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Adventure
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00:044.6 billion years since its creation, the Earth has continued to surprise us with its natural wonders.
00:14Great nature, a roller coaster ride of science and exploration, illuminating the drama that is the Earth.
00:27Today's destination is the island of Madagascar off the eastern coast of Africa.
00:39The Tsinghi is a forest of gigantic stone needles. In the local language it means, where one cannot walk barefoot.
00:53For many years, these needle-like spires were off-limits to people.
01:11The Tsinghi is actually a hidden animal paradise.
01:19Searching for the mysterious lemur, eye-eyes are also part of the expedition.
01:32What did the camera crew find there?
01:45Madagascar is a listric nature reserve. The many visitors to the reserve are astounded by the breathtaking rock formations.
01:57It's an hour-and-a-half hike to the observation area and its incredible view.
02:09At first, the path is smooth and easy to walk on.
02:12However, huge rocks soon appear on both sides.
02:29The path becomes like a maze.
02:32The path becomes like a maze.
02:42This is the base of the spiky rocks standing like arrows against the sky.
02:51Now, the reason why the Tsinghi was off-limits to humans is clear.
03:05At last, the group reaches the observation area.
03:15The Tsinghi, in all its wonders, spreads out before them.
03:19The Tsinghi, in all its wonders, spreads out before them.
03:29The edges of the rocks are all razor-sharp.
03:45The
03:46Speaking of scours is through this-sharp.
03:49Please follow the pats on one side.
04:03The crew discovers something interesting.
04:10Large plants are growing from between the rocks.
04:13These succulents are able to live in dry climates.
04:24Amazingly, these plants are strong enough to survive even on rugged plateaus.
04:35This is the spectacular world of stone needles.
04:43This place is called the Little Tsingy, since the rocks here are relatively short.
04:50They say if you go further, rock pinnacles more than 100 meters tall will appear.
05:10A Madagascar nature expert will help us from here.
05:20Dr. Taizo Shima is a zoologist.
05:23Madagascar, with its large number of lemurs, is where he makes his base.
05:32In particular, Shima is famous for his footage of the extremely shy Ai Ai lemurs.
05:38He was the first to reveal how they live.
05:46Shima has been exploring nearly every nook and cranny in Madagascar for 30 years.
06:00What does a 100-meter-high pinnacle of rock look like?
06:12One must venture into the deep forest to reach the gigantic rock formations.
06:24According to Shima, lemurs are often seen in these kinds of forests.
06:35It's trees like this.
06:38Lemurs prefer these types of trees.
06:48Shima attempts to film the lemurs in this forest.
07:06Here's one.
07:07It's one of the more famous of the Madagascar lemurs.
07:10This is the Deccan civica.
07:23There are two in the tree.
07:26The left one will jump further.
07:30There it goes.
07:35And the other one.
07:43Different lemurs were spotted too.
07:51These are brown lemurs.
07:59After just 10 minutes of filming, two types of lemurs were spotted.
08:15The 100-meter-high rock pinnacles are near.
08:22Shima shows us what kinds of rock form the mysterious land of the Tsinghi.
08:35Look.
08:38You can clearly see this stone is a coral fossil.
08:41Most of the leaves will come below.
08:42Oh.
08:47Oh.
08:51Oh.
08:57Oh.
09:00Oh.
09:01Oh.
09:02Oh.
09:03Oh.
09:03Oh.
09:03Oh.
09:04Oh.
09:06Oh.
10:37The only place on earth where these gigantic forests of stone can be found.
10:44The amazing work of Mother Nature here is truly breathtaking.
11:01Great Nature, a program that explores the mysterious and magical wonders of the earth.
11:08Pushing the boundaries to get up close and personal.
11:13Each episode highlights a world of surprises, volcanoes, caverns, atmospheric phenomena, and much more.
11:30There are mysterious land formations in Madagascar.
11:37The never-ending view resembles soaring skyscrapers in a large city.
11:48They also look like rock fortresses built to keep humans out forever.
11:57What is the history behind the mysterious creations here?
12:11Today, Madagascar is an island.
12:14However, 200 million years ago, Madagascar was part of the gigantic continent Pangaea.
12:25The continent split repeatedly, and 180 million years ago, the park comprising the modern-day island of Madagascar split off
12:34from the main African continent.
12:41A shallow sea formed between the African continent and Madagascar.
12:46The Tsinghi was formed here.
12:55Coral once lived in this sea.
12:58Over the years, the remains of the coral gradually accumulated at the bottom, resulting in a thick layer of limestone.
13:08Tectonic movement forced this limestone layer upward.
13:18The limestone cracked in many different directions when it was forced upward.
13:27A large amount of rainwater seeped through the cracks and gradually eroded the limestone.
13:39The rain left the surfaces of the limestone formations with razor-sharp spikes.
13:55The rainwater also penetrated deep within the limestone.
14:02The water flowed through the limestone, creating numerous caves that gradually grew bigger and bigger.
14:15Finally, the ceilings of the caves collapsed.
14:24This is how the hundred-metre stone needles were formed.
14:36This mysterious land resembles row upon row of soaring skyscrapers.
14:44Over time, the force of water created this magnificent work of Mother Nature.
15:00Now it's time to reveal some other mysteries of the amazing Tsinghi.
15:08As the expedition moves on, something interesting became noticeable.
15:16These trees able to survive here.
15:27Let's enter the Tsinghi once again.
15:40The crew came upon an area that displayed a microcosm of the Tsinghi's ecology.
15:50The gaps between the rough rocks are densely covered with trees.
16:00The roots of the trees stretch deep underground beneath the rocks.
16:05The plants here have adapted to the harsh environment in unique ways.
16:21Here, very thick roots grow deeply into the earth.
16:31Nearby, we find some beans.
16:33They're a source of food for the mysterious Ai-Ai-Ai.
16:39This is a big tree.
16:42It's big.
16:43It's such a big tree.
16:50Where do the roots of these plants go beneath the ground?
16:54A guide from the National Park provides the answer.
17:02The roots of these plants grow downward in search of water deep underground.
17:13Rainwater during the rainy season is stored down there.
17:21Actually, during the rainy season, a large amount of rainwater is stored elsewhere in the Tsinghi.
17:28Pools of water acting as reservoirs can sometimes be found between the rocks.
17:35These were once caves that formed inside the limestone.
17:43The ceilings of caves collapsed, creating pools in the rocky plateau.
17:53Water doesn't penetrate limestone easily.
17:56Therefore, the former caves have become large reservoirs.
18:09Upon first look, the Tsinghi appears to be a very hard environment.
18:14However, it's in fact an oasis, teeming with life.
18:33The camera crew will attempt to find the Tsinghi's mysterious Ai-Ai lemur.
18:34With the help of zoologist Dr. Taizo Shima,
18:37the camera crew will attempt to find the Tsinghi's mysterious Ai-Ai lemur.
18:42The camera crew will attempt to find the Tsinghi's mysterious Ai-Ai lemur.
18:55Recently, the forests where lemurs live have significantly decreased.
19:00This is in part due to such things as slash-and-burn agriculture.
19:05Many species of lemur are facing extinction.
19:13Shima believes the untouched Tsinghi can be the only place where lemurs can be saved from extinction.
19:26In Madagascar, people cut down the trees in every single forest they are permitted to enter.
19:33If you think about it, I doubt the lemurs can survive anywhere else but in places like the Tsinghi in
19:39the future.
19:41If possible, I'd like to confirm the existence of Ai-Ais during this visit.
19:47Ai-Ais are the most primitive type of lemur.
19:50They've been here on Earth for more than 50 million years.
19:54I think places where Ai-Ais live must truly be paradises for lemurs.
20:14The crew tries to film nocturnal Ai-Ais by using an infrared camera.
20:26It's 7pm. Filming begins.
20:30According to Shima, Ai-Ais are active from dusk to dawn.
20:39The crew begins filming two hours after sunset.
21:0130 minutes after they begin, the camera spies an animal.
21:1130 minutes after they begin, the camera spies an animal.
21:16This chameleon is common in Madagascar.
21:19When fully grown, it will be longer than 60 centimetres.
21:25This is how they sleep.
21:30When a chameleon curls its tail, it means it's sleeping.
21:45The crew finds another animal.
21:51It's an iguana.
21:59It's an iguana.
22:05Except for South America, this is the only place on Earth iguanas are found.
22:14Now we know that iguanas live only in Madagascar and on the American continent.
22:25One hour has passed since filming began.
22:31Ai-Ais are nocturnal.
22:33They start searching for food after sunset.
22:37However, for the crew, Ai-Ais remain elusive.
22:55Then, suddenly…
23:00A reflection.
23:02Right there.
23:04There it is.
23:05Look.
23:08Shine the light up higher.
23:11Here.
23:12Where's the light?
23:14Here, in front of us.
23:16We need more light.
23:20Can you see it?
23:22Get closer.
23:24Let's film it first, though.
23:30When lemurs are exposed to bright light, many become dazzled and freeze.
23:37Why is the light so weak?
23:41With a lemur caught in the spotlights, the crew approaches.
23:48Everyone!
23:49Shine your lights on it from all angles.
23:54This is a pygmy-mouse lemur.
23:56It's only about 6 to 12 centimeters long and the world's smallest lemur.
24:06Suddenly, it took off.
24:19There is a lemur.
24:19Keep going.
24:2420 minutes later, the expedition finds another lemur.
24:31There's a lemur up there in the light.
24:42Like before, it's a pygmy mouse lemur.
24:52Shima tries his best to hold the branch in front of him, so the crew can somehow film
25:04it.
25:14At last, the crew successfully films the lemur's entire body.
25:39The lemur remains still in the strong light.
25:50Amazingly, the crew was able to get up close to it.
26:05After all that, unfortunately, we couldn't find any ayais this time.
26:12However, this visit made me realize the richness of the Tsinghi.
26:21When you first look at the Tsinghi, it appears uninhabitable.
26:26In other words, it's a land where no animals could live.
26:31However, the truth is there are many animals unique to Madagascar living there.
26:39The inanimate rocky landscape actually maintains a large number of animals.
26:46I really felt the relationship between the inanimate objects and the wildlife they support.
27:01Madagascar's Tsinghi is an amazing cathedral of stone needles.
27:08Over the millennia, Mother Nature created this magnificent landscape that became home to some of her most unique creatures.
27:17The inanimate
27:22milyon
27:33by
27:45the
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