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'My name is Gordon Buchanan.
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'I'm a wildlife cameraman.
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'I've filmed some of the most dangerous
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'and misunderstood animals on the planet.'
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Oh, my God!
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'But what's it like to actually live alongside terrifying predators?
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'And raise your children with neighbours that might just eat you?
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'To find out, I'm going to live with three extraordinary tribal families.
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'They'll teach me to see these creatures
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'from a totally new perspective.'
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(Whoa! Look, look, look, look!)
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'In the Amazon, I discovered the secrets of the giant anaconda.'
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It is just simply a monster.
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'In Africa, I learned to stand up to wild lions.'
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(My heart is in my mouth!)
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'Now, in Papua New Guinea, I'll enter the mysterious world
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'of the crocodile.'
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I didn't realise it was that big!
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'Spending time with these tribes will be a life-changing experience.
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'One that will transform
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'my understanding of the animals we fear the most.
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'In this episode, I've come to Papua New Guinea.
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'Much of this island paradise remains unexplored.'
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BIRDSONG
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It's home to over 800 individual tribes,
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each with their own languages and beliefs.
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Some of them only recently stopped practising cannibalism.
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'I'm travelling up the country's longest river
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'to meet some of its most remote people.
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'People who have an extraordinary relationship
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'with the world's most-feared reptile: crocodiles.'
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Crocodiles do have somewhat of a reputation.
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I think for maybe a lot of people, they send a shiver down their spine.
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The people that share this world with the crocodile
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have done for over 40,000 years.
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And I want to learn all I can about these animals
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from the people that know them best.
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'Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to visit two remote tribes.
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'I want to see how people can live alongside such dangerous predators.
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'Many of these people are wary of outsiders,
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'so the chief of a tribe of crocodile hunters
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'has agreed to guide me into the interior.'
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- Hello.
- Hello.
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- I'm Gordon.
- You're welcome.
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Nice to meet you, Kowspi. You'll be looking after me?
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I will. I will. I'll try.
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'Kowspi's headdress, the axe over his shoulder
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'and a dagger made from his grandfather's leg bone
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'are all symbols of his power and authority.
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'And straightaway, he's got advice for me about crocodiles.'
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- Really?
- Yeah.
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We're travelling 300 miles up this river, the Sepik...
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..to a tribe called the Ngala.
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'The Ngala speak a language that has never been documented.
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'And their whole culture is based on crocodiles.'
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It's the first sign of humanity in hours and hours.
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Just some dugout canoes there.
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One, two, three, four.
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My goodness!
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Like something you'd expect to find
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if you sailed up this river 500 years ago.
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BIRDSONG
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- These people, they got their own language.
- OK.
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They're independent.
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- They don't speak with any village nearby.
- Oh, really?
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'Kowspi's told me this tribe of just 300 people
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'have learned to catch fully-grown crocodiles with their bare hands.
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'It sounds extremely dangerous.'
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Hello. I'm Gordon.
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Sakias. Good to meet you, Sakias.
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'Kowspi's grandfather helped negotiate peace between this tribe
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'and warring neighbours.
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'And only thanks to this connection,
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'Sakias and his brother, Charles,
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'have agreed to show me what they know about crocodiles.'
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He can't fall.
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Him OK.
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OK.
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It's a ramshackle,
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higgledy-piggledy hut
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with more floor missing than there is floor present.
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My nearest neighbour is a dead, roasted crocodile.
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There are some scurryings up in the roof
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and I think... Yeah, a few of the village people will drift in
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and come and watch this strange visitor sleeping.
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Which is fine by me, because I'm absolutely knackered.
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'This has got to be one of the creepiest places I've ever slept.
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'With a quick dram to settle my nerves,
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'I'm glad to be zipping into my mosquito net.'
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CHILDREN CHATTER, DOGS BARK
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Next morning, I get a chance to see the remarkable way
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these people have adapted to life in the swamps.
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'The houses are up on stilts because in the wet season,
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'the river rises several metres and floods the village.'
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Looking down at the creek, there's loads of movement in the water.
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Yeah, there could be crocodiles in there.
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'There are two types of crocodiles that live in these waters.
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'One is a freshwater crocodile
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'and the other is the saltwater.'
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The saltwater crocodile is the planet's largest reptile
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and can weigh over a tonne.
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They can live right out at sea,
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but prefer to establish their territories in rivers and lakes.
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Every year, mostly in small communities,
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crocodiles attack hundreds of people.
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Half of these attacks result in death.
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'And yet extraordinarily, for these people,
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'crocodiles are the very thing that keeps their community alive.'
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Morning, morning.
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'The Ngala hunt crocodiles for their meat,
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'but they also sell their skins.
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'This helps them buy fuel and other items, like tobacco.'
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BARKING
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'Everything else, they get from the natural world around them,
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'including breakfast.'
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OK.
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Good climbing, Greg. That is quite impressive.
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Ah, easy-peasy! Very good.
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Can I try?
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- OK.
- OK, wait, Greg.
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'Helping out could be a chance for me to earn the respect
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'of hunters, Charles and Sakias.'
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Oi! Nearly. One more. Let me try again.
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OK.
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Go, Greg, yeah.
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Ooo!
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THEY CHUCKLE
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- Very, very good.
- Yeah.
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'In addition to their own language,
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'the men also speak a kind of pidgin English,
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'which makes it easier for me to understand.'
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Yeah.
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That's great!
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'Having seen how it's done, it's my turn.'
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- Oh!
- Do I look like a climber?
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No?
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GORDON LAUGHS
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Right, OK.
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Stretches. Ah! Ah!
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'With the eyes of the tribe looking on,
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'this is starting to feel like a test.'
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Yeah, I'm getting eaten by the ants.
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Ah! LAUGHTER
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I'm covered in red ants.
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No. I could get to the top, if I had to.
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If I was dying, dying of thirst, I could climb to the top.
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Yeah.
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'I may not be the best climber,
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'but having a go may have won me some friends.
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'Charles and Sakias have promised to teach me
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'how to catch crocodiles by hand.
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'But to show me what I'm in for,
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'they're taking me to look at some very large crocodiles.
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'To live safely around here,
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'you need to find them before they find you.'
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How big?
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Really?
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- Really?
- Yeah.
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'Just a few minutes upstream is a bend in the river,
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'patrolled by what the men say
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'are some of the biggest crocodiles in the world.'
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- Yeah.
- And I can touch the bottom.
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Don't want to hang around for too long in this water!
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SAKIAS CHIRPS
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'Sakias is imitating the call of a baby crocodile.
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'It's a vital trick for determining the presence of an adult.
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'And almost immediately, it works.'
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(Whoa! Look, look, look, look, look!)
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MOUTHS: Enormous!
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'Charles explains crocodiles' bodies
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'are seven times the length of their skulls.
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'And he thinks this one's head is nearly a metre long.'
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How big?
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- Whoa!
- Yeah.
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There is not a tail, the tail is still in the water.
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- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- He's looking.
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Maybe he'll... Yeah, maybe he'll come closer.
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Him go down.
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So, you think, Charles, if I was to swim
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to the other side, do you think I'd make it?
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No. You'd die.
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THEY LAUGH
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This is the biggest crocodile I have ever, ever seen.
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This is great.
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- These ones, you...you don't hunt?
- No.
- You don't?
- Yeah.
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- Why...why not?
- Because it's too big.
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- Too dangerous?
- Yeah, dangerous.
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OK, yeah.
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So if you keep the big ones, they can produce the crocodile factory.
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- Yeah.
- GORDON CHUCKLES
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Charles and Sakias aren't saying, "Yeah, it'd be great to hunt it!"
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No, they just let these animals be, respect them
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and know that that's what's going to provide them their future.
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'It's incredible to think that these crocodiles
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'will keep growing for decades,
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'just getting bigger... and more dangerous.
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'It's an amazing example of men and prehistoric monsters
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'living side by side.
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'Back in the village, the tropical heat
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'leaves me desperate to cool off.
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'The only place to bathe is the creek.
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'They say it's safe.'
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If I stick my foot in, it disappears within four inches.
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So to come down here, pitch-dark,
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dip my toes in the water...
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..it's not completely stress-free, if I'm honest,
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but the chances of a big crocodile coming up here
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and dragging me into the water
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are very, very, very, very, very slim.
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At least that's what I say to myself when I come down here to wash.
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Ah!
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'Charles told me not to splash about too much.
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'Splashing could attract crocodiles.
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'This is the quietest bath I've ever had.'
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I'm settling into life in the village,
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but a big crocodile hunt is planned for tomorrow.
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'Charles and Sakias are concerned about my taking part
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'because these hunts are dangerous and injuries are common.
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'To initiate me into the swamps,
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'they're taking me in search of a crocodile's nest.'
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Walking through a swamp like this,
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you do wonder how close the nearest crocodile is.
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I reckon within 20 yards from here,
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there'll be a crocodile of some size.
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'The nest we're looking for belongs to a little-studied species
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'called the New Guinea freshwater crocodile.
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'The swamp is full of insects. Perfect food for baby crocs.'
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It's all really quite boggy and marshy here.
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If you stand too long, you start sinking in.
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'The razor-sharp grass gets so thick
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'that we have to follow paths made by crocodiles.
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'When we find a nest, the men are deliberately noisy
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'to warn off the mother in case she's nearby.'
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A-ha!
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Ah, OK, OK. I see.
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THEY SPEAK IN NATIVE TONGUE
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Ah, yeah!
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Can we look in? Look at that!
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- Can I go in?
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
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Mama crocodile not here?
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'Mother crocodiles will often defend their nests aggressively,
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'so Charles wants us to be quick.'
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Open it.
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- Wow!
- OK. So, eggs.
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- How many do you think?
- Maybe 20 plus.
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'The New Guinea crocodile is secretive
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'and scientists know very little about it.
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'Yet Charles's knowledge of their biology and behaviour
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'is amazingly intimate.'
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Why is that?
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Oh, OK! I see.
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'We take the whole clutch, but it's a sustainable harvest
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'because this swamp is full of healthy nests,
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'ensuring future generations.
255
00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,400
'On our way back, we cross a patch of swamp
256
00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,840
'which Charles set fire to earlier on.'
257
00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,080
They burn some places so you can walk through it.
258
00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,040
And that helps with the crocodile hunting.
259
00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,920
To walk through all this thick stuff is quite hard-going.
260
00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,080
But there's a kind of dual purpose to it, as well.
261
00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:56,480
When you burn these areas,
262
00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,000
it gets rid of all the grass, a lot of this vegetation.
263
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,080
So in the rainy season, when the river comes up,
264
00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:05,440
there's all these open areas where fish can feed, fish can congregate
265
00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,160
and they've got this stuff to hide in.
266
00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,680
So it is, yeah, in effect, a massive crocodile farm.
267
00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,160
'It's fascinating to see the Ngala
268
00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,280
'and crocodiles using these swamps together.
269
00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,280
'And the men are happy,
270
00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,320
'now that I've seen the lay of the land,
271
00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,440
'I'm ready to join tomorrow's hunt.
272
00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,080
'The following day, I'm sent out with Sakias's family
273
00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:40,880
'to get lunch for the hunters.
274
00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,560
'This river is a highly productive ecosystem,
275
00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,800
'full of nutrients and fish.'
276
00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,360
Oh! Oh-ho! Catfish.
277
00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,880
Every stretch of water you look at is kind of bubbling and boiling.
278
00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,600
There's always something leaping to the surface.
279
00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,440
So I suppose it's not a surprise that where there's lots of fish,
280
00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,160
you find lots of...lots of crocodiles.
281
00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,480
Ooo-hoo! It's a big one!
282
00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,120
Thank you. Oh!
283
00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:24,120
Ah!
284
00:20:24,120 --> 00:20:26,640
THEY CHUCKLE I'm never coming again.
285
00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,480
Ah! Well done, Edna.
286
00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:39,800
'To bring good luck in the hunt,
287
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,520
'we share part of our catch with these kites.
288
00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,040
'With lunch in hand, everything is in place for the hunt.
289
00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,320
'Over the last few days, Sakias and Charles have given me
290
00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,440
'a crash course in crocodiles.
291
00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,960
'But now they're taking me deep into the crocodile's world.
292
00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,280
'They're about to show me something most of us would think impossible.
293
00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,720
'Tackling adult crocodiles with their bare hands.'
294
00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,040
- It looks like we're going to war.
- Yeah.
295
00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,000
GORDON CHUCKLES
296
00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:57,240
'Before we enter the swamp, we stop in the shade to fuel up.
297
00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,480
'The atmosphere is tense.
298
00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,080
'Kowspi tells me the Ngala are able to touch crocodiles
299
00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,440
'with their bare hands and feet.
300
00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:27,080
'They believe that by being gentle, the crocodiles won't bite.'
301
00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:32,120
- Is that so the grass doesn't cut your feet?
- Yeah.
- OK.
302
00:22:32,120 --> 00:22:35,040
The plan is to go into a swamp and start feeling around
303
00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,840
for fairly large crocodiles with our toes.
304
00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,560
And...everyone's saying,
305
00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,360
"Watch, you might cut yourself on the grass."
306
00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:46,480
No-one has mentioned the huge jaws of a crocodile.
307
00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,120
Yeah.
308
00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:53,960
BIRDSONG
309
00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,400
'After the meal, the eldest member of our party begins a chant.
310
00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,640
'He makes an extra wish on my behalf,
311
00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,040
'as I could be a liability to the hunters.'
312
00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,440
'He chews a sacred plant and the spit from it will keep us safe.'
313
00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:41,960
- OK.
- Yeah.
314
00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,760
'From here on, there's no turning back.'
315
00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:47,960
- I'm ready, I'm ready.
- OK.
316
00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,520
I'm feeling strong. Feeling brave.
317
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,360
- Yeah.
- OK.
318
00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:57,600
- Gordon?
- Yeah?
- I have a question to ask you.
- Mm-hm.
319
00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,800
- I'd like you to try your best so you can grab one, please.
- OK.
320
00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,480
- Or help them to grab one.
- OK.
- That's what I'd like.
- I'll do my best.
321
00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,920
Yes, you have to.
322
00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,880
'The swamp is a giant mat of floating vegetation.
323
00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,880
'Keen to escape the fierce tropical sun,
324
00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:28,280
'crocodiles seek out cool pools of water under the grass.'
325
00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,080
OK.
326
00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:36,600
'The men split off into different groups to search for the pools.
327
00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:50,960
'The plan is simple.
328
00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,520
'If we find a crocodile, we grab it.'
329
00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,400
It goes down quite a long way.
330
00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,240
I'm not sure the crocodiles are the most dangerous thing around here.
331
00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,480
Gosh, it's actually...fetid! It really stinks!
332
00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,480
I'm feeling with my toes
333
00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,480
to see if I can feel anything that resembles a crocodile.
334
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:24,000
You can actually feel under the grass, there's a layer of water,
335
00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,440
so there's a sort of void.
336
00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,400
So even a big crocodile could be swimming about underneath
337
00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,800
this carpet that's sitting on top.
338
00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,000
Do you know what? I really don't want to find a crocodile.
339
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:42,680
The thought of actually...
340
00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,600
of even putting my hand wrist-deep in this water
341
00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,600
freaks me out somewhat.
342
00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,240
Putting my arm all the way down,
343
00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:54,120
it is...horrible.
344
00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,720
It feels like the worst lucky dip in the world.
345
00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:00,720
Unlucky dip!
346
00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:06,560
'Every so often, crocodiles come to the surface to warm up in the sun.
347
00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,960
'And we find one doing exactly that.
348
00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,120
ANIMATED SHOUTS
349
00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,480
'The crocodile is cornered.
350
00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:26,600
'It may try to defend itself.'
351
00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:34,760
They all think there's a crocodile in...in here.
352
00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,920
He said it was a very big one
353
00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,320
and it was very angry.
354
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,840
'The men are ready to hunt it with their spears,
355
00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:46,720
'but if it really is that big, they may just leave it to breed.
356
00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,360
'To make a decision, we need a closer look.'
357
00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:54,720
HISSING
358
00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,440
OK. He's found it.
359
00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:00,320
He's very angry.
360
00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,240
This is not like sheep farming.
361
00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,440
- Look, look, look, look!
- Yeah, look, look!
362
00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:12,400
Charles has managed to part the grass so he can see it.
363
00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:14,520
So I'm just going to go forward...
364
00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,760
to see if we can get a look at it.
365
00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,200
Do I want to do that? Not really.
366
00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,120
It's quite hard to actually see it,
367
00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:29,200
so I'm hoping if I move this in slowly, it's not going to upset it.
368
00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:32,680
Maybe get a bit of a better look at it.
369
00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:34,040
(OK.)
370
00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,400
'I've offered to help determine its size
371
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,480
'by using this camera on a long pole.'
372
00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,160
It's quite hard to make out.
373
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,480
I can just see maybe one third of the snout.
374
00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:56,440
'If I can see him side-on, we'll get an idea of how big he is.'
375
00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,480
No, I won't touch him, don't worry.
376
00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:00,680
I'm definitely not going to touch him.
377
00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,040
He is a biggie!
378
00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:10,400
'At around four metres, it's the biggest New Guinea crocodile
379
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:12,800
'Charles has ever seen.
380
00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,360
'And to the Ngala, an animal of this size
381
00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:17,920
'is better left to keep breeding.
382
00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,560
'So we're off. And soon, they find another one.
383
00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,840
'This time, it's underwater.'
384
00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:36,080
ANIMATED SHOUTS
385
00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,080
Have you got one?
386
00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:41,680
'The men are in the water with the crocodile.
387
00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:46,800
'They want me to get in, too.
388
00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:53,480
'I'm instructed to feel very gently for the crocodile's head.'
389
00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,120
OK. Is it OK to put my hand down the side,
390
00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:58,400
so I can feel its side?
391
00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:00,440
Yeah. Don't...
392
00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,640
I will just be very gentle, and then...
393
00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,040
- Just don't touch this!
- OK.
394
00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,320
Don't worry, I'm going to be very gentle.
395
00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,320
No, no, no.
396
00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:14,600
Whose foot was that?
397
00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:16,560
'The final step is mind-blowing.
398
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:24,560
'By carefully raising the crocodile, it becomes mesmerised.'
399
00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:28,080
Whoa! I didn't realise it was that big! My God!
400
00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:34,240
I would never, ever have thought
401
00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:38,080
that there was a crocodile of this size right under my feet.
402
00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,000
And the first thing we want to do is find where the head is,
403
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,440
secure the head, get the hands around it.
404
00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:51,040
But you can just get a real sense of how powerful this crocodile is.
405
00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:00,400
- Could be a mother?
- Yeah.
406
00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:03,240
So, do you think she's got eggs at the moment?
407
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:07,440
In the stomach.
408
00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,440
'At over two metres long, this adult female
409
00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,960
'could feed the hunters' families.
410
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,920
'But the fact she's pregnant is a dilemma.'
411
00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,080
There is a real respect for crocodiles around here.
412
00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:27,880
You know, there's no... No-one's laughing, no-one's cheering,
413
00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:29,720
there's no bloodlust.
414
00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:34,800
It just feels very much like a necessity. Um...
415
00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:38,200
Yeah, it's been handled with... It has been handled with
416
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:40,080
respect and care.
417
00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:47,880
'After much deliberation, they've decided to let her go.
418
00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,480
'Today, more important than her meat and skin
419
00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:56,600
'are her eggs and her future young.'
420
00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:06,680
This beautiful creature has had a reprieve.
421
00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:11,320
Slide her down.
422
00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,800
Ah! You are one lucky crocodile.
423
00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:20,040
There you go.
424
00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,040
ANIMATED SHOUTS
425
00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:28,960
'There's a nervous moment as she's untied.'
426
00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,520
I see. Covering her...covering her over.
427
00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:39,240
OK, OK.
428
00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:42,640
OK...and she's loose.
429
00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,440
THEY LAUGH
430
00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:51,000
- Great. She's moving, she's moving.
- Yeah.
431
00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,480
OK. Good luck, girl.
432
00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:56,480
That's a lucky escape.
433
00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,480
'To most people, crocodiles are nightmarish creatures.
434
00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:04,600
'Yet the Ngala have shown me
435
00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:07,480
'it's possible to handle them without fear.
436
00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,480
'These are the toughest people I have ever met.
437
00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:17,200
'But their knowledge of crocodiles
438
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:20,720
'and their respect for them is truly inspiring.'
439
00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:33,920
They have to hunt to survive, they hunt the crocodiles.
440
00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:38,800
And a lot of that is, um...is brutal, I suppose.
441
00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:41,560
But it's a very rare thing indeed, I think,
442
00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:44,760
when there's a natural resource in the form of a wild animal
443
00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:47,000
that isn't overhunted.
444
00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:51,000
They haven't had a negative impact on the natural environment.
445
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,040
And I suppose that's just what, you know,
446
00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:56,280
we should all aspire to...you know, to be like.
447
00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,240
CHILDREN SING
448
00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:01,680
'I've been on the river for a week
449
00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,320
'and today, I'm leaving the Ngala.
450
00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:11,040
'I've heard about a much remoter tribe,
451
00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,840
'who Kowspi says have a giant saltwater crocodile
452
00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:17,120
'that they consider to be their friend.
453
00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:23,040
'It sounds implausible and intriguing.
454
00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:27,320
'But before I go, Charles and Sakias
455
00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,080
'want to remind me of the dangers I face.
456
00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:40,640
'Saltwater crocodiles can be extremely aggressive,
457
00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,640
'especially at night, when they're hunting.
458
00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:47,280
'Just a few days ago, one of them attacked two boys
459
00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:49,040
'out canoeing after dark.'
460
00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:50,840
Come and see this big one.
461
00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:52,880
No! Very big!
462
00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:57,880
My golly...gosh!
463
00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:00,720
- This one.
- This is the whole belly?
- Yeah.
464
00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:02,960
- Maybe this wide?
- Yeah.
465
00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:08,120
What happened?
466
00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:19,640
'With the massive crocodile in hot pursuit,
467
00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:22,440
'the boys just managed to escape.'
468
00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:25,000
- Whoa! So, this is a footprint here?
- Yeah.
469
00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:30,480
OK.
470
00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:32,920
They are monsters. They really are.
471
00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:36,480
Look at the size of that. It's like something from Jurassic Park.
472
00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,840
Yeah. I didn't actually... These holes in the mud are so big,
473
00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:44,880
I didn't realise actually that was footprints.
474
00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:49,320
But when you look close, you can see the claw marks...here.
475
00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:53,400
Then a big score. My goodness!
476
00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:57,640
I mean, its feet are much, much, much, much wider than my hands are.
477
00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,760
'Charles and Sakias urge me to be very careful
478
00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:04,880
'as I venture further upriver.'
479
00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:10,520
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
480
00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:13,600
'I'm so grateful to the Ngala tribe.
481
00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:16,080
'Their amazing skills and knowledge
482
00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:19,760
'have shown me that people CAN survive around crocodiles.'
483
00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:21,480
Bye! Bye!
484
00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,560
'I'm sad to leave. And what I've learnt here
485
00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:26,560
'makes me worry about going in search of
486
00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:29,160
'an even bigger saltwater crocodile.
487
00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:32,920
'But Kowspi insists.
488
00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:35,120
'He says this next tribe's relationship
489
00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:36,760
'with an individual crocodile
490
00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,400
'will change my view of crocs forever.
491
00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:46,000
'The journey takes us the best part of a day upstream
492
00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:51,680
'to a tiny, isolated lake, home to the Maw'pa.
493
00:35:57,400 --> 00:35:59,040
'According to Kowspi,
494
00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,600
'this tribe have been sharing their lake with a crocodile for decades.
495
00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:11,000
'Saltwater crocs can live as long as humans,
496
00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,440
'and can grow to monstrous proportions.
497
00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:19,800
'The biggest on record measure over six metres.
498
00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:23,400
'Crocodiles of this size become dominant.
499
00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,400
'They can terrorise communities.
500
00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:31,120
'Often resulting in their being killed, or relocated.
501
00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,320
'I'm feeling increasingly nervous
502
00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,440
'about where my mission is taking me.
503
00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:53,000
'Approaching the village, Kowspi tells me that until recently,
504
00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:57,520
'this tribe were engaged in a bitter war with their neighbours.
505
00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,600
RHYTHMIC DRUMBEAT
506
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,320
'Fortunately, they seem welcoming to me.'
507
00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,880
Hey. Hey! Incredible!
508
00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:16,520
Hello.
509
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:22,400
Ah, wow! It's amazing. Thank you.
510
00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,040
I'm Gordon.
511
00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:27,640
- James.
- James. Nice to meet you, James.
512
00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:29,400
What a welcome!
513
00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:32,760
It's the friendliest welcome. Thank you.
514
00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:35,960
'Kowspi tells me the Maw'pa first saw outsiders
515
00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:37,680
'less than ten years ago.'
516
00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:43,240
So, how many people in Paru?
517
00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:49,320
OK.
518
00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,560
'It feels very special to be here.'
519
00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:01,520
ROOSTER CROWS
520
00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:06,600
'Next morning, I get to see the Maw'pa's small, but pretty village.
521
00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,640
'Right beside it is a serene lake dotted with trees.
522
00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:20,760
'It's surrounded by beautiful hills and forests.
523
00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:26,240
'These people survive by hunting wild pigs,
524
00:38:26,240 --> 00:38:29,520
'cassowaries and other animals that live here.
525
00:38:32,240 --> 00:38:34,480
'Just opposite the village is a beach,
526
00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:37,600
'where I'm told the monster crocodile I'm looking for
527
00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:39,760
'sometimes basks in the sun.
528
00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:44,400
'It could be anywhere in this water.
529
00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:48,520
'And yet people are splashing around without a care in the world.'
530
00:38:50,240 --> 00:38:53,320
I've been given this lovely accommodation,
531
00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:55,160
a house that's half-built.
532
00:38:55,160 --> 00:38:58,640
So there's going to be a floor here at some point,
533
00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:01,320
but I've got the under-storey.
534
00:39:01,320 --> 00:39:04,360
This is the best accommodation for a crocodile hunter
535
00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:05,800
because I keep on looking out,
536
00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,880
expecting to see the enormous head of the crocodile.
537
00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:19,000
'From time to time, the tribe get together
538
00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:20,840
'to test their hunting skills.
539
00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:27,680
'And one of the hunters, Joseph, has invited me to join in.
540
00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:32,240
'I'm excited to get a glimpse of the Maw'pa's unique culture.
541
00:39:32,240 --> 00:39:35,960
'And I'm hoping to find out more about this legendary crocodile.'
542
00:39:37,240 --> 00:39:40,480
Yeah. Nervous...nervous-looking children over there.
543
00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:45,520
HE YELLS
544
00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:52,560
'As a guest, it's my turn to go first.'
545
00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:54,800
- Oh!
- Ahhhhh!
546
00:39:58,040 --> 00:39:59,960
FAINT LAUGHTER
547
00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:03,360
'The men take over to show me how it's done.'
548
00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:05,440
Whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo!
549
00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:09,960
'And Joseph explains to me why these skills are so important.'
550
00:40:25,880 --> 00:40:28,000
CHEERING
551
00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:36,400
'Kowspi tells me the best bowman is James.
552
00:40:37,720 --> 00:40:42,240
'In his younger days, James killed 14 men from a rival tribe.'
553
00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:43,920
Oh!
554
00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:47,720
'But despite being such skilled hunters,
555
00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:52,040
'no-one has tried to kill the crocodile in the lake.
556
00:40:52,040 --> 00:40:54,520
BABY WAILS
557
00:40:56,760 --> 00:40:59,960
'Joseph and the others have even given it a name.
558
00:40:59,960 --> 00:41:01,960
'Masalai.
559
00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:04,360
'It means, spirit of the water.'
560
00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:06,000
What size?
561
00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:08,560
Oh, wow!
562
00:41:12,240 --> 00:41:15,120
And did anyone want to try and...try and kill it?
563
00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:33,360
'Dominant crocodiles are highly territorial.
564
00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:34,760
'So the Maw'pa's belief
565
00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:37,720
'that Masalai keeps other crocs out makes sense.
566
00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:48,800
'They also believe he keeps their human enemies at bay.
567
00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:07,440
'Joseph says they've known Masalai for over 50 years.
568
00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:11,400
'And yet in all that time, he's not attacked a single person.'
569
00:42:16,520 --> 00:42:18,480
BIRDSONG
570
00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:21,440
'I would love to get a look at him.
571
00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:26,480
'So I head off in a dugout to see if I can find him.
572
00:42:31,120 --> 00:42:34,000
'Big saltwater crocodiles have large territories,
573
00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:35,840
'so he could be anywhere.
574
00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:40,480
'In the lake, out on the tributary,
575
00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:43,080
'or in other lakes nearby.
576
00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:50,160
'There's another factor reducing the chances of my seeing him.
577
00:42:52,040 --> 00:42:54,600
'By restricting the blood flow to essential organs,
578
00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:58,200
'big crocodiles can hold their breath for over an hour.
579
00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:03,880
'This allows them to creep up on prey,
580
00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:06,800
'but also stay hidden from me.
581
00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:12,920
'We pass a number of mud banks
582
00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:15,280
'where crocodiles would be likely to haul out.
583
00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:22,280
'My search goes on for several days.
584
00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:28,160
'But while it's great to get a sense of this country...
585
00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:32,320
'..the giant crocodile is proving elusive.'
586
00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:39,800
It is quite easy to imagine that this crocodile is everywhere
587
00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:42,240
and nowhere at the same time.
588
00:43:43,880 --> 00:43:46,280
I've got this weird feeling
589
00:43:46,280 --> 00:43:48,600
that Masalai knows that I'm looking for him.
590
00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:55,000
'Then, on my last night, we get a tip-off.
591
00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:00,160
'Apparently, Masalai was seen in a small lake
592
00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:02,200
'very close to the village.
593
00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:12,520
'Small canoes are more vulnerable to attack at night...
594
00:44:13,760 --> 00:44:17,920
'..but it could be my last chance to prove Masalai exists.'
595
00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:35,960
CHIRPING
596
00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:46,840
SPLASHING
597
00:44:48,240 --> 00:44:51,560
(A crocodile just splashed into the water in these bushes.
598
00:44:51,560 --> 00:44:55,200
(It sounded big, but not massive.
599
00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:57,000
(I got a bit of a fright there.)
600
00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:18,000
'We're nearing the spot Joseph said they saw him.'
601
00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:23,040
(There's an area just up ahead, right in front of me.
602
00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:29,000
(This area is completely devoid of leaves and vegetation,
603
00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:32,040
(which is very unusual.)
604
00:45:34,520 --> 00:45:37,680
'To find evidence, I've got to get onto the bank.
605
00:45:37,680 --> 00:45:39,920
'This is nerve-racking.
606
00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:42,840
'He could easily be lurking in the bushes.'
607
00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:45,960
I'm just going to switch the lights on, switch off the infrared.
608
00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:48,680
Don't want to be walking about here in the dark.
609
00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:54,920
I actually feel safer in the canoe than I do on land.
610
00:45:56,240 --> 00:45:58,560
OK. You're not around, big croc, are you?
611
00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:01,080
'I follow a gap to a smooth area
612
00:46:01,080 --> 00:46:05,360
'which can only have been made by the weight of a huge animal.'
613
00:46:05,360 --> 00:46:09,360
Just banks off into another lake.
614
00:46:12,480 --> 00:46:14,880
Look, you can see here...
615
00:46:17,240 --> 00:46:19,280
..the croc's been sliding off.
616
00:46:22,520 --> 00:46:24,040
So it is...
617
00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:28,240
It must be about that wide.
618
00:46:29,800 --> 00:46:31,840
That is an enormous crocodile.
619
00:46:36,440 --> 00:46:38,720
This has to be Masalai.
620
00:46:38,720 --> 00:46:41,480
It has to be this huge crocodile.
621
00:46:41,480 --> 00:46:44,320
The camera trap is on.
622
00:46:46,760 --> 00:46:49,960
'It's great to have found such clear signs of him.
623
00:46:49,960 --> 00:46:52,760
'It would be even better to get an image of Masalai
624
00:46:52,760 --> 00:46:54,480
'with these remote cameras.
625
00:46:59,120 --> 00:47:02,800
'Although I still haven't seen him, I can sense his presence.
626
00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:07,560
THUNDERCLAP
627
00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:12,280
LIGHTNING BOLT
628
00:47:13,320 --> 00:47:15,240
BIRDSONG
629
00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:22,320
The next day, the remote cameras reveal some nocturnal activity.
630
00:47:24,800 --> 00:47:27,880
And a rare Victoria crowned pigeon.
631
00:47:29,640 --> 00:47:31,800
But no giant crocodile.
632
00:47:37,160 --> 00:47:40,160
'Joseph can tell I'm disappointed.
633
00:47:40,160 --> 00:47:44,400
'To cheer me up, he's brought me a baby croc he found in the lake.'
634
00:47:45,560 --> 00:47:47,280
Did you paddle it in the canoe?
635
00:47:51,760 --> 00:47:53,840
GORDON CHUCKLES
636
00:47:53,840 --> 00:47:57,680
He is great. Did you see...? You didn't see Masalai?
637
00:47:57,680 --> 00:47:59,400
- No.
- No, no.
638
00:47:59,400 --> 00:48:01,560
OK. Masalai baby.
639
00:48:03,000 --> 00:48:06,320
I'll get a good, firm hold of you. Look at you, you're a beaut!
640
00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:15,560
These creatures have been on this planet for 200 million years
641
00:48:15,560 --> 00:48:18,680
and have changed very, very little.
642
00:48:20,280 --> 00:48:24,920
In these jaws, there's about 68 needle-sharp teeth.
643
00:48:25,960 --> 00:48:28,680
And as the croc gets bigger, the teeth get bigger
644
00:48:28,680 --> 00:48:30,880
and the jaws get more powerful.
645
00:48:30,880 --> 00:48:33,640
It's quite possibly why we fear them so much.
646
00:48:33,640 --> 00:48:36,320
There's all this primal power.
647
00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:39,680
It is beautiful. And it's completely relaxed.
648
00:48:40,840 --> 00:48:42,960
It is a very chilled-out crocodile.
649
00:48:44,320 --> 00:48:48,440
'This relaxed baby makes me realise something about Masalai.
650
00:48:49,640 --> 00:48:53,440
'Crocodiles look inscrutable, but they're very intelligent.
651
00:48:56,400 --> 00:48:58,440
'Masalai may have worked out
652
00:48:58,440 --> 00:49:02,320
'that if he doesn't harm the Maw'pa, they won't harm him.
653
00:49:03,520 --> 00:49:06,920
'It's a relationship based on mutual respect.'
654
00:49:06,920 --> 00:49:10,160
I think it's time to put you back where you belong.
655
00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:12,240
Go and find somewhere nice to hide.
656
00:49:13,440 --> 00:49:16,840
OK, you're going to like this. You're going to like it.
657
00:49:16,840 --> 00:49:18,320
How's that?
658
00:49:20,080 --> 00:49:22,520
GORDON CHUCKLES Oh, wow, look at it go!
659
00:49:23,960 --> 00:49:26,560
Good luck. That's really lovely.
660
00:49:29,640 --> 00:49:31,400
Stay out of trouble.
661
00:49:36,080 --> 00:49:38,600
'It's my final day in the village.
662
00:49:41,640 --> 00:49:45,800
'James has been out hunting and has brought home a wild pig.
663
00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:50,640
'In preparation for a farewell feast,
664
00:49:50,640 --> 00:49:53,120
'the women want me to help gather food.'
665
00:49:53,120 --> 00:49:54,800
BABY WAILS
666
00:49:57,160 --> 00:49:59,920
'We're heading to Masalai's favourite basking beach.'
667
00:50:01,920 --> 00:50:03,480
Here, safe and sound.
668
00:50:03,480 --> 00:50:05,080
Thank you.
669
00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:10,880
BIRDSONG
670
00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:15,480
- Gordon!
- Yes?
671
00:50:16,480 --> 00:50:19,400
Hang on, I'm foraging. WOMEN LAUGH
672
00:50:24,960 --> 00:50:26,400
Mm! Mm, it's nice.
673
00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:28,680
SHE LAUGHS It's very sour.
674
00:50:31,040 --> 00:50:34,560
It doesn't seem to be five yards that we cover
675
00:50:34,560 --> 00:50:37,720
without something being pointed out to me.
676
00:50:37,720 --> 00:50:40,240
And it's fascinating, um...
677
00:50:40,240 --> 00:50:43,040
and also it's just quite...it's quite good fun.
678
00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:46,000
The ladies seem kind of really keen just to sort of show off
679
00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:47,880
what they know about the forest.
680
00:50:51,840 --> 00:50:54,000
WOMEN LAUGH
681
00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:57,400
Is there anything sweet in the forest? Everything's sour.
682
00:50:57,400 --> 00:50:59,240
- Yes.
- Yeah!
683
00:51:09,280 --> 00:51:10,760
Are they gone?
684
00:51:10,760 --> 00:51:12,880
WOMEN LAUGH They haven't bitten me yet.
685
00:51:16,880 --> 00:51:20,400
'On the way home, the ladies show me a warning sign
686
00:51:20,400 --> 00:51:23,240
'that tells other tribes to keep out.'
687
00:51:30,680 --> 00:51:32,400
I see.
688
00:51:35,840 --> 00:51:38,040
'This sign reminds me of Masalai,
689
00:51:38,040 --> 00:51:40,880
'and the Maw'pa's belief that he protects them.
690
00:51:40,880 --> 00:51:43,800
'So I ask the women what they think.'
691
00:51:43,800 --> 00:51:48,080
The big Masalai pukpuk, do you ever see it in the lake?
692
00:51:48,080 --> 00:51:50,080
- Yes. Yeah.
- Yeah!
693
00:51:52,920 --> 00:51:54,440
Oh, really?
694
00:52:01,040 --> 00:52:03,160
'They're adamant that he is dangerous,
695
00:52:03,160 --> 00:52:06,160
'but confident they can predict his behaviour.'
696
00:52:06,160 --> 00:52:09,200
Do you think the crocodile's in the lake at the moment?
697
00:52:12,120 --> 00:52:15,640
'This lady, Susan, is sure Masalai isn't in the lake today.'
698
00:52:15,640 --> 00:52:18,640
- Shall I swim across the lake and see what happens?
- Yeah.
699
00:52:18,640 --> 00:52:20,080
No, I don't think I'll bother.
700
00:52:20,080 --> 00:52:22,840
I'll...I'll...I'll sit in the...sit in the canoe.
701
00:52:29,400 --> 00:52:31,520
Will you swim with me, or will you be in the canoe?
702
00:52:31,520 --> 00:52:33,080
SHE LAUGHS
703
00:52:33,080 --> 00:52:35,200
THEY LAUGH
704
00:52:37,040 --> 00:52:39,040
You're supposed to think about it.
705
00:52:44,320 --> 00:52:46,120
- Are you going to swim?
- Yeah.
706
00:52:46,120 --> 00:52:48,440
- Really?
- Yeah.
- It's safe?
707
00:52:51,320 --> 00:52:53,320
Swim, go!
708
00:52:53,320 --> 00:52:55,440
THEY LAUGH OK.
709
00:52:57,000 --> 00:53:01,080
Um...I don't feel massively comfortable doing this.
710
00:53:04,240 --> 00:53:06,640
'The channel is only 100 metres wide,
711
00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:10,000
'but that's easily far enough to attract a crocodile
712
00:53:10,000 --> 00:53:11,960
'with our splashing.
713
00:53:14,480 --> 00:53:17,880
'Every instinct tells me this is wrong.
714
00:53:17,880 --> 00:53:22,360
'But I decide to let go and hope that Susan is right.
715
00:53:45,880 --> 00:53:49,720
'I'm relieved to have made it to the shallows by the village.
716
00:53:49,720 --> 00:53:53,000
'But I feel transformed, too.
717
00:53:53,000 --> 00:53:56,000
'It's like I'm losing my fear of crocodiles.'
718
00:53:56,000 --> 00:53:59,880
I never, ever imagined when I first arrived here
719
00:53:59,880 --> 00:54:03,920
that I'd happily get into the water and swim across a channel
720
00:54:03,920 --> 00:54:07,400
where one of these giants is frequently seen.
721
00:54:08,720 --> 00:54:12,400
And I think it's just learning about the crocodiles
722
00:54:12,400 --> 00:54:14,800
from the people that know them best.
723
00:54:14,800 --> 00:54:18,520
That's what makes me feel...that's what makes me feel safe.
724
00:54:26,680 --> 00:54:32,720
I could almost say these people see crocodiles as friends, of a sort.
725
00:54:34,480 --> 00:54:36,960
A kind of relationship
726
00:54:36,960 --> 00:54:40,680
that's actually quite...quite profound.
727
00:54:42,960 --> 00:54:46,240
For the Maw'pa, the spirit crocodile, Masalai,
728
00:54:46,240 --> 00:54:49,160
is everywhere, watching over them.
729
00:54:50,800 --> 00:54:54,360
Protecting this magical world which they call home.
730
00:55:11,440 --> 00:55:13,280
LOW CHATTER
731
00:55:13,280 --> 00:55:17,680
'Susan takes me to her house to get ready for tonight's festivities.'
732
00:55:17,680 --> 00:55:19,200
- Gordon?
- Yeah?
733
00:55:20,320 --> 00:55:21,640
Ah!
734
00:55:23,600 --> 00:55:25,920
OK. Nice.
735
00:55:25,920 --> 00:55:27,880
OK. Thank you, Susan.
736
00:55:32,680 --> 00:55:36,200
This is quite nice, just chilling and letting everyone kind of relax
737
00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:39,960
and then just do what everyone naturally does. And it's very nice.
738
00:55:39,960 --> 00:55:42,880
Susan's decided that I'm looking a bit scruffy
739
00:55:42,880 --> 00:55:45,520
in my smelly shirt and my dirty trousers
740
00:55:45,520 --> 00:55:48,240
and I need a little bit of local colour.
741
00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:02,080
The villagers are sending me off with a celebration,
742
00:56:02,080 --> 00:56:04,120
which they call a sing-sing.
743
00:56:06,440 --> 00:56:09,720
'They're giving thanks to every single animal in the forest
744
00:56:09,720 --> 00:56:11,200
'for providing food,
745
00:56:11,200 --> 00:56:15,400
'and to Masalai for being their protector.'
746
00:56:15,400 --> 00:56:17,400
THEY SING IN NATIVE TONGUE
747
00:56:17,400 --> 00:56:22,200
Every part of their costume is...is taken from nature.
748
00:56:22,200 --> 00:56:24,560
These are plants that have just been picked,
749
00:56:24,560 --> 00:56:26,280
there's tusks from wild pigs,
750
00:56:26,280 --> 00:56:28,920
feathers from cassowaries and different birds,
751
00:56:28,920 --> 00:56:31,720
grasses making up their skirts.
752
00:56:33,800 --> 00:56:37,440
Kind of almost feels like the people have just become nature.
753
00:56:37,440 --> 00:56:39,320
Become one of the same thing.
754
00:56:45,480 --> 00:56:48,320
'This place is a paradise.
755
00:56:48,320 --> 00:56:53,480
'And for these people, it's a paradise thanks to a crocodile.'
756
00:56:57,600 --> 00:57:02,360
It is a real privilege to spend time and live among people
757
00:57:02,360 --> 00:57:06,320
that have such a close relationship with nature.
758
00:57:06,320 --> 00:57:09,000
They have their own understanding.
759
00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:11,960
And their understanding is very different to mine.
760
00:57:11,960 --> 00:57:15,400
Much of it is just founded in their beliefs,
761
00:57:15,400 --> 00:57:17,480
in their spirituality.
762
00:57:17,480 --> 00:57:21,160
But I think at the very heart of that understanding
763
00:57:21,160 --> 00:57:25,800
is a respect. A respect for all living things.
764
00:57:25,800 --> 00:57:28,960
And they rely on this river and these waterways,
765
00:57:28,960 --> 00:57:31,600
you know, for food, for shelter.
766
00:57:31,600 --> 00:57:35,560
And I think the most amazing thing of all for me
767
00:57:35,560 --> 00:57:38,520
is that THE most feared,
768
00:57:38,520 --> 00:57:41,440
most dangerous reptile on the planet
769
00:57:41,440 --> 00:57:45,680
is...is a good neighbour.
59990
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