Original subtitles

This story begins at the heart of Europe.

Where bright lights shine throughout the night.

Days come and go.

Time slips by.

Millions of people call these cities their home.

But beyond the hustle and bustle,

it's easy to forget there is another world out there.

A place of natural wonder.

One of the largest wildernesses in Europe.

Where vast ancient forests still grow.

And great mountains reach up to kiss the sky.

Winding waters twist and turn.

Beasts steeped in myth and legend roam free.

They all face the same challenge:

To survive the twists and turns of the changing seasons.

Attempting to outlast the frozen winter months.

Nurture future generations during the spring and summer.

And prepare for winter by reaping autumn's bounty.

In Europe's most spectacular land.

This is Untamed Romania.

The Carpathian Mountains.

Stretching for 1600 kilometres,

through seven different countries,

these mountains are the backbone of Romania.

Winter here is a cruel mistress.

She leaves little in her path but ice and snow.

Only a handful of specialists brave her frozen embrace.

And only the most hardy will survive.

But as winter's icy grip begins to loosen.

Deep in the forests, sleeping giants begin to stir.

Brown bears have slept through the worst of winter, sheltering from the cold.

Resting whilst food is scarce.

This young bear probably hasn't eaten for weeks, and he's not the only one.

There could be up to 5,000 bears in Romania's forested heartland.

At this time of year, they scour the cold forest floor for roots, nuts and insects.

These slopes are home to a variety of expert foragers.

Wild boar.

Their unfussy diet rivals our own; they will eat almost anything.

This female has become separated from her herd,

perhaps distracted by her search for food.

But this makes her vulnerable.

She's heavily outnumbered.

Unable to outrun the wolves, she must face them head on.

Her fierce defence has put the wolves off.

She'll need to rejoin her herd, sooner rather than later.

A boar could fatally wound a wolf.

But these creatures of folklore also need to eat.

And they will soon have young to feed.

Living in tight family packs, they act and hunt as one.

Wolves patrol and protect their territory together,

which can stretch for hundreds of square kilometres.

But their domain is about to change.

Spring flutters her eyes awake.

Longer, warmer days awaken the plants and trees.

And there are many of them here.

Over one third of Europe's plant species are found in Carpathia.

Beech trees are one of the most prevalent across the country.

Their budding leaves are one of the first signs of spring.

These little green gems will slowly grow over the year, soaking up the sun's rays.

Below the budding canopy, among the undergrowth,

smaller forest residents begin to wake up.

As the days slowly grow warmer,

fire salamanders awaken from their winter slumber.

They're never found too far from running water.

Legend has it that these amphibians are forged in flames.

Living among fallen branches, their hiding places

were sometimes collected by people for firewood.

When placed upon fire,

the fire salamander would suddenly emerge from the flames,

earning their name.

The reality is quite the opposite.

Fire salamanders begin their life in water.

They are one of the few amphibians to give birth to live young.

And after carrying her offspring through the winter,

this mother has found the perfect birthing pool.

These young salamanders are water bound for now,

and are left to fend for themselves.

Each day they'll grow a little stronger and a little brighter,

until the time comes for them to return to the undergrowth.

Some have seen the seasons come and go for many years.

But, for others, this is a whole new world.

These bear cubs are just a few months old.

At this age, life is all fun and games.

And this forest clearing makes a perfect playground.

The family will stick together for two to three years, learning valuable lessons.

This little one needs a bit more practise than his siblings.

All over the Carpathians, small streams trickle down the mountainsides.

Many end up feeding into Romania's greatest river.

The Danube.

Flowing through 10 different countries,

this vast river is the second longest in Europe.

Down the ages, the Danube has worn through ancient stone.

Twisting and turning through forests, shaping the landscapes seen today.

And where the Danube meets the Black Sea,

some of Romania's most spectacular wildlife flourishes.

This is the Danube Delta.

A seemingly endless maze of waterways,

marshes,

and forests.

Covering almost 6,000 square kilometres.

Resulting in one of the most diverse ecosystems in Europe.

With spring's arrival, there is a fresh bounty for all.

But the celebration is fleeting.

The delta becomes a grandstand for the fiercest of competitions.

It's breeding season for the local wild horses.

Groups of males test their strength against each other.

Only the strongest stallions will get the chance to mate.

A short distance away,

an established stallion guards over his herd.

He alone can mate with these mares.

But a potential challenger emerges.

Violence is the only option,

but a broken jaw or leg could mean a slow, torturous death.

With the challenger defeated, the stallion returns to his females.

His family is secure. For now.

All over the delta, young families are raising the next generation.

In late spring, whiskered terns spend the day feeding their young.

Sometimes this means the chicks are left alone.

Without the protection of their parents, they're at their most vulnerable.

Danger is all around.

Oblivious to the risk,

one chick decides now is the perfect time for an unsupervised swim.

But at such a young age,

his soft feathers are not quite ready for such an ambitious adventure.

He could easily become waterlogged or exhausted.

The remaining chick begins to follow its sibling.

But a parent returns just in time.

The other guides the novice swimmer back to the nest.

Disaster is narrowly averted, and the family is safely reunited.

Spring's bloom also brings fresh vigour to the delta's plant life.

Access to light is the greatest struggle amongst the life of plants.

These waters are ruled by those that can seize the surface.

One of the most successful have evolved a defence

mechanism that is deployed day and night.

When the moon is at its highest,

lily flowers hold their delicate petals firmly clasped,

protecting what is most important to them.

Pollen, the key to their survival.

Whilst closed, the flowers shelter their sticky pollen from the morning dew.

But as the sun rises and the temperature is just right,

these flowers begin to unfurl.

With the sun beaming down, insects are soon attracted to their enticing odour.

Bringing with them pollen from other lilies,

fertilising the flowers and ensuring the next generation of these dynamic plants.

These vast forests of water lilies also provide shelter

and protection for much of the delta's wildlife.

Including Europe's largest native frog.

Reaching up to 17 centimetres long,

maintaining their formidable size is no easy task.

Fortunately for these marsh frogs, the delta is full of tasty snacks.

If they can catch them.

Marsh frogs don't give up easily.

Being the biggest frog around means you also fall the hardest.

But their persistence normally pays off.

Beneath the lily pads, there is a darker world.

A place of murk and mystery.

Home to over 100 fish species.

And occasionally, a prehistoric giant.

A mammoth beast that has navigated the seas and rivers for millions of years...

The beluga sturgeon.

Sometimes referred to as living fossils,

these prehistoric fish have barely changed form in over 200 million years.

It's one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.

A full-sized adult can reach six metres in length and weigh over a tonne.

As solitary animals, these monolithic beasts cruise the gloomy depths, alone.

Above these bottom dwellers, others find that teamwork yields the best results.

Great white pelicans are the masters of collaboration.

Many thousands migrate here in the spring from warmer climates such as Africa,

the Middle East and even the Indian Subcontinent.

Cruising the delta's waterways, they herd schools of fish into one anothers path.

This clever fishing technique increases everyone's chance of catching a meal.

Fish, crustaceans and various amphibians are always on the menu.

Once they've exhausted these waters, it's time to do what pelicans do best.

Take to the skies.

They can travel 100 kilometres a day searching for

food before returning to their nesting ground.

It's not just animals that have made their home in the delta.

This is Histria.

An ancient city built by the Greeks, two and a half thousand years ago.

Once a vibrant trading centre,

its streets would have been filled with merchants and tradesmen.

But now these ruins are home to much wilder residents.

And some of them are cold-blooded killers.

Dice snakes.

These serpents spend the winter in hibernation,

emerging in the warmer months to hunt.

But this female has no interest in ground squirrels or birds.

Because this snake is a fish hunter.

And bottom-feeding gobies are her favourite prey.

But finding them isn't easy.

Dice snakes lack gills, so a quick breath is often required.

Time for round two.

Despite a final struggle, the goby's fate has long since been sealed.

Once her catch is consumed, she will seek refuge from the midday heat.

During Romania's hottest season,

even cold-blooded killers cannot survive the sun at its peak.

Summer has arrived,

pulling the country into her warm embrace.

Her days are long, slow and hot.

Perhaps the season's most spectacular event is born from

humble beginnings, among the depths of the Mureș River.

Deep under this water,

millions of tiny creatures have been patiently waiting for three years.

The arrival of summer triggers these mayfly larvae to head to the surface.

At first, just a few.

Then, a few more.

By the end of the day, millions will have taken to the sky.

This spectacle lasts less than a day.

In this brief time, the mayflies must race to mate,

then travel upriver to lay their eggs,

after which their lives will come to an abrupt end.

Other life cycles here have a much slower pace.

The Carpathian Mountains are home to some of the most ancient forests in Europe.

Seas of green stretch as far as the eye can see.

These great forests have stood the test of time.

They are representative of what much of Europe looked like around 3,000 years ago.

A mix of beech, birch, oak and pines cover a third of Romania.

Like the animals that live among them,

many of these trees help and support one another.

Vast networks of roots connect families of trees,

supplying one another with vital nutrients.

Even in death, each tree continues giving life to the forest.

Collapsing slices a gap in the dense canopy,

drenching the new clearing in bright sunlight.

As the tree begins to rot,

it releases important nutrients, acting as a natural fertiliser.

Under these perfect conditions,

new plant life quickly establishes,

irresistible to hungry herbivores.

Which are the perfect prey for Europe's largest feline.

The Eurasian lynx.

This adept predator is a secretive character.

Its preferred hunting technique

is to ambush prey using the dense cover of the forest.

But this female has other priorities.

At just a few weeks old, her cubs won't be able to hunt for a while yet.

For them, it's all about playtime.

They're always looking for new playgrounds.

It's exhausting work for their mother.

These cubs will spend their first year with their mother,

exploring the forest's secrets,

watching and learning how to survive through the seasons.

Whilst others care for their young high above the forests.

The Apuseni Mountains.

This geological mosaic of volcanic rock and

limestone has been forged over millions of years.

They are also home to one of the world's most iconic raptors.

The king of the skies.

The golden eagle.

A powerful predator.

But he is also wise.

Every flight is calculated.

Patrolling his kingdom, he carefully scans the land below.

Eagles have some of the best eyesight in the natural world.

It's estimated to be up to eight times stronger than the average human.

Powerful enough to spot a meal from over three kilometres away.

A lone hare.

The perfect prey for this warrior-king of birds.

In a full stoop, he can reach speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour.

The hare doesn't stand a chance.

But the eagle won't keep the meal to himself.

He must return to his home.

For he is also a father.

His young chick is quick to devour its share.

It'll soon be ready to leave the nest, and establish a kingdom of its own.

The skies these eagles soar through are living out a life cycle of their own.

Midsummer sees the Carpathians' highest levels of rainfall.

The forest is soon drenched with life-sustaining water.

It also shapes what lies deep beneath the surface.

As water seeps into the ground, it enters a very different world.

One of darkness and damp.

Around 4,000 caves can be found within the Apuseni Mountains alone.

Many are filled with stalactites and stalagmites.

As water creeps through the rock and stone,

it deposits salts and minerals, forming these eerie statues.

But these caves are also a tomb.

These fearsome skeletons are the remains of cave bears.

A distant cousin of the brown bear,

the cave bear became extinct around 27,000 years ago.

Perhaps due to climate change or hunting.

Other species have come close to a similar fate.

Deep in the forest clearings,

lives one of Romania's rarest and most endangered mammals.

The Eurasian bison.

Unrivalled in strength and size, it is Europe's largest land mammal.

Hulking, hairy beasts,

some standing nearly two metres tall and weighing as much as a tonne.

Many thousands once roamed across Europe.

By the early 20th century,

habitat loss and hunting had led to their near-extinction.

Today, only a few small herds can be found in this wilderness.

Other forest-dwellers have had better luck.

With this bountiful time of year in full swing,

many bears are attracted to the rich foods found in this forest clearing.

Flavoursome flower buds and succulent grasses.

But sometimes what you want most is right under your nose.

For this female finding it is easier said than done.

But even the biggest beasts can be scared by the smallest things.

Finally, she finds what she's been looking for.

A large ant colony is a nutritious, conveniently packaged treat.

Many of Romania's bears have survived the tougher seasons.

Now, with full bellies, they can finally kick back and relax.

A sunny meadow is the perfect spot.

And the view isn't too bad either.

All over the country, meadows burst with colour.

These rolling plains are amongst the most diverse ecosystems in Europe.

Their perfumed petals attract an equally colourful squadron of insects,

in search of sweet nectar.

Of the species of butterfly native to Romania,

the large blues are without doubt some of the most unusual.

This female chooses the colourful marsh gentian to deposit her eggs.

Soon, the young caterpillar's insatiable appetite takes itself high and low.

Using a fine strand of silk, this individual abseils to the ground.

Although not everything goes quite to plan.

Regardless, the caterpillar continues searching for food.

The meadow floor, however, harbours many dangers.

Red ants search for anything edible to feed their own brood.

They have an excellent sense of smell,

and this individual has locked on to the defenceless young caterpillar.

Using a set of powerful jaws,

the ant seizes its prize and heads straight back to the colony.

Other worker ants appear intrigued by the new arrival.

Rather than attack, they amazingly treat it as one of their own.

Because this caterpillar has developed an ingenious survival strategy.

It mimics the scent of these ants,

even making the same noise as the colony's queen,

thus deceiving the workers.

Some ants feed it.

While others ensure its skin is kept clean and free from parasites.

Despite this five-star treatment, the ants get nothing in return for their efforts.

The caterpillar grows bigger and stronger, transforming within its cocoon.

Eventually, it is almost ready to break free.

Once out, the butterfly rushes to exit the nest.

With no more mimicking scent,

now is the only time the ants might realise they've been duped.

The butterfly prepares for its maiden flight.

Living for just a few weeks as a butterfly,

it will soon mate and repeat one of nature's most

extraordinary and complex life cycles all over again.

With so many insects to be found among the flower meadow,

white storks are never very far away.

Today, they're drawn together for an impromptu feast.

And the food's being served by an unusual chef.

The freshly cut grass means insects and other

small prey are flushed out and easily located.

But they can't forage for too long.

Many of these storks have important deliveries to make.

Storks' time for raising chicks coincides with the summer's abundant supply of food.

Both parents have been ferrying edible cargo

to their nest since the chicks first hatched,

around nine weeks ago.

The chicks are getting big now, with appetites to match.

Close by, other siblings are forced to find their own meals.

A local orchard has the ripest apples.

And these young bears are happy to help themselves.

Autumn has finally arrived. Nature's most talented artist.

She paints the forest with masterful strokes.

Her dazzling vision is unequalled in richness and intensity.

And she has one last, timely gift.

The autumn bounty.

Fruits and berries are the sweetest treats.

Beech trees occasionally bestow an exceptionally generous gift.

Every few years, all over Carpathia,

beech nuts simultaneously fall to the ground.

It's thought that this tactic guarantees an abundance of nuts,

so many in fact, that the animals which feast upon them -

couldn't possibly finish them all.

Giving the leftover nuts a better chance to take root and grow.

For much of Romania's wildlife,

it is the last chance to fatten up before winter returns.

The clock is ticking for this bear family to take

on calories before they sleep through the winter.

Starvation is a very real threat.

Whilst some are gorging, others have very different priorities.

And none more so than on Piatra Craiului.

Located in the Southern Carpathians, this is one of Romania's most iconic ridges.

The steep slopes are a haven for plant life found nowhere else in the world.

Many of the country's unique plant species are found on such ridges.

And where plant life flourishes, herbivores are never far away.

Including the most resilient of mountain inhabitants...

Chamois.

They are found upon the highest and most inaccessible slopes.

Bucks spend most of the year alone, but in the autumn months they seek out females.

Competition to secure mating rights can be tough.

This male must be vigilant that no others get too close to his females.

A rival buck is closing in.

But this hasn't gone unnoticed.

The resident male quickly descends the steep slopes to intercept the challenger.

His astute tactic has worked.

The challenger retreats.

He must continue his search elsewhere, and alone.

The dominant buck returns to the females.

Further down the slopes, confrontations can be deadly.

Winter is knocking at autumn's door.

Pushing creatures of the forest to extremes.

A large male bear has sniffed out the wolf pack's latest victim...

A red deer.

The pack won't give up their hard-earned prize without a fight.

This powerful giant could weigh more than all of his opponents combined.

If the pack refuse to give up their kill,

the bear won't hesitate to unleash his full fury.

The wolves escape unharmed, although the message is clear:

their prize is lost.

Once the bear has taken his fill,

there might be some scraps left for the pack...

If they're lucky.

Winter's imminent arrival pushes many to their limit.

The resilient few who've made it this far may

now witness the year's final transformation.

As snow begins to fall across the land,

only the most adaptable will face the season's harshest months.

This female lynx will roam the snowy slopes through the depths of winter.

Her thick winter coat keeps her warm and dry.

A solitary creature, she will wander these slopes alone,

seeking out what little prey she can find.

Others prefer to return to their cosy dens.

Spending the cold months ahead, drifting in and out of sleep.

The mountains become a still and frozen landscape once more.

And so this story reaches its end.

It is not only a tribute to Romania's wilderness.

But also to its people.

Many of whom understand the problems facing both environment and wildlife.

Poaching, irresponsible hunting

and illegal fishing could mean irreversible loss.

Ancient forests, that have stood the test of time, are also at risk.

Excessive consumption of resources threaten fragile ecosystems.

These are not the only problems nature faces,

but they are amongst the most important.

All disrupt the delicate balance of Romania's wilderness.

Some of the Carpathians' forests already bear deep scars.

But, with time, new growth and balance can return.

Preserving this country's wilderness relies on

humankind to step back and allow nature to heal.

Romania is home to more than half of Europe's virgin forests,

making it one of the most extensive wildernesses on the continent,

a very rare and precious gift.

And if the delicate wetlands of the Danube Delta are to thrive,

great care is required to preserve one of Europe's most unique ecosystems.

The continuing conservation and expansion of these protected areas

could one day result in the largest national park network in Europe,

serving nature and local communities alike.

Becoming an example of truly sustainable development.

This great country would be at the forefront of

global nature travel destinations,

making Romania a world leader in conservation.

But there is another reason these amazing landscapes should be protected.

To ensure that future generations share the same privilege

that we all enjoy today.

To meander down waterways.

And witness nature's spectacular beauty.

To hear the call of a golden eagle echo across a mountain valley.

To walk amongst the woods and glimpse at a bear.

This is a gift that all can celebrate.

This is a gift that all can pass on.