- 2 days ago
This episode features the arduous journeys of two different animals in separate parts of the world.....
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AnimalsTranscript
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00:11All around the planet,
00:13billions of animals are on the move,
00:20making incredible journeys.
00:24The most amazing of these
00:27are the smallest.
00:32This series uses the latest camera technology
00:36to follow six tiny animals
00:39on the biggest adventures of their lives
00:43as they travel through extraordinary landscapes,
00:56where every little step counts.
01:17The greatest adventures are the smallest.
01:46To be continued...
01:51Taiwan is home to an animal that inspired legends of underground dragons.
01:59But this is no scaly fire breather.
02:05It's a Formosan pangolin.
02:09And as evening falls, his journey is just beginning.
02:25At two years old, he's the size of a pineapple.
02:33It's his first breeding season, but timing is crucial.
02:37He must find a receptive female before peak season ends in a few days' time.
02:45As he travels, he leaves his own distinct scent markings, a calling card for any prospective mate.
02:55And his own sensitive nose can detect female pheromones.
03:07His territory is a tiny patch of forest half a mile wide.
03:13He hasn't found any sign of another pangolin here.
03:18His species is critically endangered, and so he must walk far to find another.
03:26To fuel his journey, he needs food.
03:30And he's very picky about what he eats.
03:37Something has caught his attention.
03:51One of his favorite foods.
03:57Black ants.
04:00He needs to eat 80,000 ants a day to bulk up.
04:09But wood piles are dangerous places to root around.
04:19A disturbed Taiwanese cobra can strike in the blink of an eye.
04:43Flicking its tongue, the snake can taste the pangolin's odor.
04:53Just one drop of its venom could kill a human.
05:02But it would be a mistake to try and bite a pangolin.
05:09His body is covered by snake-proof scales, made of the same material as a buffalo's horn.
05:33The scent of tree-dwelling ants now draws him upwards.
05:41Being snake-proof does come with its disadvantages.
05:48His suit of armor is heavy.
05:52Almost a quarter of his body weight.
05:56But it's not enough to stop him from trying.
06:12His scales overlap to give flexibility.
06:38He's primed for rapid feeding with a 16-inch tongue.
06:46Essential for tackling cocktail ants.
06:52So called by the way they cock their tail when alarmed.
06:59He laps them up by the dozen.
07:05The ants are quick to mobilize.
07:13Fighting back with vicious bites.
07:17He has flaps to protect his ears.
07:20But the ants are small enough to exploit chinks in his armor.
07:28He's managed to snaffle a few thousand ants.
07:35But their attacks have become too painful to bear.
07:42Time to retreat.
07:54A nocturnal traveler.
07:57He is ready to journey through the night and into the unknown.
08:01In his search for a mate.
08:09On the opposite side of the world, in Brazil's Atlantic forest.
08:16Dawn is breaking for another endangered species.
08:20A family of golden-headed lion tamarins.
08:27This female is six years old.
08:30She has made a home here with her lifelong partner.
08:35They are no larger than a milk bottle.
08:38But they have a giant responsibility.
08:42Three boys under two years old.
08:46And baby twins.
08:49A boy.
08:51And a girl.
08:56They are no bigger than the palm of a human hand.
09:05Mom is struggling to provide the milk that they need.
09:08Because the drying climate has made fruit scarce.
09:21The twins must eat every two days.
09:25Or they could die of starvation.
09:41They could die of starvation.
09:42Driven by hunger.
09:43The family must travel quickly to find food.
09:55Lion tamarins are canopy sprinters.
10:02With claws like running spikes.
10:04They dash along the branches.
10:06And their forelimbs are like springs boosting their momentum.
10:15They can cover large areas by sprinting in bursts of 25 miles per hour.
10:24Scientists must use radio collars to follow their journeys.
10:30Carrying babies a quarter of their own weight is exhausting.
10:35They urgently need food.
10:46They urgently need food.
10:51Black-necked aracari.
10:55Birds have an aerial advantage when it comes to spotting fruit.
11:02They've revealed a horde of figs.
11:10They've revealed a horde of figs.
11:13She only needs to eat around 40 to get the calories to produce milk today.
11:24But she can smell scent markings.
11:31She's trespassing into someone else's territory.
11:58Nervously, they feed as fast as they can.
12:04They feed as fast as they can.
12:05It's becoming unpredictable.
12:07Lion tamarins are pushed into more conflict.
12:13The rivals' alarm calls are a sign that they have no intentions of sharing.
12:19And with young babies in tow, it's too risky for the family to stay.
12:26Mom has barely eaten enough, but at least she can feed the twins with a little milk today.
12:34Yet, if they don't get another meal within the next two days, the babies may not make it.
12:43That's not the only threat they face right now.
12:49A storm.
13:02When it rains, the air temperature plummets to 50 degrees.
13:15Hungry and drenched, the babies can't generate heat fast enough.
13:21Hypothermia is a major killer of these tiny monkeys.
13:31But being 10 inches tall does have advantages.
13:37You can hide in the smallest spaces.
13:40And the family huddles inside to keep warm.
13:47Almost four miles from their old home, and hungry.
13:52But at least tonight, they have somewhere to sleep.
14:03Back in Taiwan, the pangolin is nearly two miles beyond his territory, with no sign of a female.
14:17It's critical that he picks up a scent within the next few days.
14:23And very few will be receptive so late in the season.
14:29But his search has taken him into a strange type of forest.
14:47There are no trees to climb here.
15:01Bamboo.
15:03Bamboo.
15:03The tallest grass in the world.
15:07This species can grow three feet in one day.
15:14Here it towers 65 feet high.
15:27Row upon row.
15:31Mile upon mile.
15:37It's easy to get lost.
15:46This is a strange landscape.
15:49A plantation created by humans.
15:57A monoculture.
15:59A monoculture.
16:01A monoculture.
16:01A monoculture.
16:03A monoculture.
16:04Nothing but bamboo.
16:13Except the faint scent of a female.
16:36The scent has led him into a different type of a forest.
16:46An area that's been left wild.
16:58And there's a pangolin burrow.
17:04But something doesn't smell right.
17:17He must be cautious.
17:20Other animals move into vacant burrows.
17:40A gem-faced civet.
17:52Like a skunk, it can release a stink when alarmed.
17:59Not what you want when your sexual prowess depends on smelling good.
18:11While the pangolin tries to sniff out a mate,
18:15another animal here employs a different strategy.
18:24Light.
18:27Light.
18:28Light.
18:30Light.
18:30matte power's night.
18:33Light.
18:42Light.
18:43Light.
18:54There are 56 species of firefly found in Taiwan.
19:22Each has its own distinctive sequence of flashes, all used for attracting a mate.
19:33The presence of fireflies is a sign of a healthy habitat.
19:38If the pangolin continues in this direction, he might find more burrows.
19:43.
19:45.
20:01.
20:27As wild habitats are turned to monoculture,
20:30fireflies disappear,
20:34and pangolins find themselves more exposed to humans.
20:53Another pangolin burrow.
20:58This time, it's empty.
21:04With dawn breaking, at least it's a place to sleep.
21:19The lion tamarins have woken to a new dawn, hungry and far from the fruiting trees that they once called
21:27home.
21:30Grooming reinforces the bonds between mom and dad.
21:49Giant trees are the perfect place to live, full of hiding spaces.
21:54And ahead, there's one of the biggest trees they've ever seen.
22:04It's branches support a rich garden of plants.
22:11But the lion tamarins want what might be hiding within.
22:19They don't just eat fruit.
22:21Ten percent of their diet is prey.
22:38Their extended fingers are adapted to reach deep inside.
23:00These grasshoppers are the first proper meal they've had in days.
23:04It's an incredible feast.
23:08But there's even better food here.
23:14Frogs.
23:17It's concentrated protein.
23:26Mom's got one.
23:29And the whole family are keen for a bite.
23:40It's important that mom eats first and replenishes her energy from making milk.
23:46Frogs.
23:59Even if the twins want to try frog for themselves.
24:30It's the baby's first time.
24:33It's the first taste of solid food.
24:39This is the perfect home for the family.
24:43All the frogs they can eat.
24:45And no other lion tamarins to compete with.
24:53They could establish a new territory of fruiting trees around it.
25:03The future for the family is looking bright.
25:09With mom and dad relaxed, they allow the male twin to take his first steps towards independence.
25:25It's a big feat when you are 30 feet off the ground.
25:50Two months old, he's learning by copying his older brothers.
25:55But he's not ready to join in on the play fighting just yet.
26:09All the commotion hasn't gone unnoticed.
26:16On the forest floor, predators hunt in the shadows.
26:37An ocelot.
26:42A dollar without the gas.
26:43It's a giant.
26:43It's only twice the size of a house cat.
26:46But to the tiny primates, it's a giant.
26:49And could kill each one of them with a single bite.
26:59The lion tamarins are unaware of the danger approaching below.
27:16The ocelot's speckled coat makes him disappear amongst the undergrowth.
27:39His feet are three inches wide, larger than a lion tamarind's head.
27:47They allow him to tread stealthily.
27:55And ocelots are agile enough to hunt in the trees.
28:25Something isn't right.
28:38The cat's been spotted.
28:41The family needs to abandon the tree quickly.
28:59For the ocelot, it's not worth a chase.
29:06He's a nighttime hunter.
29:08And this is his sleeping tree.
29:11At the heart of his territory, three miles wide.
29:22The family must escape from this area quickly.
29:26Come nightfall, the cat will be back on the hunt.
29:48In Taiwan, the daytime temperature can reach 100 degrees, too uncomfortable for a heavily armored
29:56pangolin.
30:01He hides in the burrow where it's 20 degrees cooler.
30:10As dusk approaches, he can get back to his journey.
30:19Out there is the female who dug this burrow, and her scent is growing stronger.
30:28He's entered an olive grove, and is deep in a world transformed by humans.
30:37He has never been so exposed.
30:52In Taiwan, feral dogs pose the biggest threat.
30:58They're one of the few animals able to bite through the pangolin's armor.
31:03They're one of the few animals.
31:16They're one of the biggest animals in the world.
31:18They're one of the most dangerous animals.
31:34Finally, a female.
31:53Instinct now takes over.
32:08Gently stroking her back, he seeks approval.
32:21But the more he makes his advances, the tighter she curls up.
32:33She's not interested.
32:36A sign that she may already be pregnant.
32:42He's too late.
32:59With time running out on the season, he must continue if he is to find another female.
33:11Fortunately, he's within reach of a remarkable place.
33:19Taoist shrines are believed to bestow good luck upon all who pass.
33:25And they are often found close to a protected forest where pangolins thrive.
33:36Back in Brazil, the lion tamarins have spent the last five days jumping between thousands of trees.
33:50But they have yet to find anywhere safe with enough food to make a home.
34:06Suddenly, something that they have never seen before.
34:11A break in the tree cover.
34:18A road.
34:24Here, they are more exposed to aerial threats.
34:30A monkey-eating harpy eagle.
34:34Fifteen times the weight of a lion tamarind.
34:39With nightfall fast approaching, the family can't turn back.
34:44They must find a way to cross the open road.
34:56The gap here is 30 feet wide.
35:00Too far to jump.
35:17And they aren't the only ones stuck here.
35:21A sloth.
35:36This overhanging tree could be the family's only way over.
35:46An aerial attack can come from anywhere.
35:52Mom goes first.
35:54Sixteen feet in a single bound.
36:03The rest of the family must follow.
36:12Five have made it.
36:16Two to go.
36:17Two to go.
36:30The eagles caught something.
36:37It's a sloth.
36:43All the family are accounted for.
36:55They continue their journey for just over a mile.
37:00Until suddenly, their path is blocked again.
37:08Having spent their entire lives surrounded by trees,
37:12they have reached the edge of the forest.
37:18Beyond is human territory.
37:21A farm.
37:26The lion tamarinds are trapped within one of the few remaining patches
37:31of the once vast Atlantic forest.
37:38Today, only 12% remains.
37:52Traveling along the forest edge.
38:01There's nothing for them out there.
38:04It's a dead end for the family.
38:21When forest fragments become too small,
38:24there's not enough food to sustain a healthy population of animals.
38:30The whole ecosystem begins to collapse.
38:38It's the end of five days searching for a new home.
38:46And the tamarind's future seems as uncertain as ever.
38:57For the pangolin, it's now coming towards the end of the breeding season.
39:04He's crossing the boundary into a protected forest.
39:08One of thousands scattered across Taiwan.
39:11Covering nearly 20% of the island.
39:26Here, dogs are kept out.
39:38Reserves like this are home to the world's densest population of pangolins.
39:44As many as 25 in a square mile.
39:49But before he continues,
39:51he needs to find food and replenish his energy.
40:02Termites.
40:04Packed with protein.
40:08The water.
40:09The water.
40:11The water.
40:20The water.
40:25The water.
40:27The water.
40:28The water.
40:28The water.
40:29The water.
40:30The water.
40:31The water.
40:32The water.
40:33The water.
40:34The water.
40:35The water.
40:35The water.
40:36He isn't the only one that's hungry.
40:48A moon bear.
40:51Taiwan's largest carnivore.
40:54Thirty times bigger than a pangolin.
41:08They usually live high in the mountains.
41:11But in the spring, these bears travel down to lower slopes to seek food.
41:28They're built for ripping apart trees.
41:30With powerful muscles and two inch long claws.
41:42It could crunch a pangolin in one bite.
41:48It isn't going to give up without a meal.
41:59The pangolin takes his chance to get away.
42:05Luckily, he's not what the bear is after.
42:11It's the termites.
42:21He needs to find a meal that the bear can't reach.
42:30Cocktail ants.
42:32Again.
43:02There's only one scent that can entice a young male away from food.
43:08The pheromones of a female.
43:14This could be his chance.
43:29She is in the last few days of her reproductive cycle.
43:34Soon, she will be unable to get pregnant.
43:42The final stage of his journey is now led by this female.
43:51It's a good sign.
43:56They travel hour after hour through the night.
44:08He has proved himself worthy.
44:24Mating in a suit of armor isn't easy.
44:31Finding the right angle could take till morning.
44:35Finding the right angle could take till morning.
44:43His first great journey is a success.
44:47He's found a mate.
44:58And safe in this protected forest.
45:02He can help to ensure the survival of his species.
45:15Seven months later.
45:25The pangolin's baby is born.
45:32And the story continues.
45:33And the story continues.
45:37With a new generation.
45:42And a new journey.
45:54It's morning in Brazil.
45:59The tamarinds are still traveling along the forest edge.
46:07And now they are being watched.
46:22Mom isn't sure what to make of these monkeys.
46:40These are Viet's marmosets, a distant cousin of tamarinds.
46:49Remarkably, they speak a similar language and can understand each other.
46:57They too are homeless and have babies to feed.
47:01It gives them a unique opportunity to join forces.
47:19The lion tamarinds take the high branches and keep watch for aerial threats.
47:30The marmosets keep an eye out down below for predators on the prowl.
47:42One has spotted an agouti.
47:47A giant rodent, three times bigger than a lion tamarind.
47:53It searches for food with its nose like a dog and stores nuts in the ground like a squirrel.
48:07Both families follow it, watching where it stores its stash.
48:16The agouti has led them to a new world of opportunity.
48:29A place of strange plants.
48:34And huge, colorful fruits.
48:40A cocoa pod with enough cocoa beans to feed a lion tamarind for a day.
49:00This is a territory with plenty of food to go around.
49:11For both families, it's a paradise.
49:17As they travel further, they discover the most remarkable fruit of all.
49:26The biggest of any tree on earth.
49:33This is jackfruit.
49:39It's as big as a basketball.
49:42And five times bigger than a lion tamarind.
49:50The fruit on a single tree is packed with enough calories to feed 6,000 golden-headed lion tamarinds for
49:59the day.
50:00The entire world population.
50:16The family has made it to a part of the forest known as Cabruca.
50:25A place where people sustainably grow cocoa and fruit in the shade of giant native trees.
50:39Every year, thousands of new trees are planted to connect dying forest fragments.
50:50Making them bigger to keep them alive.
50:58The lion tamarinds can now play their part to enrich these new areas by spreading seeds in their droppings.
51:14Cabrucas across the Atlantic forest are sanctuaries for almost every golden-headed lion tamarind.
51:30Here, they grow bigger, healthier, and produce more babies.
51:50The family has discovered a new home on the edge of their world.
51:57And they are already playing a vital role in protecting the forest for future generations.
52:05gods
52:34the
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