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Explores how animals displaced by expanding urban environments adapt, survive, and even thrive in modern cities alongside ....
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AnimalsTranscript
00:06Cities, the fastest growing habitat on the planet, a land of opportunity for animals
00:28of all shapes and sizes.
00:36This unnatural world presents unique challenges, but for those able to adapt and take advantage
00:52of the riches on offer, the urban jungle is quickly becoming the new wild.
01:31In the last 30 years, the world's urban areas have almost tripled in size.
01:37Changing at a rate wildlife has never experienced before.
01:46Some animals have adapted to urban life with surprising ease and made cities their home.
01:55Others have found that keeping one foot in the wild and commuting into town, they make
02:02the most of both worlds.
02:07But there is another group with the most surprising stories of all.
02:20Animals that once lived where our cities are now built.
02:32Today, they find themselves fighting for their place in the land that once belonged to them.
02:44These are the wild outcasts.
02:49They must camp.
03:08They have stopped.
03:13Costa Rica, a tropical tourist hotspot, famed for its incredible wildlife encounters.
03:27And this Pacific coastal town is home to some of the most intelligent monkeys in the world.
03:38But despite first impressions, these white-faced capuchins are in a perilous position, struggling
03:49to adapt and fit into a changing world.
03:58White-faced capuchins have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any primate other than us.
04:10And the wealth of tasty and exotic goodies tourists bring to the beach makes for hot property
04:16worth defending.
04:25Around 20 strong.
04:28This is an average-sized troop.
04:35And this grizzled alpha male is in charge.
04:42He lost an arm fighting to keep hold of this territory.
04:49Him and his troop defend the tourist beach like they would a fruiting tree in the forest.
04:59They know there's more to be gained than a few measly leftovers.
05:06They've learned to play the naive tourists, to get their hands on a seemingly never-ending
05:13supply of food, employing a variety of cunning tactics.
05:24There's the sweet and gentle, the butter would have melted, and the cheeky chappy.
05:45But these aren't natural behaviors.
05:50These monkeys should have an innate fear of humans.
05:55But the alpha male has become so confident, he's happy to assert his dominance.
06:05And the more the capuchins expect food, the more aggressively they pursue it.
06:15By continuing to feed them, tourists are only fueling this bad behavior.
06:24It's even led to them developing a criminal streak.
06:31They wait patiently for people to leave their belongings on the beach.
06:40Before moving in to steal any food.
06:47Capuchins are one of the only primates known to use tools.
06:54So opening unattended luggage is no problem.
06:59But their delinquent behavior and bullying tactics are making them unpopular.
07:07And right now, these capuchins face an uncertain future.
07:12They may be relocated, or worse still, euthanized, unless the tourists change their habits.
07:27Finding ways to protect wildlife from the problems we create is becoming increasingly important.
07:35Because urban areas will only continue to swallow natural habitats.
07:52And cities support just 20% of the wildlife that lived on the land before they were built.
08:04It's never been more important to create space for nature in the urban world.
08:15If we don't, we risk losing it altogether.
08:23It's predicted that by the middle of the century, 50% of the world's species will be in decline.
08:38And that's in part because more and more land is being cultivated to feed our ever-growing population.
08:53The scale of the problem couldn't be more obvious than in Sri Lanka.
09:01Where forests are fast being replaced with crops.
09:06Putting people in direct conflict with the largest land mammal of all, elephants.
09:20As their jungle disappears in its farm to feed us, they've discovered it makes potentially easy pickings.
09:39Under the cover of darkness, more elephants head into town to try their luck.
09:48The local inhabitants guard their livelihood.
09:53Armed with lights, firecrackers and flares.
10:00It's a risky strategy for the elephants.
10:07But hunger drives them on.
10:15Each year this conflict claims the lives of over 200 elephants and 80 people.
10:26Explosions across the region mark the start of the nightly battle.
10:33It's an outcast claim to lost lands versus a relentlessly expanding civilization.
10:59The elephants retreat.
11:04But to grow up to three meters tall and weigh five tons, they need to eat as well.
11:09As much as 150 kilos a day.
11:13They will be back.
11:21With the encounters taking their toll on both sides, a ceasefire is well overdue.
11:30People here are developing ways to try and keep the peace.
11:38Farmers have found that planting a barrier of fruit trees around their crops helps.
11:45Because elephants have the best sense of smell in the animal kingdom and find the smell of citrus repellent.
11:55The trees act as a sustainable buffer that encourages the elephants to feed back in the forest.
12:06Electric fences that surround some of the villages help too.
12:14But the elephant encounters that happen outside the fences are the most dangerous.
12:24And for some kids this road through a notorious elephant corridor is the only way to school.
12:35It's a potentially deadly commute on foot.
12:42But the solution is simple.
12:47An elephant school bus.
12:53Each morning the bus picks up kids from the surrounding area.
13:00And drives them safely to school.
13:12A journey of fear is now a journey of wonder.
13:26Elephants don't perceive large vehicles as a threat in the same way they do a person on foot.
13:32Making for a peaceful passage.
13:42These Sri Lankan communities are finding ways to live alongside the largest of animals.
13:57But across the world elephants are losing their natural habitat.
14:00And being targeted by poachers for their ivory.
14:07The global population has shrunk by a shocking 95% in the last century.
14:14It's a crisis desperately in need of solutions.
14:24Peaceful coexistence with large and dangerous animals is possible.
14:38All up the east coast of America.
14:42Luxury developments are built on prime alligator habitat.
14:48Golf resorts.
14:57But at South Carolina's Kiowa Island, the water hazards, rough and rolling greens, are a paradise for golfers and gators
15:07alike.
15:12That's because each species knows its place here.
15:19The ponds belong to the gators and the fairways are reserved for the golfers.
15:27But each spring, as males compete for the best territory and the best females, the boundaries become blurred.
15:38This four-meter male guards his network of ponds and channels.
15:45And he protects his love interest too.
15:49Whether she's interested or not.
15:53But there's no rush.
15:56New science shows that alligators can actually mate for life.
16:05He warns off the smaller males by broadcasting his dominance.
16:09An infrasonic, then bellowing call, that can be heard from three miles away.
16:45Happy he won't be interrupted, he makes his move.
16:52But she needs some wooing.
16:59Turning on his charm, he rests his head on her back and blows her romantic bubbles.
17:13During a brief moment underwater, the pair mate.
17:26With the female spoken for, the battle-scarred youngsters walk the course in search of their own territory.
17:41But all the best spots are taken.
17:59Chasing and posturing is usually enough to end a dispute.
18:12With a bite three times more powerful than a lion, it's better to retreat than risk injury.
18:24Even though it's built on alligator territory, this high-end human playground provides for both people and wildlife.
18:40Striking the right balance with animals we naturally fear can be difficult.
18:46But cities will continue to attract uninvited wild guests.
18:54Because sometimes they offer them everything they need to survive.
19:01And those animals small enough to take advantage of these opportunities unnoticed can make it big.
19:14Once a tiny desert resort, this twinkling North American city is built where few animals or people ever lived.
19:26Almost everything has been brought here by humans.
19:34Hidden in plain sight, one small but deadly arachnid is thriving in this shiny new desert oasis.
19:44The bark scorpion.
19:55They might be just a few centimeters long, but they are the most venomous scorpions in North America.
20:11And despite the city being built on their land, they have flourished.
20:22In summer, when males hunt for a partner, action on a strip gets pretty hot.
20:33Bark scorpions have 12 eyes, but their vision is poor.
20:37They can only see shades of light and dark.
20:41Some males follow the scent of a potential mate using specialized sensory organs on their belly.
20:47Called pectines.
20:53But finding her is only half the battle.
21:10Blocking pincers, she tests his strength and suitability as a father.
21:20He needs to be careful.
21:23One false move and she'll have him for dinner.
21:31She'll carry her fertilized eggs for up to a year.
21:34And if times get hard, she'll reabsorb them.
21:40But in this city of excess, that's unlikely.
21:52Bark scorpions feed on insects like cockroaches and crickets.
21:57Providing a useful pest control service.
22:16She stuns her captive with a potent neurotoxin.
22:21And dissolves parts of the body with enzymes before eating it.
22:31When she's ready, she gives birth to up to 30 helpless young.
22:37And she will carry on her back until they are old enough to survive on their own.
22:48In her six year lifespan, she could produce 150 babies.
22:54Fueling a population boom.
23:00As one of the only life forms able to survive at nuclear test sites.
23:05Scorpions may not be too welcome, but it looks like they are here to stay.
23:21Because cities can offer food, shelter, and somewhere to raise a family.
23:27The most tenacious wild animals will find a way to live between the cracks of the urban world.
23:32No matter what we throw at them.
23:45One notorious outcast has been so successful at avoiding our attempts to eradicate it.
23:51That is now common in nearly every human settlement in the world.
23:57The brown rat.
24:02In fact, city living suits them so well that they are now only found alongside us.
24:11Fifteen million live in the UK alone.
24:15And like the scorpions in Vegas, their extraordinary ability to reproduce is the secret to their success.
24:28By filming under controlled conditions, we can reveal why.
24:38Safe in their nest, this litter is just ten days old.
24:43And about to open their eyes.
24:48And in less than two months' time, the young females will be able to have babies of their own.
24:55And from then on, could have a litter of eleven every three weeks.
25:00That's up to three thousand descendants a year.
25:10They explore the world around them with a nose that will eventually be more sensitive than a bloodhound.
25:24For now, mum wants to keep them safe.
25:33But just a few weeks later, the young females are ready to leave and start their own family.
25:44It's a dangerous time.
25:47More than fifty percent of rats die within ten days of leaving the nest.
25:52So they're naturally wary of anything unfamiliar.
26:03But few things stand in their way.
26:07They can squeeze through a gap a quarter of their size.
26:15Cavity walls in modern buildings provide perfect hidden highways.
26:21With flexible feet and fine claws, rats can climb around inside them.
26:27Even when upside down.
26:38The outside world presents different challenges.
26:44But it's rats' innate skills that have made them such an urban success story.
26:54As they find their way around, rats make a mental map of new surroundings.
27:06And with soft pads on their feet, can grip even smooth surfaces.
27:14They are one of the few mammals other than us, able to plan complex routes to reach a goal.
27:27Expert tightrope walkers.
27:29Rats use their flexible tails as a counterbalance.
27:40And when needed, to give them control on tricky descents.
27:46And when needed, to give them control on tricky descents.
27:59With powerful back legs, rats can leap more than a meter.
28:14At the merest hint of us, they flee.
28:23Supple and strong, they can survive a fall of over two meters.
28:33In the shadows, rats have all the skills they need to ensure the survival of their species.
28:46Right under the nose of their age-old enemy.
29:01However, life in the city can be more accommodating for outcasts with a better public image.
29:11Built on prime marshlands, the capital of the Netherlands is synonymous with a bird that lived in these waterways long
29:19before the city was built.
29:22The grey heron.
29:27They've managed to survive here, feeding on a natural diet of fish and frogs.
29:38But in extra-cold winters, the city's hundred miles of waterways can freeze solid, locking their food out of reach.
29:54Some have learnt that if they get their timing right, there are still places in town to get a good
29:59meal.
30:05They head to the fish market, just before it closes at 5pm.
30:13And they wait.
30:23The bull would come down, hawking for scraps, even before the market-goers have left.
30:31But there are slim pickings this early.
30:41As darkness descends, so do the rest of the herons.
31:07Dancing between trolleys and vans, they fight for the leftovers.
31:18Feeding after dark is highly unusual behavior.
31:22Herons are hardwired to roost at night to avoid predators.
31:29But the fish market provides them a vital lifeline in the long, cold winters.
31:39It's a race to clear up as fast as possible.
31:42Head to head with their garbage-guzzling inner-city rival.
31:58By adapting to the changing urban world, the herons have secured a future in the heart of town.
32:13And because they are established in the city, some have even formed remarkable relationships.
32:21In a sleepy suburb, one lucky heron has been welcomed with open arms.
32:28Dini Deeprink is preparing breakfast for her good friend, Kiri.
32:34In the beginning, he was coming in my garden, and I think, oh, what a big bird.
32:41Yeah, I call him Kiri.
32:44I give him some food, and from this day, he is coming every day for 17 years.
32:54Kiri!
33:01Kiri leek-kiss!
33:07Kiri!
33:08Kiri leek-kiss!
33:23Three years ago, I was in the hospital for a long time, and he started to miss me.
33:32He fly over the roof, looking for me.
33:43When I come back out of the hospital, and I go with my daughter with a bicycle, he fly
33:51with me.
33:52In other words, you don't let me alone again, you know.
34:02I found them ugly in the beginning.
34:04But then, little by little, I really start to love this bird.
34:10He knows who I am.
34:13It's beautiful.
34:15It's beautiful.
34:39It's beautiful.
34:42It's a winning strategy that's proving successful on a far larger scale, helping to bring one
34:48of Florida's state mascots back from the brink of extinction.
35:02The town of Crystal River is famous for its glass-like, spring-fed rivers that originate
35:08in the heart of town.
35:14But the biggest tourist attraction here, by far, are its manatees.
35:26Growing to four meters, and weighing a ton and a half, these huge vegetarians are also
35:32known as sea cows.
35:39Despite their size, they don't have much insulating body fat.
35:44When a sea temperature drops, they can die from cold stress, a condition similar to frostbite.
35:54So, in winter, they head into town, where a warm welcome awaits.
36:07Cars rely on their mothers until they are two years old, and make the journey side by side.
36:16Swimming an average of five miles an hour, they cruise past waterfront condos and jetties
36:22on the way.
36:29And when hungry, calves suckle from teats under mum's front flippers.
36:39Every three to five minutes, they come to the surface to breathe.
36:54When they reach Crystal River's springs, they can relax.
37:03Here, 45 million liters of water pour out of the ground each day, at a constant 22 degrees.
37:12The perfect temperature for manatees to avoid cold stress.
37:24In the warmth of the spring, mum and baby can slow down and save energy.
37:32When it's really cold, over 500 manatees pack themselves into the toasty springs.
37:39That's almost 5% of the world's population.
37:46But 30 years ago, the story was very different.
37:54Pollution and severe injuries from boat traffic meant their population all but collapsed, prompting
38:01a large-scale community initiative to protect them.
38:11Today, over 100 volunteer guardians keep a watchful eye over the manatees.
38:26Strict speed limits control boat traffic.
38:30And visitors are educated on how to behave around the manatees.
38:38What we normally do is get up maybe three to six feet away from them and then we stop.
38:43And here's where we passively observe them.
38:47When in doubt, just remember to float.
38:49Be perfectly okay.
38:53The scheme has been an overwhelming success.
39:05Manatee tourism attracts up to 250,000 tourists a year, generating an income of more than $30
39:13million.
39:17And in 2017, manatees were taken off the endangered species list.
39:33It's no secret that we need to protect nature.
39:38Only now are we starting to realize that our towns and cities have a role to play in this.
39:47What's perhaps most surprising is that it can be a two-way street.
39:55In Southeast Asia, one of the fastest birds in the world has developed such a productive
40:00relationship with people, they have had whole cities purpose-built for them.
40:10Swiftlets are traditionally found within deep cave systems, but have been invited into people's
40:16homes and specially built Swiftlet hotels.
40:29Swiftlet hotels.
40:32This male is building his nest using extra thick and sticky saliva producing a gland under his
40:40tongue.
40:42Over 40 days, he adds layer upon layer until his tiny cup-shaped nest is finished.
40:50Pears have up to three clutches of one to two chicks a year.
40:58Once they've fledged, the hotel owners move in and harvest the nest.
41:03The main ingredient in a traditional delicacy, bird's nest soup.
41:19The birds are doing so well, they may soon be classified as an entirely new subspecies.
41:24The house Swiftlet, evolved to live within our four walls.
41:32Everyone wins.
41:33They're guaranteed shelter and safety.
41:36And the farmers get $2,000 a kilo for their nest.
41:43Completely changing the lives of people here, like Daud Bapak.
41:48So, I'm so happy.
41:49I'm so happy.
41:50I'm so happy.
41:51I'm so happy with my wallet.
41:52I'm so happy with my wallet.
41:55Now, I love my wallet.
41:57Because the economy is a very fast-fast one.
42:02Because I'm so happy with my wallet.
42:05I'm so happy with my wallet.
42:05There are many of my wallet.
42:09For my children at school, I'm so happy with them.
42:16The more we learn, it becomes clear that when managed in the right way, having wild neighbours
42:23can help ensure a secure future for both of us.
42:37And nowhere is this more evident than on San Clemente Island.
42:49Where a wild guardian angel gives the US military unexpected protection.
42:59The tiny speck in the Pacific Ocean is just four miles wide and 21 miles long.
43:06And a highly sensitive US naval warfare facility.
43:14It's the only place in the world the US Navy are authorised to practise sea-to-land bombardment.
43:24And they aren't the only deadly force here.
43:28A little-known predator is watching their every move.
43:37The San Clemente Fox is the island's largest carnival.
43:43But at the size of a domestic cat, it's one of the smallest canine species in the world.
43:56With endless drills and exercises, the barren south end of the island is inhospitable.
44:07But these foxes thrive in the north.
44:12Living in the Navy's town, amongst its personnel and close to the airstrip.
44:22It's the nearest thing to hustle and bustle in this corner of the Pacific.
44:35This vixen has a den full of cubs, right by the busy port.
44:48It's the perfect spot for her to raise a family.
44:54Because foxes have accessed all areas to the highest security base.
45:05But she has a work cutout.
45:09Normally foxes have just two cubs a year.
45:14This vixen has three.
45:19The cubs will learn everything they need to survive here from their mum.
45:25She's teaching them to eat a wide range of foods.
45:29From lizards and small mammals to insects and even birds' eggs.
45:41Climbing trees doesn't come easy to a five-week-old cub.
45:48But the rewards are worth it.
45:55San Clemente foxes don't exist anywhere else in the world.
46:00And 15 years ago, the species was listed as critically endangered.
46:08The Navy were warned that if the fox numbers dropped any further,
46:12they'd be evicted from the island to allow them to recover.
46:16So the military now invests $7 million a year into the protection of the island's wildlife.
46:32They have even put in place a team of scientists that run a fox awareness programme
46:38to track and monitor the population.
46:50Today, the foxes are no longer considered endangered.
46:59And the Navy are now not just looking out for them because they have to.
47:04There's real affection here for these tiny predators.
47:11The foxes bring out a warm and caring side of the military.
47:17Protecting their population, safeguard the Navy's presence on the island too.
47:32Like the foxes, some wildlife has been able to survive, even thrive alongside us.
47:42Making the most of the opportunities our world offers.
47:47As wild residents and commuters.
47:57But as urban areas expand,
48:02more and more wildlife will need our help if it's to have a future.
48:14And where we have given it a chance, there is hope.
48:27Half a century ago, New York had some of the most polluted waterways in the world.
48:34But efforts to clean them up have paid dividends.
48:42And recently, scientists like Howard Rosenbaum have witnessed an amazing recovery.
48:49Right here in New York, we're seeing the benefits of five decades of protection
48:56and we're seeing the fish stocks recover from, you know, depleted numbers.
49:04Waders and fishing birds are flourishing in what had become empty marshlands.
49:12Pods of dolphins, hundreds strong, can now be found in sight of the city.
49:20But the biggest surprise is the return of one of the Atlantic's giants.
49:30The humpback whale.
49:41For quite some time, it was considered probably the sighting of a lifetime.
49:48I mean, just to think about the fact that you can be strolling on the beach
49:53and see a humpback.
50:04People are not used to having humpbacks in and around New York.
50:14The fish they prey on is now so abundant
50:18that New York's coast has become a perfect summer stopover for the whales.
50:26We see healthy animals foraging here, feeding right close to our shores.
50:32I mean, it's phenomenal.
50:38We are at a critical point in history.
50:44Our relationship with the planet is increasingly fragile.
50:50We're consuming more than we ever have done.
50:55And while our population is booming,
51:00it's estimated we've lost half of the world's wildlife in just 40 years.
51:08But in our cities, the newest and fastest growing habitat on Earth.
51:16We can make a difference.
51:20By simply giving nature the space and resources it needs.
51:27Even for the biggest and most surprising of animals,
51:31the urban jungle can be a place of opportunity.
51:41So what happens next is up to us.
52:06As we've discovered in this series,
52:08if you give animals a chance in cities, they can thrive.
52:17And that having a close relationship with nature is often hugely rewarding.
52:23I think we're hardwired to appreciate nature and appreciate animals.
52:27So even on a Navy range, the fact that people can occasionally see wildlife really seems to make people happy.
52:36Research is now proving that exposure to the natural world has profound positive effects on our mental well-being.
52:48Studies also show that people living in cities have an increased risk of anxiety and mood disorders.
52:56Keeping in touch with nature has been shown to counter this.
53:07The natural world stimulates parts of the brain associated with love and empathy.
53:14And lowers stress levels.
53:19The mental benefits are believed to be profound.
53:24Studies estimate that London parks alone save the NHS 370 million pounds a year.
53:33Whether it's the breeze against your skin, the smells in the air.
53:37Nature is an antidote to fast-paced city living.
53:41It really is something very therapeutic happening just by being in a green space.
53:47Beth Collier is part of a new wave of psychotherapists.
53:51Using a connection with nature to help alleviate the pressures of modern life.
53:57She thinks the young generation need the most help.
54:01Nature is no longer normal for young people.
54:05And it's up to us, the older generation, to make sure we pass on that awareness to younger children.
54:11Surveys show that three quarters of children in the UK spend less time outdoors than prison inmates.
54:18So Beth runs sessions helping youngsters like Kamal engage and connect with nature.
54:26Even ten minutes, spending time observing and tuning in to the natural environment will help you to feel part of
54:33something much bigger than yourself.
54:37And you don't have to go far to find it.
54:41Cities already have a surprising number of green spaces.
54:49Today, even in the most unexpected corners of London, nature is being brought into the city.
54:58And one initiative is encouraging people to get involved.
55:06Local resident Jerry Tissier has seen an overwhelming response.
55:12Ten Times Greener is a project in our community to see what we can do to green up our streets
55:17so that they're good for wildlife and they're good for people as well.
55:21The moment that you get people out of their houses, that's the moment that things begin to change.
55:27All the kind of spaces that you get on the streets, you suddenly start thinking, oh, we could put a
55:32planter there or we could clean up that corner.
55:35People from all over the community are collaborating, not just for the benefit of wildlife, but also for their own
55:42well-being.
55:44Gardener John Little has been tasked with enriching Hackney's Clapton estate.
55:50When people came out of their houses and we were chatting to them, immediately we realised that that colour was
55:55a big, big thing and food.
55:56Those two things combined make better biodiversity, make better places.
56:01If you create decent public spaces and then people have drawn out into it, if there's wildlife there, if there's
56:07colour there, people really notice that.
56:09And once they notice the public space, then the ambience and the way the place feels, feels completely different.
56:17And with projects like this springing up across the capital city, huge changes are being made.
56:25It's about getting outside more and enjoying the city's great outdoors more, getting down to allotments and nature reserves,
56:31stuff which thousands of Londoners are already doing. But what if we did it even more?
56:37Thanks to people like Dan Raven Ellison, London is already a global leader in city greening and urban nature.
56:45And in 2019, the capital is set to become the world's first ever national park city.
56:5347% of London is physically green, another 2.5% is blue, so the canals, the rivers, the ponds.
56:59By international standards, London is a truly remarkable urban landscape.
57:07And it's a movement of people working together to make the city greener, healthier and wilder through everyday things.
57:16Start planting stuff on our streets and on our roofs and get out into our canals and rivers, getting children
57:21outside to our Mooran schools.
57:23If enough of us do these simple things, it can really transform a landscape.
57:29Anyone can get involved in creating new habitats and space for wildlife.
57:35And this idea is going global.
57:39Dedicated people everywhere are working to safeguard our access to nature.
57:46If we're respectful of other creatures' environments and we're able to share that with them, we get the benefit and
57:53the privilege of having them around longer for children or grandchildren to see.
57:59Conserving what we have for wildlife is important, not just for the wildlife, but for our own life and satisfaction.
58:06It's predicted by 2050, nearly 70% of the world's population will live in cities.
58:15If we all embrace the idea of making the urban environment a wilder place, there's little doubt it will help
58:22us lead happier, healthier and less stressful lives.
58:34Take a wild trek through nature along the Amazon, the Nile and the Mississippi, Earth's great rivers on BBC iPlayer.
58:41While in 40 minutes on BBC4, the sky at night goes beyond Pluto, following the New Horizons probe.
58:48We're getting personal next here on BBC2 as Adrian Charles shares his somewhat troubled relationship with alcohol.
58:54We're getting close.
58:55We're getting close.