1 00:00:41,730 --> 00:00:44,450 This is the entrance 2 00:00:44,450 --> 00:00:47,850 to one of the greatest of natural wonders. 3 00:01:04,610 --> 00:01:08,610 Hang Son Doong, in Vietnam. 4 00:01:15,210 --> 00:01:18,930 It's thought to be the largest cave on Earth. 5 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:32,410 Here, 200 metres underground, 6 00:01:32,410 --> 00:01:35,410 for just a few weeks a year, 7 00:01:35,410 --> 00:01:40,690 sunbeams cast light through a hole in the cave's roof. 8 00:01:58,130 --> 00:02:00,290 There is just enough light 9 00:02:00,290 --> 00:02:03,010 to enable plants to grow. 10 00:02:05,610 --> 00:02:07,610 But travel deeper, 11 00:02:07,610 --> 00:02:09,810 and darkness returns. 12 00:02:12,890 --> 00:02:15,290 And you reach the limit 13 00:02:15,290 --> 00:02:17,450 of where life can exist. 14 00:02:37,930 --> 00:02:41,170 These most extreme places on our planet 15 00:02:41,170 --> 00:02:45,010 are often hard for us to reach. 16 00:02:46,890 --> 00:02:51,050 Indeed, this cave was only recently discovered. 17 00:02:54,130 --> 00:02:58,410 And it contains many surprises. 18 00:03:04,930 --> 00:03:07,370 Cave pearls. 19 00:03:07,370 --> 00:03:09,530 Once tiny sand grains, 20 00:03:09,530 --> 00:03:12,690 now spheres the size of tennis balls. 21 00:03:22,450 --> 00:03:25,330 And giant stalagmites... 22 00:03:26,770 --> 00:03:28,650 ..formed over centuries 23 00:03:28,650 --> 00:03:31,970 by billions of individual drops of water. 24 00:03:39,930 --> 00:03:42,210 Underground rivers have carved 25 00:03:42,210 --> 00:03:45,450 this great passage through the limestone. 26 00:04:01,850 --> 00:04:04,490 Over five miles long 27 00:04:04,490 --> 00:04:06,850 and wide enough in places 28 00:04:06,850 --> 00:04:09,370 to accommodate a jumbo jet. 29 00:04:21,330 --> 00:04:23,290 And it is here, 30 00:04:23,290 --> 00:04:26,170 in the cave's furthest chamber, 31 00:04:26,170 --> 00:04:28,570 that life can be found. 32 00:04:35,610 --> 00:04:38,250 Translucent cave fish... 33 00:04:40,050 --> 00:04:41,690 ..and shrimps. 34 00:04:43,490 --> 00:04:45,970 Isolated for millennia, 35 00:04:45,970 --> 00:04:50,650 feeding on little more than the nutrients from the jungle above. 36 00:04:57,530 --> 00:05:00,810 The fish are completely blind 37 00:05:00,810 --> 00:05:04,770 and find their way about by touch alone. 38 00:05:12,450 --> 00:05:16,490 These underground worlds are at the very limit 39 00:05:16,490 --> 00:05:18,450 of where life can exist. 40 00:05:27,290 --> 00:05:29,490 But above ground, 41 00:05:29,490 --> 00:05:31,890 our planet's most extreme conditions 42 00:05:31,890 --> 00:05:34,330 are found at the poles. 43 00:05:39,650 --> 00:05:41,690 Here in the north, 44 00:05:41,690 --> 00:05:45,890 winter temperatures can drop to -50 degrees Celsius. 45 00:05:49,170 --> 00:05:51,450 For four months of the year, 46 00:05:51,450 --> 00:05:54,290 there is barely a glimmer of sunlight. 47 00:06:00,610 --> 00:06:03,010 But here, too, 48 00:06:03,010 --> 00:06:05,050 life finds a way to survive. 49 00:06:09,570 --> 00:06:12,850 A pack of Arctic wolves. 50 00:06:18,370 --> 00:06:21,330 Their dense fur has protected them 51 00:06:21,330 --> 00:06:24,050 through months of bitter cold. 52 00:06:30,410 --> 00:06:34,170 But now the sun is returning. 53 00:06:46,770 --> 00:06:50,050 This is Ellesmere Island. 54 00:06:56,890 --> 00:07:02,410 The short summer gives the wolves a chance to rebuild their strength. 55 00:07:16,410 --> 00:07:18,050 But here in the Arctic... 56 00:07:19,690 --> 00:07:22,330 ..life is never easy. 57 00:07:34,290 --> 00:07:38,250 This pack is led by an experienced female. 58 00:07:46,730 --> 00:07:49,490 If she can't lead them to food, 59 00:07:49,490 --> 00:07:52,930 the coming winter could be their last. 60 00:08:04,210 --> 00:08:07,170 Prey is spread over such a vast area 61 00:08:07,170 --> 00:08:10,370 that they must be constantly on the move... 62 00:08:14,650 --> 00:08:16,450 ..in search of it. 63 00:08:30,570 --> 00:08:34,130 But finding prey is only the beginning. 64 00:08:43,410 --> 00:08:45,970 Musk oxen. 65 00:08:45,970 --> 00:08:49,490 They are five times the size of a wolf. 66 00:09:11,530 --> 00:09:16,690 The conflict between wolf and oxen is an ancient one, 67 00:09:16,690 --> 00:09:19,930 and has been waged since the Ice Age. 68 00:09:24,850 --> 00:09:27,330 OXEN GRUNT 69 00:09:30,410 --> 00:09:34,370 Each side knows the other's tactics. 70 00:09:49,010 --> 00:09:51,810 The wolves try to isolate 71 00:09:51,810 --> 00:09:54,170 the weak or the young. 72 00:09:59,570 --> 00:10:02,170 A calf stumbles... 73 00:10:02,170 --> 00:10:05,850 ..and the pack leader immediately closes in. 74 00:10:17,450 --> 00:10:19,970 But the herd regroups, 75 00:10:19,970 --> 00:10:22,130 horns at the ready. 76 00:10:31,250 --> 00:10:33,130 Stalemate. 77 00:10:34,690 --> 00:10:37,570 But it can only be brief. 78 00:11:01,730 --> 00:11:05,650 This time, the herd race to higher ground. 79 00:11:18,490 --> 00:11:21,370 As they reach the top of the ridge, 80 00:11:21,370 --> 00:11:24,290 the males turn to defend themselves. 81 00:11:27,610 --> 00:11:29,930 Stalemate... 82 00:11:29,930 --> 00:11:31,210 ..again. 83 00:11:59,490 --> 00:12:02,330 Every unsuccessful hunt 84 00:12:02,330 --> 00:12:05,130 leaves the pack weakened. 85 00:12:20,210 --> 00:12:23,290 This could be an easier meal. 86 00:12:27,330 --> 00:12:29,890 But something is not right. 87 00:12:33,250 --> 00:12:37,250 This musk ox has died from a disease. 88 00:12:38,970 --> 00:12:42,890 Outbreaks like this are becoming increasingly common 89 00:12:42,890 --> 00:12:46,130 as the climate warms across the Arctic. 90 00:12:52,610 --> 00:12:54,850 Despite their hunger, 91 00:12:54,850 --> 00:12:57,730 the pack don't eat this carcass. 92 00:13:21,650 --> 00:13:24,450 Another herd. 93 00:13:24,450 --> 00:13:26,890 Another chance for the pack. 94 00:13:44,930 --> 00:13:48,650 This time, the wolves manage to split the herd. 95 00:13:50,250 --> 00:13:52,930 That may improve their chances. 96 00:14:10,810 --> 00:14:13,810 The lead female makes sure that the oxen 97 00:14:13,810 --> 00:14:16,330 do not reach the ridge again. 98 00:14:22,970 --> 00:14:27,650 With one less defender, the calf is more vulnerable. 99 00:14:44,650 --> 00:14:47,450 A much-needed meal. 100 00:14:59,730 --> 00:15:02,730 The wolves must continue to make the most 101 00:15:02,730 --> 00:15:05,410 of the remaining weeks of summer... 102 00:15:08,650 --> 00:15:12,570 ..so when winter returns 103 00:15:12,570 --> 00:15:15,490 ..they're ready to endure 104 00:15:15,490 --> 00:15:17,890 some of the harshest conditions 105 00:15:17,890 --> 00:15:21,370 that exist on planet Earth. 106 00:15:43,290 --> 00:15:46,570 Such inhospitable extremes 107 00:15:46,570 --> 00:15:49,210 are not only found at the poles. 108 00:15:55,970 --> 00:15:58,850 As altitude increases... 109 00:15:58,850 --> 00:16:01,050 ..temperatures fall. 110 00:16:06,970 --> 00:16:12,130 Here, too, animals must make the most of the seasonal change. 111 00:16:19,850 --> 00:16:23,610 Particularly if you're ready to mate. 112 00:16:32,130 --> 00:16:34,810 A male common frog 113 00:16:34,810 --> 00:16:37,410 in the French Alps. 114 00:16:43,850 --> 00:16:49,330 He has spent all winter hibernating under the ice. 115 00:16:52,690 --> 00:16:55,690 But now it's time to wake up. 116 00:16:57,570 --> 00:17:02,010 Being cold-blooded, he needs the sun to warm his body. 117 00:17:04,130 --> 00:17:07,290 But once it sets in a few hours' time, 118 00:17:07,290 --> 00:17:09,810 he could freeze to death. 119 00:17:11,770 --> 00:17:15,690 So finding a mate is urgent. 120 00:17:20,570 --> 00:17:22,810 The weather is good. 121 00:17:26,410 --> 00:17:29,250 And he starts to sledge. 122 00:17:32,090 --> 00:17:36,290 But this is not a one-frog race. 123 00:17:37,730 --> 00:17:41,010 Dozens are rushing to the breeding pool. 124 00:17:45,770 --> 00:17:48,930 This many frogs out on the slopes... 125 00:17:48,930 --> 00:17:51,130 ..doesn't go unnoticed. 126 00:17:55,010 --> 00:17:57,330 You can't afford any slips. 127 00:18:05,730 --> 00:18:08,210 It was all going so well. 128 00:18:21,890 --> 00:18:23,770 Made it. 129 00:18:28,210 --> 00:18:31,290 But all the females have already got partners. 130 00:18:34,330 --> 00:18:37,410 There's only one thing for it. 131 00:18:40,730 --> 00:18:42,290 Wrestling. 132 00:18:58,690 --> 00:19:00,570 Not this time. 133 00:19:08,010 --> 00:19:09,930 Another latecomer. 134 00:19:11,450 --> 00:19:13,330 A female. 135 00:19:16,690 --> 00:19:18,770 Could she be the one? 136 00:19:28,930 --> 00:19:32,690 Sometimes being late can pay off. 137 00:19:56,370 --> 00:20:00,970 After all his efforts, the male is not going to let this chance 138 00:20:00,970 --> 00:20:03,330 slip through his fingers. 139 00:20:22,650 --> 00:20:27,930 This is the cedar forest of the Atlas Mountains, in North Africa. 140 00:20:33,850 --> 00:20:38,210 These Barbary macaques enjoyed a summer of plenty, 141 00:20:38,210 --> 00:20:40,210 but now they're paying the price. 142 00:20:44,450 --> 00:20:48,090 Winter here can be brutal. 143 00:20:54,250 --> 00:20:57,690 In some years, over half the group perish. 144 00:21:02,730 --> 00:21:04,770 But in this macaque society, 145 00:21:04,770 --> 00:21:08,010 the more social the monkey, 146 00:21:08,010 --> 00:21:10,850 the more likely it is to survive. 147 00:21:13,130 --> 00:21:17,850 Keeping warm by huddling can make all the difference. 148 00:21:22,090 --> 00:21:24,930 But they can't huddle all day. 149 00:21:28,650 --> 00:21:32,530 They must, eventually, break apart to feed. 150 00:21:43,970 --> 00:21:47,570 They spread out, searching for food. 151 00:22:06,170 --> 00:22:12,090 But each night, the group return to huddle in the cedar trees. 152 00:22:25,450 --> 00:22:27,970 No-one wants to be left out. 153 00:22:30,090 --> 00:22:32,970 Especially the infants. 154 00:22:43,090 --> 00:22:47,170 This baby, somehow, has got separated. 155 00:23:02,850 --> 00:23:06,170 He must get back to the life-saving warmth of the huddle, 156 00:23:06,170 --> 00:23:08,290 and soon. 157 00:23:34,610 --> 00:23:37,370 But there is an obstacle. 158 00:23:41,850 --> 00:23:46,850 A grumpy male is giving the baby a rather cold shoulder. 159 00:23:57,850 --> 00:24:01,930 Maybe a more subtle approach. 160 00:24:09,610 --> 00:24:13,650 The male decides to leave. 161 00:24:28,610 --> 00:24:31,130 At last... 162 00:24:31,130 --> 00:24:34,210 ..an enthusiastic reception. 163 00:24:43,410 --> 00:24:46,170 The male has had less luck. 164 00:24:47,410 --> 00:24:50,290 It could be a long night. 165 00:24:55,410 --> 00:24:59,850 Huddling might seem a simple expression of affection, 166 00:24:59,850 --> 00:25:03,450 but among these macaques it's essential for survival. 167 00:25:07,130 --> 00:25:09,330 And not just here. 168 00:25:14,090 --> 00:25:18,410 5,000 miles away, in the forests of Mexico, 169 00:25:18,410 --> 00:25:21,330 monarch butterflies, in millions, 170 00:25:21,330 --> 00:25:24,690 also huddle for survival. 171 00:25:29,290 --> 00:25:32,570 All of them have travelled across North America 172 00:25:32,570 --> 00:25:36,170 to escape the winter that is coming there. 173 00:25:39,090 --> 00:25:42,890 This forest, at an altitude of 3,000 metres, 174 00:25:42,890 --> 00:25:46,050 might seem to offer little comfort... 175 00:25:48,050 --> 00:25:52,130 ..for temperatures here can drop below freezing, 176 00:25:52,130 --> 00:25:55,650 and that could kill the butterflies. 177 00:26:00,530 --> 00:26:03,730 But in fact, a thin layer of warm air 178 00:26:03,730 --> 00:26:07,250 trapped by the tree canopy protects them, 179 00:26:07,250 --> 00:26:09,970 and will do so throughout the winter... 180 00:26:11,730 --> 00:26:16,130 ..provided that the forest remains undisturbed. 181 00:26:22,330 --> 00:26:25,410 Unpredictable extremes of weather, however, 182 00:26:25,410 --> 00:26:29,170 can disrupt this delicate balance. 183 00:26:32,570 --> 00:26:37,410 Strong winds can push deep into the forest, chilling the air. 184 00:26:43,210 --> 00:26:45,770 Hundreds of thousands of butterflies 185 00:26:45,770 --> 00:26:48,330 may be blown from the branches. 186 00:27:13,690 --> 00:27:20,450 In some years, storms kill 75% of hibernating monarchs. 187 00:27:36,970 --> 00:27:39,370 This one has survived... 188 00:27:39,370 --> 00:27:42,490 ..but on the ground. 189 00:27:45,770 --> 00:27:48,490 And night-time frosts are fatal. 190 00:27:49,930 --> 00:27:53,730 It can't stay here and live. 191 00:27:58,250 --> 00:28:01,370 It is too cold to fly, 192 00:28:01,370 --> 00:28:04,850 but it must get back into the tree branches somehow. 193 00:28:07,890 --> 00:28:10,410 So it starts to climb. 194 00:28:19,010 --> 00:28:23,970 It's the equivalent of a human climbing up a skyscraper. 195 00:28:55,010 --> 00:28:58,170 Safety, at last. 196 00:29:03,530 --> 00:29:06,610 As spring returns, 197 00:29:06,610 --> 00:29:10,370 the monarchs wake from their long slumber. 198 00:29:26,570 --> 00:29:32,210 And now starts one of the Earth's greatest natural spectacles. 199 00:30:04,210 --> 00:30:08,210 But this mass awakening is under threat. 200 00:30:10,370 --> 00:30:15,090 The changing climate is creating more extreme weather, 201 00:30:15,090 --> 00:30:18,170 and storms are becoming more frequent. 202 00:30:20,530 --> 00:30:25,410 But, for now, this miracle of nature continues. 203 00:30:35,450 --> 00:30:36,890 Fire. 204 00:30:40,770 --> 00:30:44,130 Unpredictable and destructive. 205 00:30:51,490 --> 00:30:55,490 This is South Africa's fynbos. 206 00:30:55,490 --> 00:30:59,170 Botanically one of the most diverse habitats on Earth... 207 00:31:00,410 --> 00:31:03,610 ..with over 8,000 different plant species. 208 00:31:06,610 --> 00:31:08,890 Yet, every two decades, 209 00:31:08,890 --> 00:31:12,130 fire reduces the vegetation to ashes. 210 00:31:19,850 --> 00:31:21,970 This may seem catastrophic. 211 00:31:23,170 --> 00:31:27,730 But just days later, plants burst into life... 212 00:31:27,730 --> 00:31:30,370 ..and transform the landscape. 213 00:31:34,170 --> 00:31:38,570 Seeds and bulbs have been waiting for this event. 214 00:31:46,170 --> 00:31:50,370 90 million years of evolution alongside fire 215 00:31:50,370 --> 00:31:53,850 has made some plants so closely adapted 216 00:31:53,850 --> 00:31:58,090 that they can't germinate without the presence of smoke. 217 00:32:05,330 --> 00:32:10,890 Remarkably, around 50% of planet Earth's terrestrial habitats 218 00:32:10,890 --> 00:32:14,210 depend on fire to remain healthy. 219 00:32:21,050 --> 00:32:25,730 In Northern Australia, these savannahs need seasonal fires 220 00:32:25,730 --> 00:32:30,010 to keep them open and prevent the spread of the nearby forest. 221 00:32:34,090 --> 00:32:37,170 And they are a vital habitat 222 00:32:37,170 --> 00:32:39,850 for this colourful resident. 223 00:32:45,490 --> 00:32:49,170 The rare golden-shouldered parrot. 224 00:32:51,490 --> 00:32:54,810 He and his lifelong partner.. 225 00:32:54,810 --> 00:32:59,610 rely on grassland for both food... 226 00:32:59,610 --> 00:33:01,970 ..and a nest site. 227 00:33:03,490 --> 00:33:08,170 As usual, they've laid their eggs in a hole in a termite mound. 228 00:33:11,770 --> 00:33:15,170 And now there are four chicks. 229 00:33:17,770 --> 00:33:22,370 The thick mud walls don't only protect chicks from predators, 230 00:33:22,370 --> 00:33:26,610 but insulate them from the heat of the scorching sun. 231 00:33:33,130 --> 00:33:36,290 With fledging just days away, 232 00:33:36,290 --> 00:33:38,850 the parents are working overtime. 233 00:33:41,650 --> 00:33:45,290 They collect thousands of seeds every day. 234 00:34:07,330 --> 00:34:10,050 But they have a problem. 235 00:34:18,010 --> 00:34:22,170 The fire season is becoming more irregular. 236 00:34:40,290 --> 00:34:43,450 If they are not ready to fly, 237 00:34:43,450 --> 00:34:46,370 chicks have no escape. 238 00:35:10,210 --> 00:35:14,930 But choosing to nest in a termite mound has a surprise benefit. 239 00:35:16,810 --> 00:35:20,570 Their home is fireproof. 240 00:35:31,290 --> 00:35:37,330 Concrete-like walls keep chicks safe from the flames outside. 241 00:35:46,330 --> 00:35:50,090 The seeds of fire grass are now easier for the parrots 242 00:35:50,090 --> 00:35:53,530 to find on the blackened earth... 243 00:35:53,530 --> 00:35:56,690 ..and they are the parrots' favourite food. 244 00:36:04,970 --> 00:36:09,730 So, for both adults and their fledgling chicks... 245 00:36:10,930 --> 00:36:14,210 ..fires are essential for survival. 246 00:36:21,650 --> 00:36:24,650 But their grassland home is shrinking, 247 00:36:24,650 --> 00:36:29,330 and only about 1,000 of these lovely parrots still survive. 248 00:36:31,250 --> 00:36:35,730 It's through the active management of fire by humans 249 00:36:35,730 --> 00:36:39,370 that their world now exists at all. 250 00:36:44,890 --> 00:36:49,610 Humans are affecting habitats across planet Earth. 251 00:36:49,610 --> 00:36:52,010 For wildlife, all too often, 252 00:36:52,010 --> 00:36:55,250 the consequences have been disastrous. 253 00:37:03,930 --> 00:37:07,850 Elephants are among the most tolerant of animals. 254 00:37:10,810 --> 00:37:13,450 They are very long-lived, 255 00:37:13,450 --> 00:37:18,050 and knowledge passed between generations enables them 256 00:37:18,050 --> 00:37:21,370 to find food and little-used sources of water in times 257 00:37:21,370 --> 00:37:24,010 of great environmental stress. 258 00:37:26,170 --> 00:37:28,490 But even among elephants, 259 00:37:28,490 --> 00:37:31,690 survival strategies are now beginning to fail. 260 00:37:38,770 --> 00:37:43,010 In Amboseli, Kenya, years of extreme weather, 261 00:37:43,010 --> 00:37:46,610 combined with overgrazing by domestic cattle, 262 00:37:46,610 --> 00:37:50,890 are turning these grasslands to dust. 263 00:38:19,450 --> 00:38:22,850 This matriarch is over 40 years old... 264 00:38:24,810 --> 00:38:26,690 ..and she's already survived 265 00:38:26,690 --> 00:38:29,690 some of East Africa's worst droughts. 266 00:38:32,850 --> 00:38:37,250 But this year, food is in extremely short supply... 267 00:38:40,170 --> 00:38:43,410 ..and her family are struggling to find enough. 268 00:38:50,890 --> 00:38:55,010 Her youngest son is malnourished and weak... 269 00:39:00,130 --> 00:39:03,530 ..and is lagging behind his mother and brother. 270 00:39:12,370 --> 00:39:17,130 She leads them to a pocket of acacia forest that she knows well. 271 00:39:23,330 --> 00:39:26,610 But broken branches and fallen trees 272 00:39:26,610 --> 00:39:30,130 show that other elephants have already been here. 273 00:39:34,970 --> 00:39:37,730 There is very little left worth eating. 274 00:39:44,810 --> 00:39:49,610 Without food, his mother cannot produce enough milk. 275 00:39:53,890 --> 00:39:55,650 She has no choice... 276 00:39:58,690 --> 00:40:01,250 ..but to leave her weakening calf... 277 00:40:02,890 --> 00:40:05,930 ..and try to find food elsewhere. 278 00:40:12,210 --> 00:40:18,370 So, she and her elder son head off... 279 00:40:18,370 --> 00:40:20,650 ..without him. 280 00:40:43,970 --> 00:40:47,450 He can only hope for their return. 281 00:41:21,450 --> 00:41:26,050 But for him, time has run out. 282 00:42:01,130 --> 00:42:04,450 There is nothing his mother, or anybody, 283 00:42:04,450 --> 00:42:07,250 could have done to save him. 284 00:42:18,850 --> 00:42:22,010 With her elder son still alive, 285 00:42:22,010 --> 00:42:24,690 there is hope for her family. 286 00:42:26,530 --> 00:42:30,770 But only if they can adapt quickly. 287 00:42:41,130 --> 00:42:44,770 Some families are proving to be resilient. 288 00:42:49,810 --> 00:42:53,610 They're travelling long distances, away from Amboseli... 289 00:42:56,810 --> 00:43:01,130 ..and finding new sources of food and water. 290 00:43:18,570 --> 00:43:21,570 And despite the drought... 291 00:43:25,410 --> 00:43:28,410 ..calves are being born. 292 00:43:47,210 --> 00:43:50,210 But given the pace of change 293 00:43:50,210 --> 00:43:52,570 and the challenges they face... 294 00:43:53,930 --> 00:43:58,050 ..how many of Africa's elephants will be able to adapt? 295 00:43:59,090 --> 00:44:02,530 And can they do so fast enough? 296 00:44:16,930 --> 00:44:19,170 The Gobi Desert. 297 00:44:21,730 --> 00:44:25,810 A land of sand and snow. 298 00:44:30,330 --> 00:44:34,250 For at least a million years, this has been 299 00:44:34,250 --> 00:44:38,210 one of the most extreme habitats on Earth. 300 00:44:42,690 --> 00:44:45,530 Yet, footprints in the sand 301 00:44:45,530 --> 00:44:49,010 reveal that there is life here. 302 00:44:55,530 --> 00:44:57,450 A snow leopard. 303 00:44:57,450 --> 00:45:00,010 Seldom seen... 304 00:45:01,330 --> 00:45:06,450 ..especially in such hot, arid conditions. 305 00:45:10,530 --> 00:45:14,810 They live up to 2,000 metres above sea level, 306 00:45:14,810 --> 00:45:18,850 and patrol vast territories. 307 00:45:47,290 --> 00:45:50,250 They are rarely seen together. 308 00:45:58,090 --> 00:45:59,490 A mother... 309 00:46:02,690 --> 00:46:05,050 ..with cubs. 310 00:46:07,250 --> 00:46:10,090 Filmed here for the first time 311 00:46:10,090 --> 00:46:12,890 in such intimate detail. 312 00:46:20,930 --> 00:46:24,330 And they give us a glimpse of their family life... 313 00:46:25,370 --> 00:46:27,330 ..such as it is. 314 00:46:43,890 --> 00:46:47,250 Snow leopard cubs stay with their mothers 315 00:46:47,250 --> 00:46:51,130 longer than those of almost any other big cat. 316 00:46:56,930 --> 00:47:00,930 They remain together for over two years... 317 00:47:03,810 --> 00:47:08,610 ..as they learn how to master the extremes. 318 00:47:16,010 --> 00:47:20,410 Which they do so well that they are able to thrive 319 00:47:20,410 --> 00:47:24,370 in some of the hottest, coldest... 320 00:47:24,370 --> 00:47:27,250 ..and highest places on Earth. 321 00:47:38,570 --> 00:47:42,450 Some animals, over millions of years, 322 00:47:42,450 --> 00:47:46,610 have evolved ways of surviving extremely hostile conditions. 323 00:47:49,650 --> 00:47:53,970 But as the extremes become more extreme... 324 00:47:53,970 --> 00:47:58,170 ..evolution is being outpaced. 325 00:48:06,090 --> 00:48:10,450 These extraordinary places are still inhabited 326 00:48:10,450 --> 00:48:12,890 by some of Earth's most resilient 327 00:48:12,890 --> 00:48:15,050 and adaptable species. 328 00:48:18,250 --> 00:48:20,570 But in our rapidly changing world... 329 00:48:22,050 --> 00:48:27,010 ..this is planet Earth as you may never see it again. 330 00:48:50,610 --> 00:48:53,530 The most extreme parts of our planet 331 00:48:53,530 --> 00:48:56,170 are not always found where you might expect. 332 00:48:59,130 --> 00:49:03,130 Hidden deep in the forests of Vietnam, a local man, 333 00:49:03,130 --> 00:49:06,450 Mr Ho Khanh, made an extraordinary discovery. 334 00:49:26,050 --> 00:49:28,050 He didn't know it at the time, 335 00:49:28,050 --> 00:49:32,450 but he had stumbled upon arguably the largest cave in the world. 336 00:49:44,690 --> 00:49:48,490 Inspired by Mr Ho Khanh's discovery, 337 00:49:48,490 --> 00:49:52,610 the Planet Earth team set out to film Hang Son Doong. 338 00:49:54,690 --> 00:49:56,810 But first, they have to get there. 339 00:49:58,210 --> 00:50:00,490 We've left the river valley, 340 00:50:00,490 --> 00:50:02,930 and we're walking uphill now to the entrance. 341 00:50:02,930 --> 00:50:04,970 It's just thick, thick forest. 342 00:50:06,690 --> 00:50:09,930 After trekking for two gruelling days, 343 00:50:09,930 --> 00:50:12,770 the team finally arrive. 344 00:50:12,770 --> 00:50:16,130 Down here is the entrance to Hang Son Doong, 345 00:50:16,130 --> 00:50:19,690 this tiny opening in this massive jungle. 346 00:50:19,690 --> 00:50:22,650 It's amazing that anyone ever found this place. 347 00:50:25,730 --> 00:50:28,490 We're about to go in for the next 18 days, 348 00:50:28,490 --> 00:50:31,090 and it's lights on from here on out. 349 00:50:32,770 --> 00:50:36,250 Local experts guide the team through the darkness. 350 00:50:37,490 --> 00:50:39,930 OK, I can go? Yes, yes. 351 00:50:49,570 --> 00:50:51,130 I'm good. I'm OK. 352 00:50:51,130 --> 00:50:52,810 It's just really slippery. 353 00:50:54,770 --> 00:51:00,290 A complex system of ropes leads them down a 90-metre descent. 354 00:51:05,490 --> 00:51:07,050 OK. 355 00:51:07,050 --> 00:51:08,330 Thanks. 356 00:51:12,250 --> 00:51:15,050 After four hours clambering over rocks... 357 00:51:17,050 --> 00:51:19,970 ...they finally reach what will be their camp. 358 00:51:28,730 --> 00:51:31,930 The team wake to a new day - 359 00:51:31,930 --> 00:51:33,890 but in darkness. 360 00:51:33,890 --> 00:51:35,650 How did you sleep, Luke? 361 00:51:35,650 --> 00:51:37,730 Quite tired. 362 00:51:37,730 --> 00:51:40,050 These are all of the tents behind me. 363 00:51:40,050 --> 00:51:43,610 You can see they are pretty... 364 00:51:43,610 --> 00:51:45,050 ..pretty snug. 365 00:51:45,050 --> 00:51:48,290 This is where we have our breakfast every day, 366 00:51:48,290 --> 00:51:50,570 made by some amazing cooks. 367 00:51:52,010 --> 00:51:54,170 This is our charging station. 368 00:51:54,170 --> 00:51:56,570 Batteries for camera equipment, batteries for our lights, 369 00:51:56,570 --> 00:51:58,730 our head torches, which are so important. 370 00:51:59,770 --> 00:52:02,610 This is our water station. 371 00:52:02,610 --> 00:52:05,850 Everything that we have got has been brought in by someone, 372 00:52:05,850 --> 00:52:08,650 so you can't shower or wash. 373 00:52:08,650 --> 00:52:10,930 And it's not just water. 374 00:52:10,930 --> 00:52:15,610 Tonnes of equipment has had to be carried into the cave, 375 00:52:15,610 --> 00:52:17,930 every inch of the way. 376 00:52:21,090 --> 00:52:24,490 Now deep underground, the powerful lights 377 00:52:24,490 --> 00:52:26,810 reveal just how vast this cavern is. 378 00:52:28,250 --> 00:52:29,930 That is amazing. 379 00:52:29,930 --> 00:52:31,370 Look at that. It's... 380 00:52:31,370 --> 00:52:33,170 It's huge! 381 00:52:35,610 --> 00:52:37,890 As you turn on each of the lights, 382 00:52:37,890 --> 00:52:40,730 another part of this enormous chamber is revealed. 383 00:52:43,450 --> 00:52:46,450 It's magic. Absolutely magic. 384 00:52:49,650 --> 00:52:52,770 To try and capture the true scale, 385 00:52:52,770 --> 00:52:56,650 the team attempt a filming technique never tried before. 386 00:52:57,890 --> 00:53:01,210 We're trying to do a little bit of a dance with the drones, 387 00:53:01,210 --> 00:53:05,330 whereby we have one drone sort of slightly below the other, 388 00:53:05,330 --> 00:53:09,450 one filming the other one lighting a feature in the cave. 389 00:53:09,450 --> 00:53:11,770 It's a really tight space. 390 00:53:11,770 --> 00:53:13,850 You can't see anything. 391 00:53:13,850 --> 00:53:15,770 What could go wrong? 392 00:53:19,490 --> 00:53:21,290 OK, slow down a bit. 393 00:53:22,890 --> 00:53:24,970 It's making everyone a little nervous. 394 00:53:26,090 --> 00:53:28,690 Yeah, don't go up any higher, Luke. 395 00:53:31,050 --> 00:53:33,370 OK, that's a nice height. 396 00:53:36,970 --> 00:53:40,250 With one drone lighting and one drone filming... 397 00:53:42,050 --> 00:53:47,130 ..they reveal the wonder of some of the world's largest stalagmites. 398 00:53:56,050 --> 00:53:59,170 As the days pass, the team settle into 399 00:53:59,170 --> 00:54:02,410 the everyday routine of life underground. 400 00:54:03,610 --> 00:54:07,850 This is the epitome of being off-grid. 401 00:54:07,850 --> 00:54:09,970 We call that one seesaw loo 402 00:54:09,970 --> 00:54:12,490 because it's kind of on a rock, 403 00:54:12,490 --> 00:54:15,130 and every time you sit on it and lean back, 404 00:54:15,130 --> 00:54:19,050 you're scared that there's going to be a disaster. 405 00:54:20,690 --> 00:54:24,130 The strangest thing is having no connection 406 00:54:24,130 --> 00:54:26,210 to the outside world whatsoever. 407 00:54:26,210 --> 00:54:29,690 Time is warped. Nothing makes sense underground. 408 00:54:34,290 --> 00:54:38,450 Without daylight to guide them, the team work round the clock 409 00:54:38,450 --> 00:54:41,450 to capture the cave's most unique features. 410 00:54:43,130 --> 00:54:45,410 Most special of all, 411 00:54:45,410 --> 00:54:49,050 an event which happens only a few weeks a year. 412 00:54:51,770 --> 00:54:54,210 To get there, they must navigate 413 00:54:54,210 --> 00:54:56,890 through boulder fields and tight squeezes. 414 00:55:06,370 --> 00:55:09,010 Here, around half a million years ago, 415 00:55:09,010 --> 00:55:11,250 the cave roof collapsed, 416 00:55:11,250 --> 00:55:13,970 opening a window to the outside world. 417 00:55:18,370 --> 00:55:21,250 The team wait for just the right conditions. 418 00:55:22,610 --> 00:55:25,210 We've been sat here for hours. 419 00:55:25,210 --> 00:55:27,770 And finally, just on the right-hand side of the wall, 420 00:55:27,770 --> 00:55:30,290 we can see the first signs of light. 421 00:55:34,210 --> 00:55:36,570 After weeks of darkness 422 00:55:36,570 --> 00:55:38,450 200 metres underground... 423 00:55:39,770 --> 00:55:41,610 ..they see sunlight 424 00:55:41,610 --> 00:55:43,970 illuminate the cave floor. 425 00:55:49,010 --> 00:55:53,850 The way it just lights up this massive cave... 426 00:55:53,850 --> 00:55:57,250 ..when we've been trying to do it with about four or five lights 427 00:55:57,250 --> 00:56:00,690 and barely even lighting the smallest section. 428 00:56:00,690 --> 00:56:02,610 When the sun comes in, it just... 429 00:56:06,290 --> 00:56:08,330 I think everyone's got goose bumps. 430 00:56:12,650 --> 00:56:17,450 I don't think I've ever appreciated sun so much in my life. 431 00:56:19,050 --> 00:56:21,090 It's incredible. 432 00:56:23,810 --> 00:56:26,850 Look at the backlit waterfalls. 433 00:56:26,850 --> 00:56:29,490 They're so slow coming down. 434 00:56:29,490 --> 00:56:32,290 It's literally one of the best things I've ever seen. 435 00:56:35,810 --> 00:56:39,730 For the crew, the sunbeam marks a profound end 436 00:56:39,730 --> 00:56:42,050 to their time in the cave. 437 00:56:45,330 --> 00:56:47,610 We're outside! 438 00:56:47,610 --> 00:56:50,610 It's so green, it's so bright. 439 00:56:50,610 --> 00:56:54,570 Being back above ground feels like where we belong. 440 00:56:56,530 --> 00:56:59,850 It's a wonder to imagine what other extremes 441 00:56:59,850 --> 00:57:04,250 still lie beneath the surface of planet Earth. 442 00:57:12,690 --> 00:57:15,010 Next time... 443 00:57:15,010 --> 00:57:17,250 ..the human world... 444 00:57:22,890 --> 00:57:27,810 ..where animals must find new ways to survive... 445 00:57:28,930 --> 00:57:30,890 ..amongst us. 446 00:57:37,570 --> 00:57:41,290 Habitat Explorer brings animals and their habitats to life. 447 00:57:41,290 --> 00:57:44,610 Explore this free interactive, and make origami animals. 448 00:57:44,610 --> 00:57:48,490 Go to bbc.co.uk/planetearth3 449 00:57:48,490 --> 00:57:51,050 and follow the links to the Open University. 450 00:57:51,050 --> 00:57:54,530 Or to order a free printed version, visit the website 451 00:57:54,530 --> 00:57:57,010 or call the numbers on the screen.