1 00:00:12,950 --> 00:00:20,950 Subtitles : FΛSSTΞCH For Addic7ed.com 2 00:00:43,650 --> 00:00:47,610 Sauraha, Nepal. 3 00:01:04,450 --> 00:01:08,850 This rhino is not lost. 4 00:01:12,210 --> 00:01:16,290 He is on his way to find food. 5 00:01:20,170 --> 00:01:25,290 To get it, he must travel through a new and alien world. 6 00:01:34,250 --> 00:01:36,690 This rhino in his lifetime 7 00:01:36,690 --> 00:01:41,410 has seen more changes than any of his previous generations. 8 00:01:47,570 --> 00:01:48,930 Across the globe, 9 00:01:48,930 --> 00:01:52,490 animals of all kinds are now contending 10 00:01:52,490 --> 00:01:55,010 with one newly dominant species... 11 00:01:56,450 --> 00:01:58,010 ..us. 12 00:02:05,730 --> 00:02:09,770 Like so many wild creatures, he's had to learn 13 00:02:09,770 --> 00:02:14,010 how to live in the human world. 14 00:02:29,570 --> 00:02:31,090 Some animals 15 00:02:31,090 --> 00:02:33,210 have changed their behaviour 16 00:02:33,210 --> 00:02:36,650 to make the most out of living amongst us. 17 00:02:40,610 --> 00:02:45,010 These long-tailed macaques live in Bali. 18 00:02:54,890 --> 00:02:58,490 They have developed new interests 19 00:02:58,490 --> 00:03:01,490 brought by human visitors. 20 00:03:10,290 --> 00:03:14,250 Every morning, the troop heads for a building 21 00:03:14,250 --> 00:03:17,290 in the centre of their territory. 22 00:03:28,290 --> 00:03:30,730 Uluwatu Temple. 23 00:03:34,250 --> 00:03:37,890 Tourists come here every day - in crowds. 24 00:03:41,770 --> 00:03:45,490 So the temple grounds are full of opportunities... 25 00:03:47,530 --> 00:03:49,650 ..if you know where to look. 26 00:04:18,570 --> 00:04:21,570 There is a constant supply of hats... 27 00:04:22,610 --> 00:04:24,170 ..and sunglasses. 28 00:04:28,610 --> 00:04:32,450 And if you've mastered the element of surprise... 29 00:04:34,010 --> 00:04:37,090 ..it's easy to get them. 30 00:04:50,010 --> 00:04:53,170 But this harvest is not for eating. 31 00:04:53,170 --> 00:04:57,010 It's for bargaining. 32 00:05:04,450 --> 00:05:06,810 Seems like a fair trade. 33 00:05:12,050 --> 00:05:15,490 But there are greater rewards to be had 34 00:05:15,490 --> 00:05:18,530 for those who know how to get them. 35 00:05:24,170 --> 00:05:28,010 And this old male appears to be doing... 36 00:05:29,290 --> 00:05:30,810 ..very well. 37 00:05:36,810 --> 00:05:40,010 He and the other elders in this troop 38 00:05:40,010 --> 00:05:44,370 have both experience and knowledge. 39 00:05:49,570 --> 00:05:54,290 They've been working the temple for over ten years, 40 00:05:54,290 --> 00:05:56,930 and now concentrate on the big stuff... 41 00:06:02,770 --> 00:06:07,290 ..things that human beings just can't do without. 42 00:06:14,410 --> 00:06:18,410 No-one wants to walk home with just one shoe. 43 00:06:24,850 --> 00:06:27,410 And these old boys can't wait 44 00:06:27,410 --> 00:06:31,130 to get their hands on the latest tech. 45 00:06:48,730 --> 00:06:52,970 They've worked out that we simply can't survive 46 00:06:52,970 --> 00:06:55,210 without our phones... 47 00:06:58,090 --> 00:07:00,770 ..or our wallets. 48 00:07:21,090 --> 00:07:23,250 The older males understand 49 00:07:23,250 --> 00:07:26,090 something the youngsters have yet to learn... 50 00:07:28,770 --> 00:07:32,290 ..the art of the deal. 51 00:07:35,610 --> 00:07:37,090 A banana? 52 00:07:39,130 --> 00:07:40,690 How dare you! 53 00:07:43,930 --> 00:07:45,530 A bar of chocolate? 54 00:07:45,530 --> 00:07:46,970 That's better. 55 00:07:50,690 --> 00:07:54,930 The real skill is in the negotiations. 56 00:07:59,330 --> 00:08:04,170 The macaques are playing us at our own game. 57 00:08:07,130 --> 00:08:08,650 They demand... 58 00:08:10,090 --> 00:08:11,970 ..whatever they want. 59 00:08:23,290 --> 00:08:28,530 Humanity has spread to every corner of the globe. 60 00:08:32,050 --> 00:08:34,970 We have become a force of nature. 61 00:08:43,970 --> 00:08:48,210 We have altered 80% of the land's surface. 62 00:08:55,490 --> 00:08:59,890 Eight billion people now live on this planet... 63 00:09:00,930 --> 00:09:03,570 ..and we are changing the world around us 64 00:09:03,570 --> 00:09:04,890 at such speed... 65 00:09:07,930 --> 00:09:12,850 ..that, for animals, the challenge is to keep up. 66 00:09:17,210 --> 00:09:18,810 New York City. 67 00:09:23,450 --> 00:09:25,770 Ants. 68 00:09:25,770 --> 00:09:29,090 This particular species is thought to have arrived here 69 00:09:29,090 --> 00:09:31,570 with the first European settlers. 70 00:09:34,290 --> 00:09:38,050 They are now known as pavement ants 71 00:09:38,050 --> 00:09:43,010 because they live almost exclusively in our towns and cities. 72 00:09:53,690 --> 00:09:58,450 And they're thriving because of junk food. 73 00:10:00,210 --> 00:10:02,530 And here on Broadway Avenue, 74 00:10:02,530 --> 00:10:04,530 there's a lot of it. 75 00:10:06,490 --> 00:10:10,730 This is what every pavement ant desires. 76 00:10:15,050 --> 00:10:16,570 And to get it... 77 00:10:18,450 --> 00:10:22,010 ..the ants use the city's thousands of miles 78 00:10:22,010 --> 00:10:23,650 of underground tunnels. 79 00:10:32,370 --> 00:10:35,770 This scout is closing in on its target. 80 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:41,530 But the animals with which they share the pavement 81 00:10:41,530 --> 00:10:44,530 are 40 million times their weight... 82 00:10:48,090 --> 00:10:51,570 ..so it's best to stay in the cracks. 83 00:10:59,930 --> 00:11:01,930 Jackpot! 84 00:11:01,930 --> 00:11:03,930 A meat mountain. 85 00:11:04,970 --> 00:11:08,770 This is too big a job for just one ant. 86 00:11:10,890 --> 00:11:13,330 This worker is female, 87 00:11:13,330 --> 00:11:16,210 as they are in all ant colonies, 88 00:11:16,210 --> 00:11:21,170 and she leaves a trail of pheromones to mark a path. 89 00:11:24,690 --> 00:11:27,770 She communicates with every sister she meets 90 00:11:27,770 --> 00:11:31,010 as she returns to the nest, 91 00:11:31,010 --> 00:11:34,250 and news on the street spreads fast. 92 00:11:47,290 --> 00:11:49,530 This ultra-processed meat 93 00:11:49,530 --> 00:11:52,170 is very different from their original food. 94 00:11:54,010 --> 00:11:58,250 But their digestive system is the key to their success. 95 00:11:59,530 --> 00:12:01,730 It's able to keep up with the way 96 00:12:01,730 --> 00:12:04,850 humans constantly change their diet. 97 00:12:08,130 --> 00:12:11,930 Nowadays, the vast majority of what they eat 98 00:12:11,930 --> 00:12:14,090 comes from human food. 99 00:12:21,010 --> 00:12:23,410 On Broadway alone, 100 00:12:23,410 --> 00:12:26,170 pavement ants eat the equivalent 101 00:12:26,170 --> 00:12:30,890 of a staggering 60,000 hot dogs every year. 102 00:12:34,130 --> 00:12:36,930 The calories in a single hot dog 103 00:12:36,930 --> 00:12:38,490 could fuel the growth 104 00:12:38,490 --> 00:12:41,210 of the entire ant colony for a month... 105 00:12:42,210 --> 00:12:45,690 ..if only they can get it back to the nest. 106 00:12:59,330 --> 00:13:03,930 But this slow work makes them vulnerable. 107 00:13:08,850 --> 00:13:13,050 They aren't the only ones partial to fast food. 108 00:13:16,090 --> 00:13:18,730 It's a race to get their prize home. 109 00:13:25,010 --> 00:13:26,570 There may be losses... 110 00:13:28,690 --> 00:13:32,490 ..but the colony as a whole will now thrive. 111 00:13:35,730 --> 00:13:40,290 In fact, pavement ants are so successful here 112 00:13:40,290 --> 00:13:43,890 that they outnumber human New Yorkers 1,000 to 1. 113 00:13:48,930 --> 00:13:53,930 But success in the human world can be harder to achieve 114 00:13:53,930 --> 00:13:57,850 if your reputation precedes you. 115 00:14:08,170 --> 00:14:09,730 Here in India, 116 00:14:09,730 --> 00:14:13,970 this cobra is heading directly for a village. 117 00:14:17,050 --> 00:14:21,770 It has detected the scent of prey. 118 00:14:24,290 --> 00:14:25,970 Nearly two metres long, 119 00:14:25,970 --> 00:14:29,170 it has enough venom in a single bite 120 00:14:29,170 --> 00:14:31,250 to kill ten people. 121 00:14:45,370 --> 00:14:48,250 Snake bites are responsible 122 00:14:48,250 --> 00:14:51,410 for nearly 60,000 deaths a year 123 00:14:51,410 --> 00:14:53,170 in India alone. 124 00:15:01,450 --> 00:15:04,010 They travel so silently 125 00:15:04,010 --> 00:15:07,530 that their presence is often undetected. 126 00:15:19,570 --> 00:15:21,330 And when they are hunting... 127 00:15:22,610 --> 00:15:25,130 ..there is no place they won't go. 128 00:15:46,050 --> 00:15:47,450 A toad. 129 00:16:24,770 --> 00:16:27,330 Each tip of its forked tongue 130 00:16:27,330 --> 00:16:30,410 collects chemical signals from the prey 131 00:16:30,410 --> 00:16:33,250 and helps to reveal its position. 132 00:16:38,690 --> 00:16:40,370 But up close... 133 00:16:41,690 --> 00:16:43,970 ..the snake relies on movement 134 00:16:43,970 --> 00:16:47,050 to precisely locate its prey. 135 00:16:54,730 --> 00:16:57,850 The toad must pick its moment to escape. 136 00:17:20,330 --> 00:17:22,810 Every time it touches the ground... 137 00:17:24,050 --> 00:17:27,370 ..the toad leaves behind a scent. 138 00:17:38,210 --> 00:17:39,970 It can hide... 139 00:17:41,410 --> 00:17:44,690 ..but the trail will lead the snake to it. 140 00:18:21,010 --> 00:18:25,210 These cobras don't just hunt here. 141 00:18:25,210 --> 00:18:27,090 They live here. 142 00:18:29,690 --> 00:18:33,730 They have found a home where the Hindu villagers revere them 143 00:18:33,730 --> 00:18:37,050 and consider them to be demigods. 144 00:18:39,850 --> 00:18:44,370 Remarkably, scientists believe that this tolerance 145 00:18:44,370 --> 00:18:47,130 has led to a change in the snakes' behaviour. 146 00:18:49,850 --> 00:18:52,610 They move more slowly 147 00:18:52,610 --> 00:18:55,410 and are less likely to strike if disturbed. 148 00:18:58,890 --> 00:19:01,730 One of the most feared animals on the planet 149 00:19:01,730 --> 00:19:05,450 has found a place where they are accepted 150 00:19:05,450 --> 00:19:08,290 and can coexist with human beings. 151 00:19:16,010 --> 00:19:19,410 But for many animals living in the human world, 152 00:19:19,410 --> 00:19:23,210 it pays to keep a low profile. 153 00:19:28,170 --> 00:19:30,610 Here in Melbourne, Australia, 154 00:19:30,610 --> 00:19:34,130 one creature has perfected the art of camouflage. 155 00:19:41,770 --> 00:19:43,890 A frogmouth chick. 156 00:19:46,050 --> 00:19:49,090 Its father helps to hide it during the day. 157 00:19:56,810 --> 00:19:59,370 They are nocturnal birds, 158 00:19:59,370 --> 00:20:01,970 and as day turns to night, 159 00:20:01,970 --> 00:20:04,810 its parents come out of the shadows 160 00:20:04,810 --> 00:20:08,490 to reap the rewards of urban living. 161 00:20:12,170 --> 00:20:13,730 The city lights create 162 00:20:13,730 --> 00:20:16,450 excellent conditions for hunting. 163 00:20:17,930 --> 00:20:19,650 Every night in the city 164 00:20:19,650 --> 00:20:22,690 is as bright as when there is a full moon. 165 00:20:31,250 --> 00:20:34,610 So city frogmouths often... 166 00:20:35,650 --> 00:20:38,010 ..have their mouths full. 167 00:20:42,410 --> 00:20:47,690 He's growing fast, and today he just won't sit still. 168 00:20:51,690 --> 00:20:54,290 And now he has revealed his presence. 169 00:20:56,570 --> 00:20:59,770 The first rule of frogmouth behaviour is 170 00:20:59,770 --> 00:21:02,450 don't move in the day. 171 00:21:02,450 --> 00:21:06,090 But this is the one time in a frogmouth's life 172 00:21:06,090 --> 00:21:10,530 when the urge to fly simply cannot be suppressed. 173 00:21:18,410 --> 00:21:24,010 But he's not ready to leave home just yet. 174 00:21:28,810 --> 00:21:30,610 Come night-time... 175 00:21:31,770 --> 00:21:33,810 ..he's hungry again. 176 00:21:43,530 --> 00:21:45,090 He is wide awake... 177 00:21:46,890 --> 00:21:50,650 ..and wants to take off where he left off. 178 00:21:55,610 --> 00:21:59,290 But he's getting unwanted attention, 179 00:21:59,290 --> 00:22:04,330 and this time his parent is not nearby to protect him. 180 00:22:08,010 --> 00:22:10,490 Humans bring pets, 181 00:22:10,490 --> 00:22:16,010 and cats in Australia kill a million birds a day. 182 00:22:58,730 --> 00:23:02,370 His first proper flight. 183 00:23:06,890 --> 00:23:10,370 But unless he can find a safe place to roost, 184 00:23:10,370 --> 00:23:12,490 he is still in peril. 185 00:23:21,650 --> 00:23:23,170 Made it. 186 00:23:25,810 --> 00:23:29,930 But if he is to survive in the city, like the adults, 187 00:23:29,930 --> 00:23:33,210 he'll have to learn how to blend in. 188 00:23:46,890 --> 00:23:50,290 Some animals are so bold 189 00:23:50,290 --> 00:23:53,010 that they don't even try to hide. 190 00:23:55,690 --> 00:24:01,210 To see a large predator in the built-up world is a rare sight. 191 00:24:03,810 --> 00:24:07,850 And here in Lake Tahoe, in North America, 192 00:24:07,850 --> 00:24:12,090 these black bears are particularly big... 193 00:24:14,690 --> 00:24:18,090 ..and they're heading right to the centre of town. 194 00:24:19,530 --> 00:24:22,210 Winter is approaching, 195 00:24:22,210 --> 00:24:25,210 and these bears need to put on as much weight as possible 196 00:24:25,210 --> 00:24:27,250 before the snow arrives. 197 00:24:30,050 --> 00:24:33,490 This is a great place to gorge. 198 00:24:40,090 --> 00:24:42,090 It's now bear country. 199 00:24:45,130 --> 00:24:47,690 Why struggle for a meal... 200 00:24:49,970 --> 00:24:52,050 ..when you can cross the street... 201 00:24:53,330 --> 00:24:55,090 ..for a takeaway? 202 00:25:01,970 --> 00:25:04,330 There's so much food here 203 00:25:04,330 --> 00:25:07,530 that some of the bears are 50% heavier 204 00:25:07,530 --> 00:25:09,370 than their country cousins. 205 00:25:13,050 --> 00:25:16,170 But why stop here? 206 00:25:17,770 --> 00:25:21,450 Some bears just want to dine in. 207 00:25:28,730 --> 00:25:34,130 A lucky few are able to get an easy meal from the human world. 208 00:25:36,490 --> 00:25:40,330 But when WE venture to the natural world in search of food... 209 00:25:41,970 --> 00:25:44,930 ..the harvest is on a different scale. 210 00:25:46,130 --> 00:25:48,170 In just four decades, 211 00:25:48,170 --> 00:25:52,730 fishing reduced fish populations by half... 212 00:25:54,490 --> 00:25:58,010 ..and created great problems for the ocean predators 213 00:25:58,010 --> 00:26:00,690 that once had such food to themselves. 214 00:26:08,490 --> 00:26:10,810 Off the coast of Vancouver Island, 215 00:26:10,810 --> 00:26:13,850 humpback whales inhabit waters 216 00:26:13,850 --> 00:26:16,810 where herring have been overfished. 217 00:26:21,690 --> 00:26:26,730 Humpbacks, however, are renowned for their ingenuity. 218 00:26:28,690 --> 00:26:33,090 12 years ago, an adult male called Conger 219 00:26:33,090 --> 00:26:36,650 adopted a totally new way of feeding. 220 00:26:37,930 --> 00:26:41,130 When the density of fish in the water is low, 221 00:26:41,130 --> 00:26:43,690 and birds are diving to catch them... 222 00:26:45,810 --> 00:26:47,810 ..the humpback opens its mouth 223 00:26:47,810 --> 00:26:51,890 and creates a space that the fish mistake for shelter. 224 00:26:59,050 --> 00:27:00,970 The fish swim in... 225 00:27:03,930 --> 00:27:07,010 ..and the trap is closed. 226 00:27:13,210 --> 00:27:17,610 Conger was the first humpback whale to be seen doing this. 227 00:27:20,770 --> 00:27:25,530 Now 30 whales in the area use this same technique. 228 00:27:31,450 --> 00:27:34,650 The population of humpbacks here is growing, 229 00:27:34,650 --> 00:27:37,210 and you might think that this would 230 00:27:37,210 --> 00:27:39,850 reduce fish stocks even more, 231 00:27:39,850 --> 00:27:42,730 but something surprising is thought to be happening. 232 00:27:44,370 --> 00:27:48,570 These tiny phytoplankton are the basis of the food chain 233 00:27:48,570 --> 00:27:52,170 and need a vital ingredient to grow. 234 00:27:53,530 --> 00:27:55,610 Iron. 235 00:28:03,370 --> 00:28:06,570 Whale faeces are rich in iron... 236 00:28:07,890 --> 00:28:12,570 ..and great whales produce it in enormous quantities... 237 00:28:14,010 --> 00:28:19,570 ..so the phytoplankton flourishes, and herring feed on it. 238 00:28:22,370 --> 00:28:24,730 Whale faeces, in fact, 239 00:28:24,730 --> 00:28:28,370 are helping to restore the whole ecosystem. 240 00:28:30,530 --> 00:28:34,210 The herring attract seabirds, 241 00:28:34,210 --> 00:28:37,770 diving birds attack them from beneath, 242 00:28:37,770 --> 00:28:41,570 and gulls and shearwaters dive on them from above. 243 00:28:44,050 --> 00:28:47,450 Even bald eagles benefit from this rich feast. 244 00:29:26,050 --> 00:29:29,650 Astonishingly, even though Conger and all the other whales 245 00:29:29,650 --> 00:29:32,290 are feasting on fish, 246 00:29:32,290 --> 00:29:37,010 their role in fertilising the ocean is so influential 247 00:29:37,010 --> 00:29:41,170 that herring numbers here are actually predicted to increase. 248 00:29:48,290 --> 00:29:52,650 And the role they play in rejuvenating the environment... 249 00:29:58,410 --> 00:30:02,610 ..is having an even greater impact on the human world. 250 00:30:11,410 --> 00:30:14,450 The flourishing plankton also collects carbon 251 00:30:14,450 --> 00:30:16,850 from the atmosphere, just as trees do... 252 00:30:19,330 --> 00:30:23,090 ..so much so that each great whale 253 00:30:23,090 --> 00:30:28,290 has the same impact as a forest of 30,000 trees. 254 00:30:35,930 --> 00:30:38,850 Our great whales were once hunted... 255 00:30:40,850 --> 00:30:44,090 ..and if they return to their pre-whaling numbers, 256 00:30:44,090 --> 00:30:47,810 it's estimated that this would be equivalent to planting 257 00:30:47,810 --> 00:30:51,330 over 30 billion trees. 258 00:31:05,170 --> 00:31:09,770 Whales are now being recognised as benefiting humanity. 259 00:31:14,170 --> 00:31:16,970 But for most large animals, 260 00:31:16,970 --> 00:31:21,250 competition with humans brings conflict. 261 00:31:23,250 --> 00:31:27,650 This six-tonne African bull elephant is in his prime. 262 00:31:31,450 --> 00:31:34,850 To stand the best chance of winning fights for females, 263 00:31:34,850 --> 00:31:36,770 he needs to be big. 264 00:31:38,690 --> 00:31:43,090 He can smell highly nutritious food is near. 265 00:31:52,770 --> 00:31:54,890 But crossing the boundary to reach it 266 00:31:54,890 --> 00:31:57,330 is a dangerous journey. 267 00:32:03,250 --> 00:32:06,730 He must wait for the cover of darkness. 268 00:32:16,330 --> 00:32:22,130 These Kenyan farmers are preparing for the night ahead. 269 00:32:24,170 --> 00:32:27,490 They have had to guard their crops every night 270 00:32:27,490 --> 00:32:29,090 for the last two months. 271 00:32:31,890 --> 00:32:35,570 With only two days until harvest, 272 00:32:35,570 --> 00:32:38,770 this is a critical time. 273 00:32:47,050 --> 00:32:48,530 In a single night, 274 00:32:48,530 --> 00:32:51,850 a bull elephant can destroy the entire crops 275 00:32:51,850 --> 00:32:53,730 produced by ten farmers. 276 00:33:10,410 --> 00:33:13,130 But he's taking a huge risk. 277 00:33:49,810 --> 00:33:52,250 He's twice the height of a man... 278 00:33:54,690 --> 00:33:56,730 ..and he won't back down easily. 279 00:34:00,930 --> 00:34:05,890 This human-wildlife conflict happens night after night. 280 00:34:08,450 --> 00:34:11,330 And each year, it takes the lives 281 00:34:11,330 --> 00:34:16,290 of up to 200 elephants and 20 people in Kenya alone. 282 00:34:19,610 --> 00:34:22,890 This standoff is potentially lethal. 283 00:34:25,690 --> 00:34:28,090 The farmers have had to call for help 284 00:34:28,090 --> 00:34:31,210 from a team of highly experienced rangers. 285 00:34:48,290 --> 00:34:49,650 Although they're armed, 286 00:34:49,650 --> 00:34:53,090 their task is to drive the elephant out of the field 287 00:34:53,090 --> 00:34:54,650 without harming it. 288 00:34:57,770 --> 00:35:00,170 But the bull is determined... 289 00:35:02,090 --> 00:35:03,890 ..to hold ground. 290 00:35:08,810 --> 00:35:12,050 The rangers will have to get closer... 291 00:35:14,090 --> 00:35:15,530 ..on foot. 292 00:35:32,170 --> 00:35:35,250 The rangers have to resort... 293 00:35:35,250 --> 00:35:38,610 ..to firecrackers. 294 00:35:57,570 --> 00:35:59,690 The bull is driven from this field... 295 00:36:01,010 --> 00:36:03,770 ..and retreats deep into the bush. 296 00:36:13,450 --> 00:36:15,090 Fortunately for this bull, 297 00:36:15,090 --> 00:36:18,570 the battle has been resolved peacefully. 298 00:36:18,570 --> 00:36:22,650 And efforts like these are seeing fewer elephants killed, 299 00:36:22,650 --> 00:36:27,010 and their population in Kenya is starting to rise again. 300 00:36:28,610 --> 00:36:30,810 But conflict with wildlife 301 00:36:30,810 --> 00:36:33,610 is now occurring on a far greater scale 302 00:36:33,610 --> 00:36:34,810 as a consequence 303 00:36:34,810 --> 00:36:37,690 of the way we are changing the world's climate. 304 00:36:41,570 --> 00:36:43,050 Some arid regions 305 00:36:43,050 --> 00:36:46,770 are now experiencing unusually high rainfall. 306 00:36:51,450 --> 00:36:53,970 And that is good for growing crops 307 00:36:53,970 --> 00:36:56,090 here in northeastern Africa. 308 00:36:58,490 --> 00:37:01,450 But it's also the perfect conditions 309 00:37:01,450 --> 00:37:04,090 for one particular insect. 310 00:37:19,130 --> 00:37:21,410 Desert locusts. 311 00:37:24,970 --> 00:37:28,370 They're normally solitary creatures, 312 00:37:28,370 --> 00:37:31,250 but emerging from the sand in great numbers 313 00:37:31,250 --> 00:37:34,010 triggers a dramatic physical change. 314 00:37:41,650 --> 00:37:43,770 They turn a vivid yellow 315 00:37:43,770 --> 00:37:45,850 and become highly social. 316 00:37:47,450 --> 00:37:51,650 Together, they are an unstoppable army. 317 00:37:52,930 --> 00:37:57,610 On foot, they can cover a mile a day. 318 00:38:03,370 --> 00:38:06,530 But they can only go so far in this way. 319 00:38:12,450 --> 00:38:14,490 They need to find height. 320 00:38:25,410 --> 00:38:29,970 Up here, they begin their final transformation. 321 00:38:37,490 --> 00:38:40,130 Normally, it takes an individual insect 322 00:38:40,130 --> 00:38:43,410 at least a month to become a winged adult... 323 00:38:44,930 --> 00:38:48,770 ..but in their social form, their development speeds up. 324 00:39:04,530 --> 00:39:08,810 Now all they need is for their wings to harden. 325 00:39:20,290 --> 00:39:24,770 Once airborne, they can travel 60 miles in a day. 326 00:39:45,610 --> 00:39:50,090 Swarms merge and they become a plague. 327 00:39:53,770 --> 00:39:58,330 This one contains billions of individuals, 328 00:39:58,330 --> 00:40:00,530 and eats as much in a day 329 00:40:00,530 --> 00:40:04,130 as the entire population of Germany. 330 00:40:31,170 --> 00:40:34,250 Today in northeastern Africa, 331 00:40:34,250 --> 00:40:37,690 as a consequence of climate change... 332 00:40:38,690 --> 00:40:41,250 ..devastating surges of locusts 333 00:40:41,250 --> 00:40:43,570 are becoming more frequent. 334 00:40:54,170 --> 00:40:58,410 Two worlds are colliding. 335 00:41:06,570 --> 00:41:11,610 Unintentionally, humanity has created exactly the conditions 336 00:41:11,610 --> 00:41:16,090 that cause this species to explode in numbers. 337 00:41:41,490 --> 00:41:44,250 But another group of animals has seen 338 00:41:44,250 --> 00:41:46,730 an even more dramatic rise 339 00:41:46,730 --> 00:41:49,570 as a consequence of OUR actions. 340 00:41:53,490 --> 00:41:56,690 We have increased the numbers of a few species 341 00:41:56,690 --> 00:41:58,730 almost astronomically. 342 00:42:00,490 --> 00:42:01,930 By weight, 343 00:42:01,930 --> 00:42:05,970 70% of the world's birds are now chickens 344 00:42:05,970 --> 00:42:08,610 or other domesticated fowl. 345 00:42:19,250 --> 00:42:24,170 We rear 70 billion farm animals each year... 346 00:42:25,730 --> 00:42:28,530 ..and every one of them needs feeding. 347 00:42:29,850 --> 00:42:31,810 Producing the food 348 00:42:31,810 --> 00:42:35,050 for such numbers of domesticated animals 349 00:42:35,050 --> 00:42:38,810 is having a profound impact on the natural world. 350 00:42:46,890 --> 00:42:49,450 The Amazon rainforest - 351 00:42:49,450 --> 00:42:52,290 twice the size of India. 352 00:42:54,610 --> 00:42:56,130 It's so rich, 353 00:42:56,130 --> 00:43:00,810 it contains one in every ten species on the planet. 354 00:43:01,930 --> 00:43:06,650 And it's home to this sloth and her ten-month-old baby. 355 00:43:13,810 --> 00:43:17,490 He was born into an environment 356 00:43:17,490 --> 00:43:20,610 virtually untouched by humanity. 357 00:43:29,250 --> 00:43:34,690 But now human beings are claiming even this space. 358 00:44:02,330 --> 00:44:06,450 Year after year, we clear over two million hectares 359 00:44:06,450 --> 00:44:08,290 of the Amazon forest - 360 00:44:08,290 --> 00:44:11,770 an area the size of Wales. 361 00:44:18,570 --> 00:44:20,970 And we use nearly all of it 362 00:44:20,970 --> 00:44:23,530 to make more space for cattle... 363 00:44:24,730 --> 00:44:28,650 ..and to grow soya to feed our livestock. 364 00:44:33,330 --> 00:44:37,490 Today, habitat destruction is the biggest problem 365 00:44:37,490 --> 00:44:41,090 we have created for wildlife around the world. 366 00:44:47,170 --> 00:44:50,530 This porcupine has survived the fire... 367 00:44:53,690 --> 00:44:55,730 ..and is being rescued. 368 00:45:04,490 --> 00:45:09,170 It's being relocated to pristine forests. 369 00:45:14,690 --> 00:45:17,450 This will be its new home. 370 00:45:25,330 --> 00:45:27,570 Only a fortunate few animals 371 00:45:27,570 --> 00:45:31,050 are being given such a second chance. 372 00:45:53,650 --> 00:45:57,850 A healthy natural world is not only vital for wildlife.... 373 00:45:59,050 --> 00:46:02,930 ..but for our own very existence. 374 00:46:07,850 --> 00:46:12,650 Somehow we must find ways to redress the balance. 375 00:46:19,970 --> 00:46:24,490 Currently, the vast majority of agricultural land, 376 00:46:24,490 --> 00:46:26,730 more than 75%, 377 00:46:26,730 --> 00:46:29,410 is used to raise livestock, 378 00:46:29,410 --> 00:46:31,970 and this is very inefficient. 379 00:46:35,850 --> 00:46:37,810 There are solutions. 380 00:46:39,610 --> 00:46:42,450 One is considering what we eat. 381 00:46:51,970 --> 00:46:55,250 If we shift away from eating meat and dairy 382 00:46:55,250 --> 00:46:58,450 and move towards a plant-based diet, 383 00:46:58,450 --> 00:47:03,210 then the sun's energy goes directly into growing our food. 384 00:47:10,490 --> 00:47:13,010 And because that's so much more efficient, 385 00:47:13,010 --> 00:47:16,570 we could still produce enough to feed us, 386 00:47:16,570 --> 00:47:20,410 but do so using a quarter of the land. 387 00:47:24,370 --> 00:47:28,930 This could free up an area the size of the United States, 388 00:47:28,930 --> 00:47:34,570 China, the European Union and Australia combined... 389 00:47:36,930 --> 00:47:41,930 ..space that could then be given back to nature. 390 00:47:47,370 --> 00:47:50,010 And human innovations may be able 391 00:47:50,010 --> 00:47:52,730 to do even more for wildlife. 392 00:47:55,730 --> 00:48:00,250 High-tech farms now grow plants vertically, 393 00:48:00,250 --> 00:48:05,570 yielding up to 350 times the food grown in the same area. 394 00:48:09,730 --> 00:48:13,130 This is one of many solutions we already have, 395 00:48:13,130 --> 00:48:16,410 and others are surely on the horizon. 396 00:48:28,970 --> 00:48:32,250 To find ways to protect all life on Earth 397 00:48:32,250 --> 00:48:37,370 means reimagining how we live on this planet in the future. 398 00:48:37,370 --> 00:48:39,210 Human ingenuity, 399 00:48:39,210 --> 00:48:42,650 our extraordinary ability to find solutions, 400 00:48:42,650 --> 00:48:46,010 gives me hope that we can. 401 00:48:46,010 --> 00:48:48,330 It will be the major challenge 402 00:48:48,330 --> 00:48:51,290 for this generation and the next. 403 00:49:18,130 --> 00:49:19,850 To film the impact 404 00:49:19,850 --> 00:49:21,970 that fires are having on the Amazon, 405 00:49:21,970 --> 00:49:23,330 the Planet Earth III team 406 00:49:23,330 --> 00:49:27,010 joined a local volunteer fire brigade. 407 00:49:29,050 --> 00:49:31,290 The fire brigade are responding to a patch 408 00:49:31,290 --> 00:49:33,810 of primary rainforest that is burning. 409 00:49:33,810 --> 00:49:35,530 It's been burning for two days now. 410 00:49:35,530 --> 00:49:38,330 It's difficult to know what we're going to see. 411 00:49:40,930 --> 00:49:43,930 The fires are mainly lit illegally... 412 00:49:45,490 --> 00:49:47,850 ..to clear space for cattle. 413 00:50:04,610 --> 00:50:07,690 Battling fires is dangerous work. 414 00:50:07,690 --> 00:50:11,810 But the firefighters face them every day. 415 00:50:13,290 --> 00:50:15,330 For the wildlife film crew, 416 00:50:15,330 --> 00:50:18,290 this is a totally new experience. 417 00:50:19,290 --> 00:50:23,210 And these fires can be unpredictable. 418 00:50:23,210 --> 00:50:25,570 Neil, don't spend long in there. 419 00:50:47,170 --> 00:50:48,410 Oh! 420 00:50:58,650 --> 00:51:01,450 With the ground team retreating, 421 00:51:01,450 --> 00:51:05,530 the safest way to carry on filming is with the drone. 422 00:51:32,370 --> 00:51:35,410 Have we lost the drone? I think Abi has seen it. 423 00:51:35,410 --> 00:51:36,610 Abi is on her way. 424 00:51:36,610 --> 00:51:39,410 Can you confirm you're on your way to the drone, Abi? 425 00:51:58,090 --> 00:52:01,450 The drone is damaged beyond repair. 426 00:52:02,770 --> 00:52:04,410 Don't worry about it. I mean it. 427 00:52:04,410 --> 00:52:07,050 Don't worry about it. It's absolutely fine. 428 00:52:07,050 --> 00:52:08,650 It's not OK. It is. It's OK. 429 00:52:08,650 --> 00:52:10,370 It's equipment. We've got a spare. 430 00:52:10,370 --> 00:52:13,010 The main thing is, we're all safe. No-one's hurt. 431 00:52:15,690 --> 00:52:17,610 The team regroup... 432 00:52:19,570 --> 00:52:22,010 ..and decide to move away from the heart of the fire 433 00:52:22,010 --> 00:52:24,130 to its fringes 434 00:52:24,130 --> 00:52:27,290 to look for animals caught up in the flames. 435 00:52:29,450 --> 00:52:32,690 There's been reports of a monkey in the trees, so... 436 00:52:34,050 --> 00:52:35,050 Ah! 437 00:52:37,330 --> 00:52:39,570 The problem is, there's fires all the way along here, 438 00:52:39,570 --> 00:52:41,970 as well as all along here, so... 439 00:52:41,970 --> 00:52:44,130 It's hard to know what all this wildlife is going to do 440 00:52:44,130 --> 00:52:46,450 when their home is burnt up like this. 441 00:52:48,370 --> 00:52:52,410 I don't know what it's like for these rainforest animals 442 00:52:52,410 --> 00:52:53,890 to be experiencing a fire. 443 00:52:53,890 --> 00:52:55,810 It's horrific for me, so... 444 00:52:56,890 --> 00:52:59,530 ..I don't know what it is for them. 445 00:53:03,050 --> 00:53:06,130 The fires burn into the night. 446 00:53:18,130 --> 00:53:20,170 The following day, 447 00:53:20,170 --> 00:53:23,090 the crew accompany the firefighters 448 00:53:23,090 --> 00:53:26,890 in the search for animals in the aftermath. 449 00:53:28,290 --> 00:53:31,050 Oh, my God, there are flames all inside of it. 450 00:53:31,050 --> 00:53:32,730 Little termite... 451 00:53:34,250 --> 00:53:36,330 Oh, my God! 452 00:53:38,050 --> 00:53:42,090 Remarkably, some animals have survived. 453 00:54:39,450 --> 00:54:41,290 Clearing land for farming 454 00:54:41,290 --> 00:54:43,770 is not a problem unique to the Amazon. 455 00:54:45,850 --> 00:54:49,690 Agriculture now takes up half of the habitable land 456 00:54:49,690 --> 00:54:51,570 on the planet. 457 00:54:53,410 --> 00:54:56,370 To produce food with less impact on the natural world 458 00:54:56,370 --> 00:54:59,250 requires new approaches. 459 00:55:00,450 --> 00:55:04,410 And that led the wildlife film crew to a farm 460 00:55:04,410 --> 00:55:06,570 in a warehouse. 461 00:55:11,090 --> 00:55:12,930 We're in the middle of the city! 462 00:55:12,930 --> 00:55:15,130 I can't believe so much food 463 00:55:15,130 --> 00:55:17,650 being grown in such a small space! 464 00:55:20,450 --> 00:55:24,930 Here in Los Angeles, 6,000 miles from the Amazon, 465 00:55:24,930 --> 00:55:28,570 this farm is part of a burgeoning food revolution. 466 00:55:30,050 --> 00:55:33,370 This is the most productive farm in the world, 467 00:55:33,370 --> 00:55:36,130 and it's our goal to reduce the amount of land and resources 468 00:55:36,130 --> 00:55:38,530 necessary to grow down to the bare minimum. 469 00:55:38,530 --> 00:55:40,970 It took a while to understand that, for nature, 470 00:55:40,970 --> 00:55:43,010 agricultural use of land 471 00:55:43,010 --> 00:55:46,690 was the primary, like, destructive behaviour of humanity. 472 00:55:46,690 --> 00:55:49,890 As we expand this means of growing, 473 00:55:49,890 --> 00:55:53,050 I'm very hopeful that this approach can ultimately 474 00:55:53,050 --> 00:55:55,290 give a lot of land back to nature 475 00:55:55,290 --> 00:55:58,090 and allow that biodiversity to re-establish and flourish. 476 00:56:00,410 --> 00:56:03,890 Not only does this farm use less space... 477 00:56:05,090 --> 00:56:09,290 ..but it also uses 90% less water, 478 00:56:09,290 --> 00:56:11,690 no pesticides, 479 00:56:11,690 --> 00:56:14,090 and cuts food miles. 480 00:56:16,730 --> 00:56:19,690 It does feel like a really good start. 481 00:56:19,690 --> 00:56:25,890 Ideas like this can reduce our footprint on the planet, 482 00:56:25,890 --> 00:56:30,690 giving the natural world a chance to bounce back. 483 00:56:39,970 --> 00:56:41,730 Next time, 484 00:56:41,730 --> 00:56:45,690 the heroes on the frontline saving wildlife. 485 00:56:48,330 --> 00:56:51,170 They're exploring remote jungles... 486 00:56:52,930 --> 00:56:56,250 ..working undercover to catch criminals... 487 00:56:57,770 --> 00:57:01,170 ..and leading endangered creatures to safety. 488 00:57:04,130 --> 00:57:08,330 Habitat Explorer brings animals and their habitats to life. 489 00:57:08,330 --> 00:57:11,970 Explore this free interactive and make origami animals. 490 00:57:11,970 --> 00:57:16,050 Go to... 491 00:57:16,050 --> 00:57:18,290 ..and follow the links to the Open University. 492 00:57:18,290 --> 00:57:21,690 Or to order a free printed version, visit the website 493 00:57:21,690 --> 00:57:24,290 or call the number on the screen.