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(critters chirping)
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The Amazon rainforest covers the eastern third
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of Ecuador at an average elevation of 300 meters,
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then stretching across the middle of the country,
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the Andes rise to nearly 6,000 meters above sea level,
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creating a virtually insurmountable barrier
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for Amazonian wildlife to cross.
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On the other side of the Andes, planes running down
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to the Pacific Ocean provide a more hospitable
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climate for wildlife.
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The Western slopes are covered by forest
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with a dense population of animal species,
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but the environment is wetter
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and cooler than on the eastern side,
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and so is inhabited by different species.
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The upsurge of the Andes Mountains is thus responsible for
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what is called speciation of the original wildlife.
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Finally, well off the coast like the Galapagos,
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the archipelago whose very isolation gives Ecuador its
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unique fauna and contributes
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to the country's mega-biodiversity.
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(inspiring music)
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From the snow cap peaks of the Andes,
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the altitude falls sharply to the west
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to a lush cloud forest.
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(wildlife chatter)
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This part of northwestern Ecuador is home
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to over 850 species of birds.
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The male masked trogon relies on his bright plumage
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to seduce a female.
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He perches in the sunlight, hoping to draw attention.
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His less colorful mate is motionless on a branch nearby.
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That's how she hunts remaining utterly still,
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capturing insects that pass within her reach.
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Woodcreepers, on the other hand,
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are a family of active hunters.
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They expend more energy in moving,
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but the effort is rewarded as they capture more food.
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The red-tailed squirrel is no slouch either when it comes
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to locating plants,
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but unlike squirrels in other countries,
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there's no need to store food for the winter,
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as food is plentiful all year round.
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In short, when hunting or gathering food,
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active or passive, each species has its own approach.
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Even if there are not really any seasons,
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the climate can change suddenly over the course of a day.
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The humidity coming from the Pacific Ocean
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condenses over the mountains.
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The clouds soon spread from the valleys to the ridges,
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and as they cool, they fill the forest
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with a mysterious fog and mist.
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(eerie music)
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The Andean cock-of-the-rock is not one
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to get lost in the mist.
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Each day at dawn and dusk,
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the males return to a specific part of the forest.
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Then they wait until there are enough
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cocks-of-the-rock gathered together.
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They're waiting and hoping for the presence of females
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who are much more discreet in their
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plumage and their behavior.
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The males now seem to be particularly excited.
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They do their best to display their feathers in the light.
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That's because their colors,
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especially in the ultraviolet range,
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and therefore invisible to the human eye,
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provide vital information
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to females about their overall health
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and their ability to reproduce.
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(birds chirping)
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The vigorous courtship display is intended
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to draw the attention of future mates.
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The youngest males and others that lack
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the necessary characteristics will never
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be chosen by females,
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but still they take part in the courtship displays impelled
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by instinct to follow the leaders.
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As a general rule,
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male birds in the tropics have brighter colors than birds
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from more northern or southern latitudes.
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Given the huge number of species here,
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perhaps there's a need to be be recognizable,
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especially in the dense vegetation.
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Continuing in the cloud forest,
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but a little lower, around 2000 meters above sea level,
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the crimson-rump toucanet
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also displays his beautiful colors.
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He can find water to quench his thirst in the epithetic
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plants well above the forest floor that hang like feeders
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for both birds and frogs.
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Toucanets often build their nests
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in abandon woodpecker nests.
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At the end of the breeding season,
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both parents feed their young.
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Even if the toucanet is primarily a fruit eater,
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chicks sometimes refuse what their parents bring
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and prefer insects, which are richer in protein.
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Still the fruit will not go to waste.
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Even after hatchlings have flown the nest,
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some continue to beg for food,
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as is the case with the plate-billed mountain toucan.
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(birds chirping)
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This adult is probably hoping to feed in peace,
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but one of the youngsters,
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although already a sub-adult,
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steals the fruit right out of his parents' beak.
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Toucans are energetic, expressive, and extremely loud.
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They make no attempt to be inconspicuous,
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as they have few predators
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because of the impressive size of their beaks.
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What's more, yellow-throated toucans
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often stay high in the canopy,
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which provides a degree of safety.
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Living in pairs or in small groups,
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they spend lots of time socializing.
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They spend much of their day delousing, playing, bickering,
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and sometimes sparring.
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A related species, the Choco toucan,
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is distinguished by its darker lower beak.
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They sometimes occupy the same forest
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and feed on the same trees.
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They carefully select fruits for ripeness
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and swallow them whole.
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Their droppings will spread the seeds further away,
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thus contributing to the regeneration of the forest.
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The long-wattled umbrellabird feeds a little higher up,
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indifferent to the presence of the toucans.
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What looks like a neck tie, the long wattle of feathers
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hanging under his throat is specific to the adult male.
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He can inflate it to attract females
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during courtship displays.
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When food is plentiful, birds are more willing
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to share the same resource.
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Birds aren't the only animals that help
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to disperse plant species.
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Rodents, like this female Central American agouti
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also sustain the forest by scattering seeds
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in their droppings.
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Highly vulnerable when in the open,
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she knows she can rely on her streamlined
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body profile to quickly burrow into the thickest cover
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to escape from danger.
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Before allowing her young to join,
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she conscientiously inspects the feeding grounds,
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often at the base of trees where birds are feeding
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and she will remain particularly alert
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until her young return to the safety of the underbrush.
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Many species enjoy the fruit of wild avocado trees,
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none more than the golden-headed quetzal,
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which routinely feasts on their fruit, the avocateo.
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The spectacled bear also loves these small fat rich fruits.
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These females spend most of her time in the high altitude
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valleys over 3,500 meters
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above sea level, but for three or four weeks in October,
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she descends to feast on the fruit
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of the wild avocado trees.
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She'll hoist her body, some 70 kilograms,
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up these thin branches where the avocateos grow.
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Her keen sense of smell leads her to the ripest fruits,
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which she selects one by one.
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And when she can't reach the very tip
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of the most heavily laden branches, she breaks them off
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and lets them fall to the ground
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where she can eat them later.
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Tired by her acrobatic exertions,
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she takes a break to digest
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The spectacled bear is the only bear species
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found in South America.
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Today, it is the most endangered species of bear,
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with only a few thousand individuals
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still living in the wild.
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Only one third of its habitat in Ecuador is designated
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as a protected area,
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and this habitat is surrounded by zones
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of rampant deforestation.
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Clearing to make way for farmland is especially a danger
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because the spectacled bear is considered a threat to crops
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and thus falls victim to poaching.
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In any event, as evening falls,
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this young female can still enjoy these fleeting moments
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of peace and serenity.
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At sunset, between two showers, the sun sometimes shows
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through the clouds briefly before sinking below the horizon.
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Then it fills the haze with a range
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of stunning colors from orange to pink
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to purple in just a few minutes time.
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Once darkness falls, predators and prey play a game of hide
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and seek with their transparent skin and organs,
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glass frogs may be harder to detect,
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but they too must find a mate,
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which is what this male frog is doing
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with its loud mating calls.
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(frog mating calls)
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At the edge of the forest,
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a common potoo also begins his mating song.
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(water rushing)
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At daybreak, deep in this canyon,
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there is a strange aerial ballet.
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The light barely reaches the ground here.
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That suits this small colony of oilbirds just fine.
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These cave-dwelling birds like the darkness,
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spending their days in nests deep in caves
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or in narrow canyons,
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which provide protection as they sleep.
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After a night feeding on fruit, each couple returns
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to its nest to navigate in the dark.
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Not only do oilbirds have highly sensitive retinas,
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but they are also the only bird species
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to use echo location, like bats.
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Their broad wings allow them to fly slowly
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with time enough to detect obstacles.
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And when dawn breaks, oilbirds can look forward
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to a well-earned day of sleep.
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(soft music)
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Other creatures are particularly fond of the sun's rays,
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butterflies, bright and colorful,
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flying from flower to flower throughout the day.
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By sucking up nectar from deep inside flowers.
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They play a vital role as pollinators.
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(whimsical music)
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With its 12 centimeter wig span,
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the helenor blue morpho is one of the largest
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diurnal butterflies.
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The female lays her eggs one-by-one in the hollow of a leaf.
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10 days later, the caterpillar hatches
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and ventures over leaves that it will feed upon.
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With each successive molt, it grows rapidly,
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continuously changing its colors.
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After two to three months,
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its last molt transforms the caterpillar into a chrysalis.
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After 15 days without food,
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the butterfly finally reaches maturity.
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That's when the morpho is most vulnerable.
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It cannot fly until its wings have dried.
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And then the helenor blue morpho finally appears free
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from the force of gravity.
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This beautiful butterfly
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with metallic blue wings now has a lifespan of only one
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to three months, time to feed, to pollinate,
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and most importantly, to reproduce.
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Hummingbirds are barely larger than a butterfly,
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just as colorful, and they too love nectar from flowers.
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With only a few exceptions,
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the species living on the western side of the Andes
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are different from those on the eastern side.
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Like many birds, they can distinguish a broader spectrum
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of colors than the human eye,
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especially wavelengths in the ultraviolet region.
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They're particularly attracted
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by blossoms in the oranges and reds.
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After untold generations of feeding on the same families
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of flowers, hummingbird's beaks have evolved.
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Various species have evolved beaks of different lengths
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and curvatures, species thus tend
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to specialize in specific flowers,
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allowing the available food resources
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to be shared among the species.
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Because genuine congestion can arise around the flowers
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with the most readily accessible nectar.
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(birds chirping)
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Hummingbirds are perfectly skilled in hovering.
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Some species can flap their wings up to
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80 times every second.
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They can move with such speed because their brain
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and nervous system can perceive their surroundings almost
267
00:19:58,980 --> 00:20:02,190
instantaneously, and their hearts are capable
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00:20:02,190 --> 00:20:04,353
of reaching 1,000 beats per minute.
269
00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:09,540
Hummingbirds are fascinating
270
00:20:09,540 --> 00:20:12,153
for their physiology and their elegance.
271
00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,390
Moving further west, the foothills of the Andes
272
00:20:21,390 --> 00:20:24,630
plunge down toward a vast coastal plane.
273
00:20:24,630 --> 00:20:27,690
The humidity from the Pacific Ocean moves inland
274
00:20:27,690 --> 00:20:30,693
and maintains continuous moisture for plant life.
275
00:20:32,891 --> 00:20:36,330
(wildlife chittering)
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00:20:36,330 --> 00:20:38,820
The forest becomes even more mysterious
277
00:20:38,820 --> 00:20:41,343
with the call of the mantled howler monkey.
278
00:20:50,384 --> 00:20:53,790
This large arboreal monkey uses its prehensile tail
279
00:20:53,790 --> 00:20:57,363
to maintain a secure posture when feeding or resting.
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00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:07,830
Females are identifiable by their light colored coat,
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00:21:07,830 --> 00:21:11,553
while young males are darker before becoming almost black.
282
00:21:19,050 --> 00:21:22,650
Howlers live in small groups with about 10 members,
283
00:21:22,650 --> 00:21:25,020
including the dominant older male,
284
00:21:25,020 --> 00:21:28,413
two or three other males, the females, and they're young.
285
00:21:40,553 --> 00:21:43,320
Mantled howlers are particularly fond of fruits
286
00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:44,940
to supplement their usual diet
287
00:21:44,940 --> 00:21:47,370
of leaves, which are poor in nutrients
288
00:21:47,370 --> 00:21:49,350
and difficult to digest.
289
00:21:49,350 --> 00:21:50,627
That's why they pay so much attention
290
00:21:50,627 --> 00:21:53,670
to the fruit trees, coming each day to inspect
291
00:21:53,670 --> 00:21:55,830
the same branches for ripe fruits
292
00:21:55,830 --> 00:21:59,523
and picking the best with acrobatic moves, if need be.
293
00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,290
Each group of howler monkeys tries to demarcate
294
00:22:07,290 --> 00:22:11,700
its territory to include the areas richest in food.
295
00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:13,470
This is done by the males
296
00:22:13,470 --> 00:22:16,023
who stake out their claim against the other groups.
297
00:22:17,230 --> 00:22:20,063
(monkeys howling)
298
00:22:37,290 --> 00:22:39,660
These impressive cries are amplified
299
00:22:39,660 --> 00:22:42,900
by the hyoid bone, located near the vocal cords,
300
00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:44,613
which is enlarged in males.
301
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,350
The calls can be heard for several kilometers around
302
00:22:52,350 --> 00:22:53,970
and serve to keep the different groups
303
00:22:53,970 --> 00:22:55,680
of howler monkeys apart
304
00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,260
by marking their respective positions.
305
00:22:58,260 --> 00:23:01,380
The aim is to prevent any physical confrontation,
306
00:23:01,380 --> 00:23:03,783
as howler monkeys are not really fighters.
307
00:23:05,310 --> 00:23:08,040
On the contrary, their low energy diet
308
00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,800
tends to make howlers somewhat sluggish.
309
00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,620
They like nothing better than to spend all day resting
310
00:23:13,620 --> 00:23:15,183
and digesting in peace.
311
00:23:24,060 --> 00:23:26,580
On the other hand, younger howler monkeys
312
00:23:26,580 --> 00:23:28,440
have energy to spare.
313
00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,070
Playing in the trees increases their dexterity as they train
314
00:23:32,070 --> 00:23:34,533
to avoid falling, if they can.
315
00:23:48,180 --> 00:23:51,030
With all this commotion, the adults are unlikely
316
00:23:51,030 --> 00:23:52,323
to have much of a nap.
317
00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:02,100
At a slightly lower altitude,
318
00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:05,190
the air is rich with the salty ocean spray
319
00:24:05,190 --> 00:24:08,040
and the vegetation suddenly changes.
320
00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,500
This is where the Pacific meets the land,
321
00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:13,803
where the cliffs resist the onslaught of the waves.
322
00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,090
In this wet, gray climate,
323
00:24:30,090 --> 00:24:33,000
this family of yellow-crowned night herons
324
00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,503
has the beach to itself.
325
00:24:38,010 --> 00:24:40,290
They wait for the tide to go out to fish
326
00:24:40,290 --> 00:24:42,393
for shellfish and crustaceans.
327
00:24:53,010 --> 00:24:55,530
This beach may look like the end of the world,
328
00:24:55,530 --> 00:24:58,620
and yet beyond the gray wall of the horizon,
329
00:24:58,620 --> 00:25:01,860
Ecuador harbor's yet another ecological treasure,
330
00:25:01,860 --> 00:25:05,443
listed as a world nature heritage site by UNESCO.
331
00:25:05,443 --> 00:25:07,800
(dramatic music)
332
00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,010
A fully protected sanctuary for animal species
333
00:25:11,010 --> 00:25:14,934
that are unique in the world, The Galapagos Islands.
334
00:25:14,934 --> 00:25:17,684
(swelling music)
335
00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,550
The Archipelago is located a thousand kilometers off the
336
00:25:32,550 --> 00:25:33,903
coast of Ecuador.
337
00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:38,490
The island's volcanic origin is obvious.
338
00:25:38,490 --> 00:25:41,310
These are craters that have emerged from the seas.
339
00:25:41,310 --> 00:25:44,913
Lava flows have sometimes merged to form a single island.
340
00:25:47,070 --> 00:25:50,610
The most recent islands in the west are only a million years
341
00:25:50,610 --> 00:25:53,280
old and some of their volcanoes still erupt
342
00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:54,990
from time to time.
343
00:25:54,990 --> 00:25:58,680
This is why the lava flows have little or no plant cover.
344
00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,860
The landscape is rugged and austere,
345
00:26:01,860 --> 00:26:04,200
apparently not particularly suitable
346
00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:05,553
for sustaining life.
347
00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:24,720
These lava fields hold pools of brackish water,
348
00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:26,790
enough to attract birds.
349
00:26:26,790 --> 00:26:30,480
Small groups of American flamingos come here often,
350
00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:32,853
filtering food from the mud and water.
351
00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:46,830
These islands were formed too recently
352
00:26:46,830 --> 00:26:50,520
and are too isolated to have been colonized by land mammals.
353
00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:54,543
The volcanic rock seems lifeless, until it reaches the sea.
354
00:27:00,360 --> 00:27:01,350
(whimsical music)
355
00:27:01,350 --> 00:27:04,923
Because red rock crabs are swarming at the water's edge.
356
00:27:07,770 --> 00:27:09,210
They can't really be discreet,
357
00:27:09,210 --> 00:27:11,670
with their beautiful multicolored shells
358
00:27:11,670 --> 00:27:14,850
as they scramble over the lava blocks with a mix of caution
359
00:27:14,850 --> 00:27:17,913
and boldness unlike any other species.
360
00:27:24,750 --> 00:27:26,790
They're especially careful when they encounter
361
00:27:26,790 --> 00:27:28,480
other creatures along the coast
362
00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,330
Falling into the water,
363
00:27:45,330 --> 00:27:48,063
they could easily end up in the jaws of a shark.
364
00:28:00,030 --> 00:28:03,930
Red rock crabs can be scavengers when the opportunity arises
365
00:28:03,930 --> 00:28:06,360
and thus help to clean the shores.
366
00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:07,920
But most often they're content
367
00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,623
with the small algae they pick up from the rocks.
368
00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,553
When the water is cold, they warm themselves in the sun.
369
00:28:18,846 --> 00:28:21,596
(waves crashing)
370
00:28:31,590 --> 00:28:34,830
Under the sea spray where the waves break over the rocks,
371
00:28:34,830 --> 00:28:37,740
the ocean temperature is no higher than 17 degrees
372
00:28:37,740 --> 00:28:39,333
Celsius during the season.
373
00:28:40,380 --> 00:28:43,680
While the Galapagos are situated close to the equator,
374
00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,010
they're influenced by the cold Humboldt Current flowing from
375
00:28:47,010 --> 00:28:48,930
the South Pacific.
376
00:28:48,930 --> 00:28:51,030
But the islands are periodically affected
377
00:28:51,030 --> 00:28:53,550
by various warm currents, as well.
378
00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:56,550
The convergence of these ocean currents creates a unique
379
00:28:56,550 --> 00:28:58,680
set of weather conditions unlike those
380
00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:00,603
of any other tropical islands.
381
00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:04,920
Except for three small towns,
382
00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,650
these islands are totally unspoiled.
383
00:29:07,650 --> 00:29:09,960
They host large colonies of birds,
384
00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,093
such as these magnificent frigatebirds.
385
00:29:13,247 --> 00:29:16,350
The males are black with a red membrane under the throat
386
00:29:16,350 --> 00:29:19,980
while females and immature birds are lighter in color.
387
00:29:19,980 --> 00:29:22,290
Frigatebirds are agile in flight
388
00:29:22,290 --> 00:29:25,770
with a two meter wingspan, flying low over the waters
389
00:29:25,770 --> 00:29:26,733
as they fish.
390
00:29:27,870 --> 00:29:29,940
Their plumage is not waterproof,
391
00:29:29,940 --> 00:29:32,073
they cannot dive or even swim.
392
00:29:39,540 --> 00:29:43,140
Each couple has a single chick, which both parents care for
393
00:29:43,140 --> 00:29:46,443
during its first five months when it stays in the nest.
394
00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:54,750
To attract a mate, each male builds the most beautiful nest
395
00:29:54,750 --> 00:29:58,590
he can, settles in, and inflates his gular sac,
396
00:29:58,590 --> 00:30:00,750
the red pouch under his beak.
397
00:30:00,750 --> 00:30:02,940
Then they vie for the attention of the females
398
00:30:02,940 --> 00:30:04,580
as they fly overhead.
399
00:30:04,580 --> 00:30:07,330
(birds chirping)
400
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,433
Males compete fiercely for the best nesting sights.
401
00:30:43,590 --> 00:30:47,130
Espanola Island is practically the only nesting place
402
00:30:47,130 --> 00:30:52,110
of the waved albatross, also called the Galapagos Albatross,
403
00:30:52,110 --> 00:30:55,293
which is classified as a critically endangered species.
404
00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,230
Couples mate for life,
405
00:31:01,230 --> 00:31:04,710
but still perform their ritual courtship dances every year.
406
00:31:09,722 --> 00:31:12,555
(whimsical music)
407
00:32:04,980 --> 00:32:08,340
The albatross nests on the ground between rocks,
408
00:32:08,340 --> 00:32:10,203
without building a secure nest.
409
00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,770
When the egg rolls, and is trapped under a rock,
410
00:32:16,770 --> 00:32:18,630
it's harder to incubate,
411
00:32:18,630 --> 00:32:21,750
but fortunately, albatrosses won't give up
412
00:32:21,750 --> 00:32:24,003
and do their best to keep the egg warm.
413
00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:33,083
(wind howling)
414
00:32:49,548 --> 00:32:52,230
(waves crashing)
415
00:32:52,230 --> 00:32:56,160
The marine iguana begins its day by warming in the sun.
416
00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:59,490
It needs a body temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius
417
00:32:59,490 --> 00:33:01,860
for its muscles to function best.
418
00:33:01,860 --> 00:33:04,833
Its dark skin quickly absorbs the sun's rays.
419
00:33:06,900 --> 00:33:09,390
Then it heads to the shore to graze on the algae
420
00:33:09,390 --> 00:33:11,223
that make up most of its diet.
421
00:33:40,050 --> 00:33:42,390
But this menu is pretty meager,
422
00:33:42,390 --> 00:33:46,170
so the marine iguana ventures into the water at low tide
423
00:33:46,170 --> 00:33:48,003
to seek more food in the ocean.
424
00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,840
Unfortunately, the algae it's interested in grow
425
00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:56,463
mostly in the cold season.
426
00:33:58,424 --> 00:34:01,257
(whimsical music)
427
00:34:12,750 --> 00:34:15,630
Even if other iguana species can swim,
428
00:34:15,630 --> 00:34:18,000
only the marine iguana can dive
429
00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,470
and can easily hold its breath
430
00:34:19,470 --> 00:34:21,570
and stay underwater for 10 minutes
431
00:34:21,570 --> 00:34:23,283
at a depth of five meters.
432
00:34:24,420 --> 00:34:27,060
Its powerful tail and legs with claws
433
00:34:27,060 --> 00:34:29,520
let it fight against the current and waves,
434
00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:31,560
while its small scales protect against
435
00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:33,093
scratching on the rocks.
436
00:35:01,050 --> 00:35:04,200
The iguana stays in the water for only 10 minutes,
437
00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:06,360
so its body temperature falls no more than
438
00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:07,893
10 degrees Celsius.
439
00:35:25,740 --> 00:35:28,380
Back on the shore with a full belly,
440
00:35:28,380 --> 00:35:31,383
the marina iguana looks slow and sluggish.
441
00:35:43,500 --> 00:35:46,560
The overcast sky means they can't warm up quickly
442
00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:48,600
by basking in the sun,
443
00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:52,083
but by huddling together they can regain a little warmth.
444
00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:57,990
At regular intervals, marine iguanas seem to spit.
445
00:35:57,990 --> 00:36:00,480
What they are doing is sneezing out salt,
446
00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,333
which is filtered from their blood by their salt glands.
447
00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:11,463
Some may go for another swim late in the day.
448
00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:23,940
Marine iguanas are good swimmers and excellent climbers.
449
00:36:23,940 --> 00:36:26,430
Yet when Charles Darwin wrote about his time in the
450
00:36:26,430 --> 00:36:28,717
Galapagos, he described them as,
451
00:36:28,717 --> 00:36:32,670
"Large, most disgusting, clumsy lizards."
452
00:36:32,670 --> 00:36:35,400
The marine iguana has evolved considerably from its
453
00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:37,590
terrestrial ancestor over the past four
454
00:36:37,590 --> 00:36:39,210
and a half million years,
455
00:36:39,210 --> 00:36:41,790
during which time they have evolved the abilities needed
456
00:36:41,790 --> 00:36:43,533
to survive on these shores.
457
00:36:46,290 --> 00:36:49,380
And as they fall asleep on the sun-warmed rocks,
458
00:36:49,380 --> 00:36:52,113
they seem in perfect harmony with their environment.
459
00:36:56,370 --> 00:36:59,930
The day now breaks on Santiago Island.
460
00:36:59,930 --> 00:37:02,847
(sea lion barking)
461
00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:06,510
The din of the birds is a rousing wake up call
462
00:37:06,510 --> 00:37:10,353
for this young Galapagos sea lion, born just a few days ago.
463
00:37:18,780 --> 00:37:21,810
The other members of the small colony are getting a few more
464
00:37:21,810 --> 00:37:22,713
minutes sleep.
465
00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:38,580
Waking on an empty stomach,
466
00:37:38,580 --> 00:37:41,403
this young sea lion is demanding to be fed.
467
00:37:49,410 --> 00:37:53,130
Females give birth to one cub each year on average,
468
00:37:53,130 --> 00:37:56,490
but for a variety of reasons, only half of them survive
469
00:37:56,490 --> 00:37:58,173
beyond two years of age.
470
00:38:01,260 --> 00:38:04,560
One threat to the species is the dwindling supply of fish
471
00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:06,900
that they feed on, which El Nino brings
472
00:38:06,900 --> 00:38:08,910
warmer ocean currents.
473
00:38:08,910 --> 00:38:12,030
This forces sea lions to fish further offshore
474
00:38:12,030 --> 00:38:13,470
and at greater depths
475
00:38:13,470 --> 00:38:16,503
where they encounter more predators, such as sharks.
476
00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:37,080
Sea lions are quite territorial.
477
00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:38,910
They live in small colonies made up of
478
00:38:38,910 --> 00:38:41,130
either a dominant male and his harem
479
00:38:41,130 --> 00:38:42,663
or only single males.
480
00:38:46,063 --> 00:38:48,980
(sea lion barking)
481
00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:56,430
As is often the case with highly gregarious social species,
482
00:38:56,430 --> 00:38:59,040
young sea lions spend a lot of time playing,
483
00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:02,730
which prepares them for fishing and for fighting as adults.
484
00:39:02,730 --> 00:39:05,343
And what could be better than diving into the ocean?
485
00:39:10,655 --> 00:39:13,488
(whimsical music)
486
00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:23,460
Even when they're on their own,
487
00:39:23,460 --> 00:39:26,523
a sea lion always finds something amusing to do.
488
00:39:45,150 --> 00:39:48,827
But with two or more, there's a genuine water ballet.
489
00:40:51,233 --> 00:40:54,390
Iguanas and sea lions live in perfect harmony
490
00:40:54,390 --> 00:40:56,340
and even share the best diving spots
491
00:40:56,340 --> 00:40:58,500
with the Galapagos Penguins.
492
00:40:58,500 --> 00:41:00,930
These birds are much smaller than their Antarctic
493
00:41:00,930 --> 00:41:04,080
counterparts because they don't need fat reserve
494
00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:06,300
to resist the extreme cold,
495
00:41:06,300 --> 00:41:09,210
even if they depend on the cold, fish rich waters
496
00:41:09,210 --> 00:41:10,918
of the Humboldt current.
497
00:41:10,918 --> 00:41:13,585
(upbeat music)
498
00:42:04,950 --> 00:42:08,460
Yet, once again, El Nino and global warming
499
00:42:08,460 --> 00:42:10,050
are threatening the penguins
500
00:42:10,050 --> 00:42:12,750
by interfering with the cold Humboldt Current,
501
00:42:12,750 --> 00:42:14,493
and thus their food supply.
502
00:42:17,640 --> 00:42:21,120
The same danger threatens the flightless cormorant.
503
00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,880
Their wings have become smaller with evolution.
504
00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:26,310
Here on these islands they serve no purpose,
505
00:42:26,310 --> 00:42:28,830
as there are no predators to flee from.
506
00:42:28,830 --> 00:42:32,040
And unlike penguins that use their wings for swimming,
507
00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:35,493
flightless cormorants use only their legs to swim.
508
00:42:45,690 --> 00:42:49,410
This avian morphological evolution demonstrates
509
00:42:49,410 --> 00:42:52,710
that nature is capable of adapting to change,
510
00:42:52,710 --> 00:42:55,640
but once again, this requires tens of thousands
511
00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:57,720
of years or even longer.
512
00:42:57,720 --> 00:43:00,630
The current rate of climate change is far too rapid
513
00:43:00,630 --> 00:43:03,150
for the adaptations needed for the survival
514
00:43:03,150 --> 00:43:05,430
of threatened ecosystems to occur
515
00:43:05,430 --> 00:43:07,323
without irreversible damage.
516
00:43:10,860 --> 00:43:13,830
Mangroves are under threat in every tropical region
517
00:43:13,830 --> 00:43:16,950
of the world, yet mangroves are vital.
518
00:43:16,950 --> 00:43:20,910
Here in the Galapagos on Isabella Island, they are a haven
519
00:43:20,910 --> 00:43:23,600
of peace for the green sea turtle.
520
00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:26,517
(enchanting music)
521
00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:34,470
The newborn turtles develop in these calm waters
522
00:43:34,470 --> 00:43:36,963
before venturing out into the open sea.
523
00:44:21,450 --> 00:44:24,480
Here the turtles find enough algae to feed on
524
00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:26,523
and can also meet other turtles.
525
00:44:44,820 --> 00:44:47,880
What about the notion that green turtles living in the sea
526
00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:50,760
somehow adapted to life on land to the point
527
00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:54,840
of evolving into the celebrated Galapagos tortoises?
528
00:44:54,840 --> 00:44:57,450
No, in fact, that didn't happen.
529
00:44:57,450 --> 00:45:00,720
That hypothesis was false, as genetic analysis
530
00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:02,613
of both species has confirmed.
531
00:45:04,170 --> 00:45:07,650
So how did land tortoises come to live on these islands?
532
00:45:07,650 --> 00:45:09,510
The most likely explanation is
533
00:45:09,510 --> 00:45:12,600
that their ancestors were swept into the sea by storms
534
00:45:12,600 --> 00:45:15,330
and carried here by the Humboldt Current.
535
00:45:15,330 --> 00:45:17,940
Able to survive for days without drinking,
536
00:45:17,940 --> 00:45:20,880
some would've washed up alive on these shores
537
00:45:20,880 --> 00:45:24,093
and their reproductive instinct would've done the rest.
538
00:45:29,250 --> 00:45:32,160
The same reproductive instinct seems to be driving
539
00:45:32,160 --> 00:45:34,083
the male tortoise on the right.
540
00:45:40,950 --> 00:45:42,300
But after checking,
541
00:45:42,300 --> 00:45:45,840
it turns out that the other tortoise is also a male,
542
00:45:45,840 --> 00:45:48,900
so he's not welcome and he's in the way.
543
00:45:48,900 --> 00:45:52,593
In this case, the smaller of the two is forced to yield.
544
00:46:33,720 --> 00:46:37,890
This blue-footed booby would also like to attract a mate.
545
00:46:37,890 --> 00:46:40,323
He is collecting twigs to lay out a nest.
546
00:46:41,662 --> 00:46:44,329
(bird chirping)
547
00:46:46,380 --> 00:46:48,240
Then it's time to capture the attention
548
00:46:48,240 --> 00:46:50,553
of females flying in the vicinity.
549
00:47:02,850 --> 00:47:05,430
This mating display consists in showing off
550
00:47:05,430 --> 00:47:07,350
his bright blue feet.
551
00:47:07,350 --> 00:47:09,990
The deep blue color is a sign of health,
552
00:47:09,990 --> 00:47:12,723
a decisive argument for female boobies.
553
00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:23,913
A brood typically consists of two or three chicks.
554
00:47:32,130 --> 00:47:34,410
The parents take turns to incubate
555
00:47:34,410 --> 00:47:38,433
and then feed them, diving for fish and then regurgitating.
556
00:48:00,090 --> 00:48:02,220
If there isn't enough food for all,
557
00:48:02,220 --> 00:48:04,203
only the first-born is fed.
558
00:48:07,320 --> 00:48:10,323
Red-footed boobies build their nests in trees.
559
00:48:15,990 --> 00:48:19,140
They need to find just the right materials for their nests,
560
00:48:19,140 --> 00:48:21,453
even if both of them have to work together.
561
00:48:34,230 --> 00:48:37,443
The problem is that everyone wants the same twigs.
562
00:48:48,960 --> 00:48:52,470
Swallow-tailed gulls avoid that problem altogether
563
00:48:52,470 --> 00:48:54,450
by not using twigs and branches,
564
00:48:54,450 --> 00:48:57,720
which are relatively scarce on the most arid islands.
565
00:48:57,720 --> 00:48:59,400
They simply gather small shells
566
00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:01,020
and pebbles in a depression,
567
00:49:01,020 --> 00:49:03,648
so they're single egg won't roll away.
568
00:49:03,648 --> 00:49:06,398
(bird squawking)
569
00:49:12,690 --> 00:49:15,780
The chick is fed by parents regurgitating.
570
00:49:15,780 --> 00:49:19,050
But when the prey is too large, like this squid,
571
00:49:19,050 --> 00:49:21,063
adults will keep it for themselves.
572
00:49:32,910 --> 00:49:35,490
Most of these seabirds nest in colonies
573
00:49:35,490 --> 00:49:37,320
where they all stay together.
574
00:49:37,320 --> 00:49:40,410
But some couples, like these nazca boobies,
575
00:49:40,410 --> 00:49:42,630
may prefer to perform their mating ritual
576
00:49:42,630 --> 00:49:43,893
away from the others.
577
00:49:48,744 --> 00:49:51,577
(birds squawking)
578
00:49:56,220 --> 00:49:59,190
The setting sun brings an end-of-the-world sensation
579
00:49:59,190 --> 00:50:01,290
to the Galapagos Islands.
580
00:50:01,290 --> 00:50:04,110
Ecuador is indeed a world apart,
581
00:50:04,110 --> 00:50:07,290
rich with its forests, mountains, and shores.
582
00:50:07,290 --> 00:50:10,920
These exceptional ecosystems deserve to be preserved,
583
00:50:10,920 --> 00:50:13,320
especially here in the Galapagos,
584
00:50:13,320 --> 00:50:16,170
where the animals live in harmony with one another
585
00:50:16,170 --> 00:50:19,953
in complete freedom without the least fear of humans.
586
00:50:20,910 --> 00:50:23,700
The only concerns these pelicans have seems
587
00:50:23,700 --> 00:50:26,520
to be finding a mate, building a nest,
588
00:50:26,520 --> 00:50:28,440
and of course feeding.
589
00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:31,350
But even if these unspoiled areas are being protected
590
00:50:31,350 --> 00:50:35,580
locally, the threat they face is on a global scale.
591
00:50:35,580 --> 00:50:38,250
Climate change is affecting the cold water currents
592
00:50:38,250 --> 00:50:40,710
that carry food to these islands.
593
00:50:40,710 --> 00:50:45,180
Nature, of course, has the power to adapt, to evolve,
594
00:50:45,180 --> 00:50:48,090
and even to give rise to new species.
595
00:50:48,090 --> 00:50:49,950
But this takes time,
596
00:50:49,950 --> 00:50:53,190
and for now what's happening is the opposite.
597
00:50:53,190 --> 00:50:56,250
Species are disappearing hundreds of times faster
598
00:50:56,250 --> 00:50:59,190
than in the last 65 million years,
599
00:50:59,190 --> 00:51:01,680
and this is causing a vicious circle
600
00:51:01,680 --> 00:51:03,900
because the less variety there is,
601
00:51:03,900 --> 00:51:06,423
the more fragile ecosystems become.
602
00:51:07,470 --> 00:51:12,210
Ecuador's biodiversity today seems truly extraordinary,
603
00:51:12,210 --> 00:51:15,480
but it is just the result of nature in action.
604
00:51:15,480 --> 00:51:19,110
In fact, what would be even more extraordinary would be
605
00:51:19,110 --> 00:51:22,710
for us to find the strength to save these ecosystems
606
00:51:22,710 --> 00:51:25,743
while there is time before it is too late.
607
00:51:28,471 --> 00:51:31,304
(uplifting music) 48264
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