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In the heart of south-east Asia
is an ancient kingdom...
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..with over 3,000km of coastline.
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00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,800
But beyond its golden shores,
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00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,360
there are secret worlds.
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00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:39,920
Home to mysterious creatures...
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..and forest giants...
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This is a fast-changing country
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where East and West collide.
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People and animals must
work together to survive...
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..forming unique relationships.
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A spiritual land,
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full of magic and wonder.
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This is Thailand.
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South-west Thailand.
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A wild paradise of limestone castes,
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00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:03,200
golden beaches and dense forests.
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00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,440
Along this rugged coast
are some close-knit families.
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A troupe of 30 long-tailed macaques
has made this their home.
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00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:34,040
This youngster has relied on his
mother for the last six months.
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But he's now at an age where
he needs a more varied diet.
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Trouble is, this is one of
Thailand's most extreme locations...
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..a vertical rock face,
50 metres high.
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00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,240
Up here, good food is scarce.
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00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,840
Bark and leaves
provide little energy.
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00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:20,600
Macaques are the most resourceful
and wide-ranging monkeys on earth
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and have learned to take advantage
of every opportunity.
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But this one involved
a precarious commute.
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It's especially risky for
a mother carrying an infant.
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00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,680
For a young macaque
still learning the ropes,
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having a tail longer than
your body gives you the edge.
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It can both grip and act
as a counterbalance.
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This daily descent is
well worth the effort.
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Across Thailand, there are
thousands of Buddhist temples
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and families like this get a
surprisingly warm welcome.
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MAN SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
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00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:55,080
Thai Buddhists have a unique
relationship with nature.
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00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,280
For them, every living thing
contributes something to the world
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and deserves respect.
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00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,960
This compassionate relationship
is the perfect example
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of the spiritual connection so
special in southern Thailand
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where humans are not set apart
from nature, but live within it.
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There are other welcome benefits for
the macaques who visit this temple.
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A chance to cool off and have
some fun in the heat of the day.
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00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,040
Southern Thailand
is a natural paradise
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for people and animals alike.
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00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,880
Hidden coves and scattered islands
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00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:20,520
give it a total of
3,000km of coastline.
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00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:25,520
Its western shores have been carved
and shaped by the Andaman Sea.
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00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:34,400
Here, astonishing limestone
castes have been created -
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00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,720
towering stacks of
ancient shell and coral.
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This one stands 50 metres tall.
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00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,680
Once part of the seabed,
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it was thrust up by
extreme geological forces.
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00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,760
The power of the sea
and seasonal rains
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00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,440
continue to sculpt this
dramatic landscape.
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00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:18,040
Every year, millions of
people are drawn here.
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00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,800
Most come to relax.
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00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,760
Others are here for
an adrenaline rush.
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00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:32,200
Ao Nang Tower stands
nearly 100 metres high.
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00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:39,200
The ultimate challenge
for thrill seekers.
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00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:51,120
People come from all over the world
to climb these extraordinary cliffs.
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00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,280
But the locals have been
scaling them for centuries.
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00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,400
And it's not thrills they seek.
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It's natural treasure.
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These men have their sights set on
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a cave hundreds of metres
up a vertical cliff face.
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Inside, there's a hidden prize,
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00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,080
but reaching it is
fraught with danger.
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00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,080
There's no hi-tech
climbing gear here.
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Just old ropes and local knowledge.
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00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,880
They must also navigate
a treacherous interior...
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..a ten-metre drop
into total darkness.
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This is what they're after.
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00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:34,120
Tiny, almost
translucent birds nests.
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They may not look much, but in Asia,
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they're a highly
sought-after delicacy.
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00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,560
Eating birds nest soup is thought
to boost the immune system,
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improve skin complexion
and fight ageing.
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00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:58,280
It's no wonder one kilogram of nests
is worth over $2,000.
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00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:07,040
Wild nest collecting has been
going on for over 500 years.
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00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,840
Recently, the safety
and sustainability
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00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,120
has been brought into question.
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But an unexpected answer was found.
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BIRDSONG PLAYS FROM LOUDSPEAKERS
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00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,680
Thousands of loudspeakers
in the town of Pak Phanang
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play birdsong at full blast.
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00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:38,120
Tweeting 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
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00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:47,320
What was once a traditional
fishing town is now at the heart
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00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,720
of a brand-new industry -
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bird nest farming.
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Windows have been sealed up.
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00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,360
The darker inside, the better.
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All to accommodate a
very particular resident.
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The edible nest swiftlet.
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00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:24,480
During the breeding season, the
salivary glands of the swifts expand
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00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,280
and produce extra thick saliva.
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00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,760
Layer upon layer over 40 days,
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00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,880
the birds craft it
into a cup-like nest.
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00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,200
These new nesting sites
are helping this bird
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00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,480
make a good recovery
after years of decline.
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00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,480
Each day, as the
swiftlets are out feeding,
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00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,600
farmers like Mr Mu check the nests.
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00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,120
He waits until pairs
have bred successfully
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00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,920
and the chicks have fledged
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00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,960
before collecting
their precious nests.
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00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,920
The people of Pak Phanang
have a risk-free,
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00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,600
sustainable way to
harvest the nests
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00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:40,600
and the swiftlets have a new
network of nesting sites.
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00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,920
Across southern Thailand,
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people and animals are finding
new ways to live together
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00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:57,760
and that sometimes
requires a bit of ingenuity.
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Over 50km off the mainland
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lie two of the remotest
groups of Thai islands,
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Similan and Surin.
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With crystal clear waters
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00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,800
and golden beaches...
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..this place might
look like paradise,
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00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,280
but dragons roam these shores.
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00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:42,360
A giant monitor lizard,
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00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,840
two metres long...
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..looking for food.
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00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:04,840
It tastes and smells the air
with its 30-centimetre tongue,
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00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,760
sensing even the
slightest hint of a meal.
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00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,880
Hermit crabs protect themselves
by hiding their soft bodies
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00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,920
in the abandoned shells
of other creatures.
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00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:43,200
They live up to 30 years,
so as they grow,
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00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,040
they need to upsize their homes.
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00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:53,240
But there's something of a
housing crisis on this island.
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00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,200
These idyllic hideaways
are a magnet for tourists,
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00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:05,360
who find it hard to resist
taking the occasional souvenir.
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00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:14,920
Every time a shell is removed, a
crab loses a potential new home.
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00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:25,080
So these canny crabs have
found another source of housing.
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00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:35,080
Each evening, the rangers clear
the beaches, piling up the litter.
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00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,880
And now the crabs do
something extraordinary.
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00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,480
This hermit has found
herself a more modern home...
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..in a mackerel tin.
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00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,800
With so few shells around,
it's an ingenious solution.
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00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,360
And she's not alone.
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00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,280
This is a fast-growing trend.
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00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:38,440
An aluminium fizzy drink can
makes a lightweight home
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that's worth fighting for.
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00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,920
Life in the mackerel tin
isn't ideal...
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00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,120
..and the local rangers know it.
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00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,800
So they leave seashells
near the rubbish piles
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00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,360
to help the homeless crustaceans.
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00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:13,080
The crab normally winds its body
into the spiral of a shell.
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00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,880
It's far harder to grip a
straight and slippery can.
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00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:27,600
There are plenty of options.
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00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,440
It's all about finding a snug fit.
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00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:48,360
Moving house is an
important decision.
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00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,200
At last, the perfect home.
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00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,480
It might look like paradise,
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00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:25,720
but living along this coastline
requires great resourcefulness.
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00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:32,840
In southern Thailand, long-tailed
macaques are sometimes known as
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00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:36,200
"Ling Thalay" - sea monkeys.
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00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,880
And it's not hard to see why.
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00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,520
But this isn't just
about having a good time.
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00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:14,480
Like their temple-visiting cousins,
they've got a clever plan.
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00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,320
They've adapted their lives
to the rhythm of the sea.
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00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,360
And twice a day,
low tide reveals a feast -
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nutritious shellfish.
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00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,240
Trouble is, shells
are tough to crack.
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00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:43,320
But ever resourceful, these macaques
have found a smart solution.
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00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:52,360
They've worked out that rocks
make perfect shellfish hammers.
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00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:10,240
Although clearly some macaques
are a little smarter than others.
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00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:21,600
Either way, low tide
provides a seafood bounty.
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00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,520
Stone tool use is a
rare skill among monkeys.
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00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:36,520
But these macaques can only benefit
from it by being completely in tune
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with the cycles of nature...
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..something many of Thailand's
human residents aspire to.
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00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:01,320
The south of the country is rich
in Buddhist temples and shrines.
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MONKS CHANT
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Sacred places where monks seek to
understand themselves and the world
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in which they live.
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00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:26,320
Buddhist principles place human life
in the context of a series of cycles
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like those in the natural world.
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00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,760
For more than 2,000 years,
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00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:42,760
the full moon has been celebrated
as an embodiment of this idea.
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00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:53,440
This celebration of the full moon
is embraced by visitors to Thailand,
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but their version is
rather more exuberant.
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LOUD MUSIC BLARES
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00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:10,240
Koh Phangan's famous beach party
is a rite of passage for backpackers
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passing through southern Thailand.
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00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:21,120
Partygoers are bathed
in ultraviolet light
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00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:23,960
and their fluorescent
body paint glows.
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00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:30,760
But hidden from view,
just below the water's surface,
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there's an equally vibrant display.
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00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,600
By shining the same
ultraviolet light underwater,
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00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,600
an unexpected wonder is revealed.
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00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:52,120
These tropical waters are home
to an abundance of coral reefs.
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A protein within them
absorbs the ultraviolet light,
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00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,080
emitting back a whole new spectrum.
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00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,320
These corals are all fluorescing.
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00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:14,760
First discovered in the 1930s,
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00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,200
scientists are still
debating why this happens.
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00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,320
One theory is that
fluorescent proteins
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00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,720
might act as a type of sunblock...
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00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,120
..protecting the coral from
the sun's intense rays.
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00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:05,600
It's possible that other creatures
are able to see this show, too,
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00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,400
and use it to their advantage.
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00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:17,160
One reef resident's behaviour
seems to support this theory.
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00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:26,480
The scorpion fish is
an ambush predator
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00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,680
so camouflage is key.
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00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,680
Passing fish need to beware.
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00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:45,960
Come too close and his cavernous
mouth will suck them up
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00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:47,920
in a split second.
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00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,760
For this scorpion fish,
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00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:07,680
red fluorescing algae appears
to be the perfect disguise.
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00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:23,080
Southern Thailand's secret worlds go
far beyond its dazzling coastline.
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00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:44,360
In the very centre of the peninsula
is a freshwater lake called
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00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:48,240
Cheow Lan, surrounded by great
mountains.
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00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:01,560
Limestone peaks intercept
moisture-laden clouds,
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00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,200
producing much-needed water for this
rainforest.
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00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:10,960
3,000 square kilometres of it.
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00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:24,680
It is home to an exceptional
diversity of plants and animals.
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00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,360
For 12 million years, the forest has
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00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:30,600
echoed to strange and haunting
sounds.
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00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,720
BIRDS CHIRPING
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00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:37,920
WINGS BEATING
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00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:40,040
The wing beats of a giant.
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00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,160
The great hornbill.
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WINGS BEATING
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BIRD CRIES
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For this male, it's an important
time of year.
225
00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:12,800
Inside this nest hole is his
lifelong partner.
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00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,920
There's a slit just wide enough
for a bill.
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00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,960
But she's sealed in and won't come
out until her chicks fledge
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00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,360
in four months' time.
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00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:30,160
For now, she's completely reliant on
him to find food for them all.
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00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,800
A long bill makes fruit
easier to reach.
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00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:08,080
It's tossed to the back of the
throat and stored in a pouch.
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00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:18,640
Remarkably, hornbills can carry
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00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,280
over 250 berries at a time.
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00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:35,200
Delicately regurgitating
one at a time,
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00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,080
he eases his beak
through the narrow hole.
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00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,520
This devoted couple have raised
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00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:52,640
chicks in this tree
for over a decade.
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00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,240
And because they might live
to the age of 40,
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00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,720
they should be back here
for many more years to come.
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00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,160
On the east coast
of Southern Thailand,
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00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,520
there is another secret world
far from
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00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,720
the tourist trails,
teeming with wildlife.
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00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:35,080
Flat coastal plains are home to four
expansive lagoons,
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00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:39,040
covering over 8,000 square
kilometres.
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00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,800
In Thailand's largest lake,
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00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,000
local people are finding unique ways
to make a living.
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00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,320
Somjai is a farmer.
248
00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,320
He's raising the only large animals
to be found here.
249
00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:06,800
Somewhere amongst this expanse is
his herd of water buffalo.
250
00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,840
GRUNTING
251
00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:17,280
Although their wild ancestors are
native to Thailand,
252
00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,640
these are domesticated buffalo.
253
00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,040
Somjai lets them live a mostly wild
life.
254
00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:31,920
But in the evening, he tracks them
down.
255
00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:43,280
In the shallowest parts of the lake,
punting is the only option.
256
00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,400
The buffalo spend the day feeding on
the rich aquatic plants.
257
00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,560
In the 40 degree heat,
258
00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,920
a mud bath cools them off and repels
insects.
259
00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:28,160
The buffaloes' splayed hooves stop
them sinking into the soft ground.
260
00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:36,520
But the constant exposure to water
can be damaging.
261
00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:41,280
So he must round them up and steer
them into a dry pen for the night.
262
00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:43,720
HE SHOUTS
263
00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:56,160
For Somjai, this work is about much
264
00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:57,800
more than making a living.
265
00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:11,000
The dry pen not only protects their
feet,
266
00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,480
but gives them a chance to rest for
the night.
267
00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:22,520
This free range partnership also has
268
00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:26,160
unexpected benefits for the wider
ecosystem.
269
00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:31,360
Ploughing their way through the
wetlands,
270
00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,480
spreading seeds as they go,
271
00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,640
the buffalo help important plants to
regenerate.
272
00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:47,280
Carpets of lotus flowers create a
haven for over a million birds...
273
00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:54,240
..making this a wetland of global
importance.
274
00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:06,600
It's the perfect place for
specialists,
275
00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:08,720
those with a light step...
276
00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,160
..and fast reactions.
277
00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:22,240
This purple swamp hen may look
ungainly,
278
00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,000
but he's got a secret weapon.
279
00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:31,360
Huge feet to spread his body weight
over the floating foliage.
280
00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:39,760
This helps a lot when stealth is not
your style.
281
00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:51,200
He also has a particular taste in
food,
282
00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,120
unwittingly helping to protect his
habitat.
283
00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:03,360
Golden apple snails aren't native to
Thailand and can harm natural
284
00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:05,600
habitats when numbers boom.
285
00:34:08,240 --> 00:34:10,880
Luckily, swamp hens love them.
286
00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:19,360
If they can find them.
287
00:34:30,240 --> 00:34:34,520
A secure footing is vital when
you're trying to haul in your catch.
288
00:34:40,720 --> 00:34:44,720
Long toes mean a foot can act as a
hand.
289
00:34:51,720 --> 00:34:56,320
Purple swamp hens are perfectly
adapted to this environment,
290
00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,320
and in a small way,
291
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:02,040
these accidental conservationists
are helping to preserve it.
292
00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:11,320
These aren't the only animals
293
00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:14,840
helping to conserve the natural
beauty of Southern Thailand.
294
00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:25,520
This is Kui Buri National Park.
295
00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,720
Formerly thick forest,
296
00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:32,960
it was cleared for farmland and the
wildlife forced out.
297
00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:36,360
In the 1990s,
298
00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,440
public support for Buddhist-inspired
299
00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:40,840
environmental principles started to
grow.
300
00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:47,400
Respecting the natural world was not
simply a spiritual notion.
301
00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:49,800
It had to become a reality.
302
00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:59,320
In 1999, the government gave this
area back to nature.
303
00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:03,200
BELLOWING
304
00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:11,160
These native elephants
reclaimed land
305
00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:14,960
and have had a remarkable impact
on the ecosystem.
306
00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:27,520
Asian elephants need to eat 150kg
of food each day.
307
00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:38,120
They eat over 50 different plant
types,
308
00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,440
spreading seeds far and wide in
their dung,
309
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,200
replanting Kui Buri's forest.
310
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:46,120
BELLOWING
311
00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,160
And by pushing through the
undergrowth,
312
00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:00,600
they create pathways for smaller
animals like sambar deer.
313
00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:09,120
They also give birds an opportunity
to pick off scattering insects.
314
00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:23,920
Elephants were allowed to rebuild
the ecosystem
315
00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:26,760
and they have done just that,
316
00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,680
creating a wild paradise.
317
00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:38,160
Turning this habitat back over to
318
00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:40,880
the animals has restored the
balance.
319
00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:45,120
But in other habitats,
320
00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:48,200
sometimes only human intervention
will do.
321
00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:04,880
Although these boards are being
used for a bit of fun,
322
00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,080
the Thai people invented them
long before the wake board.
323
00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:13,120
And when used in the traditional
way,
324
00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:15,840
they are a vital form of transport,
325
00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:19,760
and the best way to get safely
around a mangrove swamp at low tide.
326
00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:31,960
These men are here on urgent
business.
327
00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,080
Mangroves once covered much of
Thailand's coastline...
328
00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:49,680
..but since the 1960s,
329
00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:53,760
half have been uprooted to make way
for shrimp farms.
330
00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:57,080
When people began to realise the
devastating impact
331
00:38:57,080 --> 00:38:59,400
of shrimp farming on the landscape,
332
00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:03,840
they started looking more closely at
this vitally important ecosystem.
333
00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:13,640
Decomposing leaves provide valuable
nutrients
334
00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:16,160
which support a rich biodiversity.
335
00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:26,000
Mangroves also act as a barrier
between the land and the sea,
336
00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,600
protecting low-lying communities
from storms and coastal flooding.
337
00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,680
They produce seeds that are buoyant,
338
00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:38,160
floating away and germinating in far
away places.
339
00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:44,200
As their roots grow outwards,
340
00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:46,040
they trap sediment,
341
00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:47,840
and are one of the few habitats
342
00:39:47,840 --> 00:39:50,280
that can actually build up the
coastline.
343
00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:58,600
Cutting down the trees is now
illegal,
344
00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:01,320
and over the last 30 years,
345
00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:03,520
volunteers from all over the south
346
00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:06,120
have been replanting the mangrove
forests.
347
00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:13,760
Little by little, this crucial
habitat is reclaiming the land.
348
00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:19,560
And mud skippers are moving in -
349
00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:21,840
a tangible sign of recovery.
350
00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:34,320
Seeing them here means there is a
healthy supply of food.
351
00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:39,240
And a good tidal flow creating lots
of fresh puddles
352
00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:41,280
to keep their skin wet.
353
00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:47,240
For ecologists,
354
00:40:47,240 --> 00:40:49,360
seeing them living in a new forest
355
00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:52,560
is a sign the ecosystem is
functioning once again.
356
00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:59,680
And this mangrove restoration has
far-reaching effects.
357
00:41:08,240 --> 00:41:12,680
The coral reef owes its clear waters
to the mangroves' natural filtering
358
00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:14,600
of silt and pollutants.
359
00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:24,520
South-east Asia has more coral reef
360
00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:26,840
than any other region of the world.
361
00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:34,320
Lying at the heart of this area,
362
00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:37,880
Thai waters are home to more than
2,000 types of fish...
363
00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:44,200
..such as the moray eel,
364
00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:46,240
clownfish,
365
00:41:46,240 --> 00:41:47,840
and cuttlefish.
366
00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:53,240
When the reef is in balance,
367
00:41:53,240 --> 00:41:56,040
every individual
plays a crucial role.
368
00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:03,920
The crown of thorns starfish grazes
on the fastest-growing coral,
369
00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:06,960
giving the slower-growing corals a
chance to catch up.
370
00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:16,720
Long-spined sea urchins feed on
algae,
371
00:42:16,720 --> 00:42:19,000
clearing the way for coral growth.
372
00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:29,760
But the reef is a delicate ecosystem
373
00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:32,720
that can easily be knocked out of
balance.
374
00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:39,320
Pollution and a loss of natural
predators
375
00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:42,640
can cause starfish and urchin
numbers to explode.
376
00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:51,440
Both are covered in venomous spines.
377
00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:03,480
But there is one renowned reef
resident able to take them on.
378
00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:10,880
The titan triggerfish.
379
00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:15,400
They've got a fearsome reputation...
380
00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,880
..aggressively defending their patch
of reef.
381
00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,040
A sea urchin's spines are no
382
00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:41,840
protection against teeth like these.
383
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,560
Although the crown of thorns is well
protected on top,
384
00:43:55,560 --> 00:43:57,720
it has a soft underside.
385
00:44:05,240 --> 00:44:08,080
Titan triggerfish play an important
role
386
00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:10,800
in keeping numbers at healthy
levels.
387
00:44:13,720 --> 00:44:15,800
And with this much food around,
388
00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:18,600
it's a great place to start a
family.
389
00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:29,680
This couple have a little bundle of
eggs to care for.
390
00:44:37,240 --> 00:44:42,600
While the female blows water over
the eggs to oxygenate them,
391
00:44:42,600 --> 00:44:45,000
the male is on guard patrol.
392
00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:52,640
This sort of parental care might be
surprising,
393
00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:55,400
but it's vitally important they
protect
394
00:44:55,400 --> 00:44:58,040
the next generation of reef helpers.
395
00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:10,600
All the creatures here play their
part.
396
00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:14,280
And this has a direct influence on
the open ocean.
397
00:45:19,880 --> 00:45:22,720
When the coral and other reef
animals spawn,
398
00:45:22,720 --> 00:45:24,880
it helps to feed the plankton.
399
00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:34,600
Some of this is swept up by large
filter feeding animals...
400
00:45:37,240 --> 00:45:39,040
..like the manta ray...
401
00:45:42,080 --> 00:45:43,560
..and whale shark.
402
00:45:54,240 --> 00:45:57,560
The rest can drift far away,
403
00:45:57,560 --> 00:46:00,000
forming a floating food supply.
404
00:46:03,520 --> 00:46:06,640
This not only supports life under
the sea,
405
00:46:06,640 --> 00:46:08,440
but also above it.
406
00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:17,360
Fish is the most important source of
protein in Southern Thailand.
407
00:46:22,440 --> 00:46:24,640
Almost two million Thai people keep
408
00:46:24,640 --> 00:46:27,080
the country supplied with this
staple.
409
00:46:32,680 --> 00:46:35,920
In this village on the east coast of
Thailand,
410
00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:38,720
Bang, his wife Patima,
411
00:46:38,720 --> 00:46:42,640
and their son Thongchai rely on a
good daily catch.
412
00:46:54,040 --> 00:46:56,880
Early every morning, they head out
to sea.
413
00:47:19,720 --> 00:47:22,400
Before they cast their nets,
414
00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:25,640
there's a sign from nature they
always hope to see...
415
00:47:27,320 --> 00:47:31,000
..something that helps guide them to
the biggest shoals of fish.
416
00:47:58,640 --> 00:48:02,560
This is the Indo-Pacific humpback
dolphin,
417
00:48:02,560 --> 00:48:07,200
a species found in coastal waters
from India to Australia.
418
00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:12,440
It's sometimes called the pink
dolphin.
419
00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:17,200
Grey in their juvenile years,
420
00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:21,000
they slowly lose this colour in
blotches,
421
00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:23,960
turning bright pink when they fully
mature.
422
00:48:29,280 --> 00:48:31,320
These unusual-looking dolphins
423
00:48:31,320 --> 00:48:33,800
scour the coastline in search of the
424
00:48:33,800 --> 00:48:36,200
small fish that feed on plankton.
425
00:48:38,120 --> 00:48:42,240
Anchovies are a favourite for
dolphin and fishermen alike.
426
00:48:52,720 --> 00:48:55,320
And today it's a good haul.
427
00:49:06,720 --> 00:49:10,520
There's one more thing they want to
do before heading back to shore.
428
00:49:24,600 --> 00:49:26,760
Across their range,
429
00:49:26,760 --> 00:49:30,320
pink dolphins often forge special
relationships with people.
430
00:49:40,360 --> 00:49:43,960
Southern Thailand is a natural
paradise
431
00:49:43,960 --> 00:49:47,960
where people and nature are deeply
connected.
432
00:49:50,600 --> 00:49:52,600
For many Thai people,
433
00:49:52,600 --> 00:49:55,920
their existence is no more important
than those creatures
434
00:49:55,920 --> 00:49:58,080
with whom they share their world.
435
00:50:02,720 --> 00:50:04,760
Habitat to habitat,
436
00:50:04,760 --> 00:50:08,360
surprising connections and
partnerships run deep.
437
00:50:09,960 --> 00:50:13,880
This is a place that draws people
from all over the world
438
00:50:13,880 --> 00:50:17,040
to enjoy its beauty.
439
00:50:17,040 --> 00:50:19,000
It's a wild wonderland
440
00:50:19,000 --> 00:50:22,040
full of unexpected surprises.
441
00:50:38,320 --> 00:50:42,440
The coral reefs of southern Thailand
are world-renowned.
442
00:50:44,160 --> 00:50:46,480
But there's an animal that lives on
443
00:50:46,480 --> 00:50:50,200
the reef that strikes fear in all
who enter the water.
444
00:50:58,400 --> 00:51:01,440
It's definitely the fish that
everyone is scared of.
445
00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:05,160
Like, we have some sharks, no
problem.
446
00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:10,320
I don't want to get on the wrong
side of them.
447
00:51:10,320 --> 00:51:13,920
This woman got bitten or rammed on
her head or something.
448
00:51:13,920 --> 00:51:17,080
And there was just blood pouring
down her head.
449
00:51:17,080 --> 00:51:18,800
The titan triggerfish.
450
00:51:21,560 --> 00:51:24,080
It may be only 60 centimetres long,
451
00:51:24,080 --> 00:51:26,840
but its huge teeth are built to bite
452
00:51:26,840 --> 00:51:28,480
through coral and shell.
453
00:51:31,240 --> 00:51:34,440
During the breeding season,
they're particularly aggressive
454
00:51:34,440 --> 00:51:36,800
when caring for their eggs.
455
00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:40,600
And this is what the BBC crew were
here to film.
456
00:51:43,920 --> 00:51:48,400
Producer Lara Bickerton has just one
week to get what she needs.
457
00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:53,040
Seeing a triggerfish at all would be
a start on this shoot.
458
00:51:54,240 --> 00:51:58,320
But cameramen Johnny Rogers and
Simon Enderby are highly skilled
459
00:51:58,320 --> 00:52:00,160
underwater cinematographers.
460
00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:08,440
The waters surrounding Thailand are
famous for their incredible clarity.
461
00:52:10,320 --> 00:52:11,680
But not today.
462
00:52:14,680 --> 00:52:17,400
No triggers. No titans.
463
00:52:17,400 --> 00:52:21,680
No titans. Visibility about no more
than five metres.
464
00:52:21,680 --> 00:52:24,560
Apparently the visibility is better
on the other side of the island,
465
00:52:24,560 --> 00:52:26,400
so shall we go and give that a go?
466
00:52:26,400 --> 00:52:28,560
Yeah.
467
00:52:28,560 --> 00:52:30,960
It's a good plan, but the crew don't
get far.
468
00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:34,400
ENGINE RUMBLES
469
00:52:38,120 --> 00:52:41,560
We're just on our way to another
dive site and found out our boat's
470
00:52:41,560 --> 00:52:44,400
broken down. The ironic result is
the boat that is now towing us is
471
00:52:44,400 --> 00:52:47,280
actually towing us faster than what
this boat
472
00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:49,160
was doing under its own power.
473
00:52:53,120 --> 00:52:56,480
At last Simon gets a second dive in.
474
00:52:59,960 --> 00:53:01,360
Got it?
475
00:53:02,840 --> 00:53:05,440
Although the visibility is still
poor,
476
00:53:05,440 --> 00:53:07,840
he captures the odd glimpse of
a titan.
477
00:53:13,560 --> 00:53:16,600
They are certainly around.
478
00:53:16,600 --> 00:53:19,320
They're there, but we just
can't see them.
479
00:53:19,320 --> 00:53:20,840
Visibility is too bad.
480
00:53:23,720 --> 00:53:26,000
The crew are told
normal weather patterns
481
00:53:26,000 --> 00:53:27,760
are running three weeks late,
482
00:53:27,760 --> 00:53:30,560
and that could be what's reducing
the visibility.
483
00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:36,040
Things only get worse.
484
00:53:40,840 --> 00:53:42,920
Lara is increasingly concerned.
485
00:53:46,080 --> 00:53:49,200
High winds, heavy rain and rough
seas.
486
00:53:50,600 --> 00:53:53,120
The team need their luck to change.
487
00:53:58,360 --> 00:54:01,400
Three days later, the storm passes.
488
00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:06,280
The crew hope the water visibility
has improved, too.
489
00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:12,800
The challenge now is not finding
more triggerfish,
490
00:54:12,800 --> 00:54:15,440
but filming a complete behavioural
sequence.
491
00:54:16,720 --> 00:54:20,880
So the crew focus their attention at
a site where the triggerfish's prey,
492
00:54:20,880 --> 00:54:23,960
the crown of thorns starfish,
is most abundant.
493
00:54:27,720 --> 00:54:31,680
It's a place that marine biologist
Spencer Arnold knows well.
494
00:54:37,880 --> 00:54:41,920
Sometimes starfish numbers can
explode and damage the reef.
495
00:54:41,920 --> 00:54:45,280
So Spencer and the volunteers from
New Heaven Dive School
496
00:54:45,280 --> 00:54:47,480
work hard to remove them.
497
00:54:50,160 --> 00:54:53,600
But there are still plenty left for
the triggerfish.
498
00:54:53,600 --> 00:54:56,800
The titan triggerfish will eat a
crown of thorns sea star.
499
00:54:56,800 --> 00:54:58,680
So obviously very,
500
00:54:58,680 --> 00:55:01,960
very important keystone species on
the island of Koh Tao in terms of
501
00:55:01,960 --> 00:55:04,280
controlling these, these pest
species.
502
00:55:07,240 --> 00:55:11,080
The challenge for the crew now is
finding and filming the triggerfish.
503
00:55:11,080 --> 00:55:13,320
With so little time left,
504
00:55:13,320 --> 00:55:17,400
Lara decides to form a tag team,
with both Johnny and Simon working
505
00:55:17,400 --> 00:55:20,880
back-to-back, maximising their time
underwater.
506
00:55:22,040 --> 00:55:27,040
Johnny Rogers is also using a
re-breather diving system,
507
00:55:27,040 --> 00:55:30,400
allowing him to spend over two hours
at a time underwater.
508
00:55:33,200 --> 00:55:35,240
And as soon as Simon comes out,
509
00:55:35,240 --> 00:55:36,880
Johnny gets in.
510
00:55:40,840 --> 00:55:44,400
This allows them eight hours a day
of uninterrupted filming.
511
00:55:49,120 --> 00:55:52,600
With the visibility much better, the
team make progress.
512
00:55:54,160 --> 00:55:56,720
Johnny captures footage of a
triggerfish
513
00:55:56,720 --> 00:56:00,040
attacking the soft underside of a
crown of thorns starfish.
514
00:56:02,760 --> 00:56:04,960
It's a great start to the sequence.
515
00:56:09,360 --> 00:56:11,640
We got her on a crown of thorns.
516
00:56:11,640 --> 00:56:14,400
Did you? Yeah. Awesome. Great news.
517
00:56:14,400 --> 00:56:17,000
And Johnny's seen a triggerfish.
518
00:56:17,000 --> 00:56:19,960
Well, I've seen one before, but not
on this trip.
519
00:56:19,960 --> 00:56:21,640
It's only taken four days.
520
00:56:23,320 --> 00:56:25,480
The team are soon back underwater,
521
00:56:25,480 --> 00:56:28,080
making the most of the time they
have left.
522
00:56:29,400 --> 00:56:33,520
And Johnny gets a remarkable bit of
behaviour no one expected.
523
00:56:43,240 --> 00:56:47,120
The triggerfish bites each
individual spine off the sea urchin
524
00:56:47,120 --> 00:56:49,320
before devouring the whole thing.
525
00:56:51,680 --> 00:56:54,240
Finally we're actually getting
somewhere.
526
00:56:57,400 --> 00:56:59,640
Simon captures the final bit of the
puzzle.
527
00:57:02,640 --> 00:57:04,640
It's when the titans are guarding
528
00:57:04,640 --> 00:57:07,840
their nests they get most
aggressive.
529
00:57:07,840 --> 00:57:10,920
But this couple are surprisingly
chilled,
530
00:57:10,920 --> 00:57:15,280
letting Simon get an intimate view
of the female aerating her eggs.
531
00:57:20,440 --> 00:57:22,760
Well, patience finally paid off.
532
00:57:22,760 --> 00:57:25,160
That's the closest I've ever come to
a nesting
533
00:57:25,160 --> 00:57:27,520
titan triggerfish in my entire life.
534
00:57:29,160 --> 00:57:33,280
Male and female. Male, we found the
male first, defending his territory.
535
00:57:33,280 --> 00:57:36,560
Thought, OK. Actually swam over the
female looking at the male,
536
00:57:36,560 --> 00:57:39,160
didn't notice that. I went, "Oh,
hello."
537
00:57:39,160 --> 00:57:42,960
So I was basically this much from
her, puffing away on her eggs.
538
00:57:44,600 --> 00:57:47,080
Sunshine, blue water,
539
00:57:47,080 --> 00:57:49,040
target animals.
540
00:57:49,040 --> 00:57:51,000
Amazing, amazing news.
541
00:57:51,000 --> 00:57:53,400
I am so chuffed at that.
542
00:57:53,400 --> 00:57:55,120
Today has paid off.
543
00:57:56,840 --> 00:57:59,880
The team finally had the conclusion
they needed.
544
00:58:01,120 --> 00:58:03,680
And along the way learned that if
you catch
545
00:58:03,680 --> 00:58:08,000
this notorious fish on a good day,
they're remarkably easy-going.
546
00:58:14,840 --> 00:58:18,040
Next time, we head to Thailand's
bustling capital.
547
00:58:21,240 --> 00:58:26,320
Here, spirituality can be found in
human and animal relationships.
548
00:58:26,320 --> 00:58:29,200
Both likely and unlikely.
549
00:58:30,480 --> 00:58:33,240
This is the very heart of Thailand.
550
00:58:33,240 --> 00:58:37,360
Home to mysterious giants and
striking beauty.
44958
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