diet, and large salivary glands

also assist their digestion.

Regardless of the vast food supply,

competition over feeding still exists.

(dramatic tense drumming)

Minor skirmishes can quickly get out of hand,

but golden langurs have a way of leaping

to their own defense.

(birds chirping)

Large hind limbs provide powerful propulsion,

while long padded fingers allow

for effective hooking and grabbing.

Langurs are one of the few primates

to have all but lost their thumbs,

an evolutionary adaptation to prevent the digit

from being a hindrance while swinging through trees.

(birds chirping)

Although a long tail enhances balance,

it also requires a little more effort

when it comes to cleaning.

Grooming isn't just a solo affair.

Rummaging through a friend's fur

is the langur's way of reinforcing social bonds,

as well as relieving stress.

(birds chirping)

Golden langurs seldom leave the trees, even to drink.

Most of their water comes from dew and rain-soaked leaves.

(birds chirping)

This tactic is adapted by some of the foothill's

smaller animals too, such as Himalayan squirrels

that find sanctuary in the foothill's

flowering rhododendron forests.

(birds chirping)

(warm orchestral music)

More than 90% of the world's rhododendron trees

originate from this very region.

(warm orchestral music) (birds chirping)

Some birds add more color to the mix

as they feed on insects attracted to the springtime blossom.

(warm orchestral music) (birds chirping)

The Himalayan foothill trees provide safe refuge

to many creatures,

but there's one predator that relies

on their elevated branches for its hunting success.

(birds chirping)

Relatively short legs and broad paws

make the clouded leopard an expert at climbing trees.

Its exceptionally long tail provides excellent balance.

Although it spends most of the day resting,

this medium-sized stocky cat is no slumbering softy.

(dramatic suspenseful music)

The clouded leopard is a formidable predator.

And relative to its size, it has the longest canine teeth

of any living carnivore.

As dusk draws in, the nocturnal hunter

spots a potential victim.

Rotatable rear ankle joints

allow for a controlled descent, head first.

(suspenseful music)

(bird clucking)

(bird squawking)

Blind by night, jungle fowl stand little chance

against the leopard and its sharp nocturnal vision.

(wind blowing) (dungchen blaring)

In the high Himalayan Plateau of Ladakh,

Buddhist monks officially announce the arrival of spring.

(dungchens blaring)

Defrosted streams feed the thawed-out grasslands,

and the high-altitude lakes prepare themselves

for the return of their summertime residents.

(water babbling) (birds chirping)

With temperatures topping around 20 degrees above freezing,

Tso Moriri's waters are in full melt.

(warm pensive music)

(geese honking)

The high-flying bar-headed geese

begin arriving from their winter base

in India's lower plains, over 1,500 kilometers away.

(geese honking) (warm orchestral music)

Tso Moriri's the only place in India

where bar-headed geese come to breed.

(geese honking) (warm orchestral music)

Because there are few predators at this high altitude,

the lake provides the perfect summer residence

for a whole variety of water birds.

(warm orchestral music)

Shelducks, grebes, and gulls

also rely on Tso Moriri for raising their young,

making this Himalayan lake

one of India's most important wetland ecosystems.

(birds squawking) (warm pensive music)

(wind blowing) (soft pensive music)

With summer fast approaching,

the snow leopards follow the mountain's retreating snowline.

(soft pensive music)

(bells clanging) (animals bleating)

The threat to the Changpa tribe's livestock is over,

and they can now begin harvesting

their most valued resource.

(Namgel singing in foreign language)

Through this ancient song, Namgel asks the goat

for good pashm, and to be still

as he gently combs out the soft fibers from underneath.

(Namgel singing in foreign language)

With 200 goats to comb,

Namgel hopes to collect over 150 kilograms

of Pashmina wool, a raw value of just over $6,000.

(Namgel singing in foreign language)

The warmer weather allows for other

age-old traditional activities,

skills passed down through hundreds of generations.

(warm pensive music)

(woman speaking in foreign language)

With the herd's new arrivals fully weaned,

Stanzen draws on another of the tribe's

age-old domestic techniques.

(warm pensive music)

Using fat from the milk and a goat skin bag,

the Changpa have been producing butter this way

for thousands of years.

(warm pensive music)

(Stanzen blowing forcefully)

This rhythmic shaking breaks down the butter fat membranes,

allowing the particles to clump together.

(warm pensive music)

The entire churning process

takes around half an hour to complete.

(warm pensive music)

Bags made from sheep intestine preserves the bowl's shape

and keeps it clean.

(warm pensive music)

This way, the butter can be stored for several months.

(warm pensive music)

With the higher altitude plains

again offering grazing pasture,

the Changpa prepare to leave their winter camp.

(warm pensive music)

(shepherd whistling) (goat bleating)

These lower pastures remain strictly out of bounds

during summer in order to guarantee a vital winter reserve.

(sheep bleating)

(warm pensive music)

(people singing in foreign language)

(bells clanging)

(wind blowing)

(dramatic orchestral music)

With Nanda Devi's Valley of Flowers in full summer bloom,

the Himalayan mountain range appears set to release

its greatest gift to the world below.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(wind blowing)

As India's warm, moist summer winds head north

towards mainland Asia,

they suddenly hit the Himalayas's gigantic natural barrier.

(tense pensive music)

Forced upwards, these vast vapor clouds condense,

(melancholic pensive music)

(lightning cracking) (thunder rumbling)

dumping billions of liters of rain

on the parched ground below.

(rain pattering) (pensive orchestral music)

(children yelling happily)

These short-lived summer monsoons

provide over 70% of India's annual rainfall.

(rain pattering)

Over 200 million farmers rely on this rain

to grow their crops, and in turn,

feed a nation of over a billion people.

(dramatic pensive music)

If it weren't for the Himalayas,

India would effectively be a drought-ridden giant desert.

(tense pensive music)

The Himalayas are a hostile wilderness

that challenge all who venture their snowy slopes.

But these mammoth mountains also have a positive effect

on climate, supporting the lives

of an endless number of creatures,

including one of the largest populations of people

on the planet.

(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)

But the battle to survive

on the world's toughest mountains continues.

(dramatic orchestral music with choir vocalizing)

(wind blowing)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(choir vocalizing)