1 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,480 In the heart of South East Asia is an ancient kingdom. 2 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,680 With over 3,000km of coastline. 3 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,200 But beyond its golden shores 4 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,880 there are secret worlds. 5 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,480 Home to mysterious creatures... 6 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:43,880 ..and forest giants. 7 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,000 This is a fast-changing country 8 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,880 where East and West collide. 9 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,640 People and animals must work together to survive. 10 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,800 Forming unique relationships. 11 00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:20,880 A spiritual land... 12 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,920 ..full of magic and wonder. 13 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,480 This is Thailand. 14 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:50,720 Each morning, 15 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,800 a magical chorus rings through the forests 16 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,880 of Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand. 17 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:17,040 The cry of the lar gibbon bonds males and females. 18 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,200 These intelligent apes often pair for life 19 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,520 and advertise their territorial rights with song. 20 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:38,620 In their forest sanctuary, this cream-coloured male 21 00:02:38,820 --> 00:02:42,840 and his dark-haired mate are raising a youngster. 22 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,960 Grooming helps keep family bonds strong 23 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,440 for the ten or more years they'll stay together. 24 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,640 Finding food is the next priority. 25 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,240 And it's not always easy. 26 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,760 It requires an intimate knowledge of their patch of forest. 27 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:43,360 Building momentum helps them swing from tree to tree 28 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,400 at speeds of more than 50km per hour. 29 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:10,320 Following memory maps of highways through the tree tops, 30 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,600 the gibbons find the perfect places to forage. 31 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,640 But sometimes a gibbon highway meets a human highway. 32 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,880 When the fruiting trees are on the other side, 33 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:37,480 there's a big problem. 34 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,760 Gibbons are strictly arboreal. 35 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,560 So they're reluctant to leave the trees 36 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:47,960 and are vulnerable on the ground. 37 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,640 Crossing a busy road on foot would be too dangerous. 38 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:06,240 No-one passing below this rope bridge gives it a second thought. 39 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,040 But, for the gibbons, it's a lifeline. 40 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,680 The rope bridge allows the park's gibbons 41 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,200 to access fresh feeding grounds. 42 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,440 The devoted couple have located a fruiting fig tree. 43 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,400 Time for a lazy breakfast. 44 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,520 Their lives have been made just a little bit safer 45 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,680 by a human helping hand. 46 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,560 Life in one of Asia's fastest-changing countries 47 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,640 means people and animals are finding new ways to get along. 48 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:51,160 Central Thailand is the richest and most productive region. 49 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,600 Its fertile flood plains nourish rice fields 50 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,440 that cover 40% of all the farmland. 51 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,680 Where the land meets the Gulf of Thailand... 52 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,560 ..lies the great city of Bangkok. 53 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:23,200 Around 8 million people live in the nation's capital. 54 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:29,120 And this bustling central region is known as the nation's rice bowl. 55 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:35,360 Even here, there are magical places to be found, 56 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:36,800 hidden from view... 57 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,880 ..where age-old beliefs and traditional practices live on... 58 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:49,200 ..and time seems to have stood still. 59 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,120 Phraya Nakhon Cave was discovered some 200 years ago, 60 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,040 when Thailand was still known as Siam. 61 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,240 Thai kings have visited this cavern for centuries. 62 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,640 The Royal Pavilion crowns this mystical place. 63 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:33,080 Spirituality is the key to understanding 64 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,920 central Thailand's harmonious relationship with nature. 65 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:48,360 This Lyle's flying fox is waiting out the heat of the day. 66 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:54,920 And he's not alone. 67 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,700 With leathery wings nearly a metre wide, 68 00:09:05,900 --> 00:09:09,840 he can fly 30km or more in search of fruit. 69 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,320 These flying foxes are often regarded as pests, 70 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:18,320 destroying orchards and causing conflict with farmers. 71 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,640 But this bat and his colony are special. 72 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,840 They are under Buddha's own protection. 73 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,720 This is the temple of Wat Pho Bang Khla. 74 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,360 As dusk approaches, 75 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:58,520 the resident monks are called to prayer by the beat of a drum. 76 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,760 But the bats have heard it all before. 77 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,320 Here, the spiritual and animal kingdoms are united. 78 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,360 Buddhism is the religion of more than 90% of Thai people, 79 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:26,680 profoundly influencing their everyday lives. 80 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:31,560 Buddhist teachings state that 81 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,480 all living things are worthy of kindness, 82 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:37,440 compassion and tolerance. 83 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:54,040 This very tolerant place is known as the Bat Temple. 84 00:10:55,160 --> 00:11:00,520 It's the daytime residence of 6,000 or more flying foxes. 85 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,860 Leaving their sanctuary to forage far away, 86 00:11:12,060 --> 00:11:15,880 they'll return at dawn to this spiritual haven. 87 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,240 The natural world features prominently 88 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,400 in Thai religion and mythology. 89 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:46,680 The lotus is linked to Buddha himself. 90 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,740 In shallow lakes to the west of Bangkok, 91 00:11:55,940 --> 00:11:59,310 tightly-filled buds rise on slender stems 92 00:11:59,510 --> 00:12:02,880 as if craning their necks to the heavens. 93 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,600 The contrast of the blooms to the muddy water 94 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:19,240 inspired Buddha to use the lotus as a symbol of enlightenment. 95 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,800 The passage from darkness to light, 96 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,640 ignorance to wisdom. 97 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,400 Yukha spends every day in the watery fields 98 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,040 plucking the stems. 99 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,120 Almost every part of the lotus is edible, 100 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:54,520 and the petals, roots and stamens are used in traditional medicine. 101 00:12:56,680 --> 00:13:01,360 By dawn the next day, these bouquets will be on sale in Bangkok. 102 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:04,320 But not as ingredients for food or pharmacy, 103 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,840 they are destined for a higher purpose. 104 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:15,080 The lotus bud is one of the most popular ways to pay tribute 105 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:18,800 at one of more than 30,000 temples. 106 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,400 Embracing both Buddhist and Hindu principles, 107 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,560 people make daily offerings to honour the gods. 108 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,520 This shrine is named after Erawan - 109 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,920 the elephant that carried the Hindu god Indra, 110 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,160 so he deserves a floral offering too. 111 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:10,640 Here in Thailand, one animal's fate is intertwined more than any other 112 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,160 with the country's history and its future. 113 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,480 The Asian elephant. 114 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,800 It has been revered for centuries. 115 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:45,280 Even the word for its dung also means moon. 116 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,640 A new beginning, the propagator. 117 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,200 Creating new life from seed dispersal. 118 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:06,880 But the story of elephants in Thailand is not always a happy one. 119 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:14,360 There are more than 4,000 of these giants in captivity. 120 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,760 And most visitors to Thailand 121 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,720 take a ride on a domesticated elephant for granted. 122 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,000 At Sublangka Wildlife Sanctuary, 123 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:39,640 a new life is offered to elephants rescued from the tourist trade. 124 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,000 The Elephant Reintroduction Foundation 125 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,720 releases rehabilitated elephants back into the forest. 126 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:05,040 31-year-old Wadsana was bought by the sanctuary in 2011. 127 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,000 Four years later, a calf called Earn arrived. 128 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,280 And they have been inseparable ever since. 129 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,280 Earn and her adopted mother are now taken 130 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,760 on regular walks in the forest. 131 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,960 To be ready for their release, 132 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,640 they'll need to be familiar with its sights, sounds and smells, 133 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:45,480 know where to find water, and what they can and can't eat. 134 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:57,200 Annan is a former mahout, an elephant trainer and rider. 135 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,000 He is now one of the team of rangers 136 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,800 responsible for the daily care of the elephants. 137 00:17:24,120 --> 00:17:27,360 Wadsana and Earn will soon be ready to join 138 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,800 Sublangka's growing population of elephants. 139 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:38,240 And for when the day arrives, a royal send-off is being planned. 140 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,080 300km south-west of Bangkok 141 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,720 lies the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. 142 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,320 The plains flood during the rainy season, 143 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,720 and with the waters come rich deposits of silt. 144 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:04,040 These fertile fields not only fill the rice bowls of a nation, 145 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,120 they also provide a major export. 146 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:12,880 So, for farmers, living side-by-side with animals is a delicate balance. 147 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:22,280 Chestnut munias do their best to steal the rice grains 148 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,320 ripening in the paddy fields. 149 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,560 And the farmers chase them away, 150 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:30,600 just as they always have. 151 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,760 Open-billed storks were once hunted by villagers for food. 152 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:57,900 But in the 1980s, golden apple snails were introduced to Asia 153 00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:02,720 from South America, and became a major agricultural pest. 154 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,280 Suddenly, the storks became the farmers' friends. 155 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,800 They are snail specialists. 156 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,400 So they are left to forage in peace. 157 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:40,640 Local farmer Uncle Alf is draining a pool. 158 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,680 Fish are abundant among the paddies. 159 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,600 Family and friends muck in to help with the catch. 160 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,480 These freshwater fish were trapped here 161 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,600 when floodwaters receded at the end of the last rainy season. 162 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,600 Scooping them up by hand is the way it's always been done. 163 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:15,120 But sometimes the fish make it easy for you. 164 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,000 The harvested fish will be sold at the market, 165 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,600 and the little egrets are welcome to any left behind. 166 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,080 There's one kind of fish that is highly prized 167 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,040 across central Thailand. 168 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,280 But not as food. 169 00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:53,800 And these village boys are out to catch some. 170 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,160 Here's what they're after - 171 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:25,480 a fish that's admired for showing no fear in defence of its territory. 172 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:45,600 The Betta fish is better known as the Siamese fighting fish. 173 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,920 They share their fearless reputation 174 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:56,280 with the gladiators of the ancient martial art of Muay Thai. 175 00:21:57,360 --> 00:21:59,160 Or Thai boxing. 176 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,020 Top fighters can become household names... 177 00:22:11,220 --> 00:22:14,350 earning millions of Thai baht per fight. 178 00:22:14,550 --> 00:22:17,680 Fortunes can be won or lost on the outcome. 179 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,480 The opponents size each other up. 180 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:33,640 The fish extend their fins to make themselves look bigger. 181 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,200 When one fish is slipped into the bottle of the other, 182 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:49,480 their true nature as born fighters is revealed. 183 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,200 A knockout ends this bout... 184 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:32,720 ..and the fish fight is over 185 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:36,420 when one retreats to the bottom of the bottle. 186 00:23:36,620 --> 00:23:40,120 Tomorrow, both fish will be returned to the wild. 187 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:55,000 For centuries, Siamese fighting fish have been admired as prize-fighters, 188 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,100 but selective breeding to enhance colour, tail and fins 189 00:23:59,300 --> 00:24:03,200 has also made them into exquisite objects of desire. 190 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,120 Photographer Visarute is well known in Thailand 191 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:17,000 for his photographs capturing their silky sensuousness. 192 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:49,440 Extreme slow motion reveals their dance in all its willowy grace. 193 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,760 These little fish loom large in Thai culture... 194 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:21,480 ..epitomising the exoticism of this country. 195 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:44,440 Food is a huge part of Thai culture. 196 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,520 But among the more familiar ingredients 197 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:51,560 in Thailand's food markets are some unexpected delicacies. 198 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:44,440 Wi Li has bought this supper of live crickets to feed her family. 199 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:49,200 Insects have long been on the menu in Thailand. 200 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,600 And the children love these crispy bugs. 201 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,720 But thieves lurk in the shadows. 202 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:17,160 The soles of their feet are covered in microscopic bristles 203 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:19,480 that split into hundreds more, 204 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:21,400 gripping every surface. 205 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,800 It's one of the largest geckos in the world. 206 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:34,360 The tokay. 207 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,720 A gecko might steal a meal or two, 208 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,000 but they also help get rid of unwelcome insects. 209 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:02,120 Geckos evolved to climb trees and rocks, 210 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,440 so scaling a wall is no problem. 211 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,920 At up to 35 centimetres long, 212 00:28:20,120 --> 00:28:23,600 they're big lizards with big appetites. 213 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,880 Thai people may be accustomed to large lizards in their houses... 214 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:57,760 ..but some giants make more intimidating neighbours. 215 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:03,520 Lumphini Park in the heart of Bangkok. 216 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,400 An oasis of green amid the daytime bustle. 217 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,200 But something's not quite right 218 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:16,040 with this picture of carefully tended tranquillity. 219 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:24,080 There's danger in this urban paradise. 220 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:42,080 Huge lizards, called water monitors, stalk these lawns. 221 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:54,880 Water monitors can reach more than three metres in length 222 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,800 and weigh over 50kg. 223 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:10,920 These lizards are exclusively carnivorous. 224 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:16,680 They even dispose of the remains of less fortunate monitor lizards, 225 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,360 which may win them a few friends. 226 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:25,200 Razor-sharp teeth and germ-laden saliva 227 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,440 can inflict life-threatening wounds. 228 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:33,000 But water monitors rarely bite humans. 229 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:40,920 The reaction to these latter-day dinosaurs is typically Thai. 230 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:47,160 Their attitude, when it comes to potentially lethal lizards 231 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:51,440 sharing public spaces, is summed up by one of their favourite 232 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:55,840 Buddhism-inspired expressions - mai pen rai - 233 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:57,440 it's fine. 234 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:01,640 Just be calm, carefree, and we can all get along. 235 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:20,920 Some Buddhist teachings advise that things are best left alone. 236 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:26,800 But they also may urge direct action to preserve the natural world. 237 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,920 Like symbolically ordaining trees as monks, 238 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:41,440 complete with robes, 239 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:44,520 as a sort of spiritual preservation order. 240 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,800 Other Buddhist ceremonies can also benefit nature. 241 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,720 And for Wadsana and Earn, it's a very special day. 242 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:14,280 Making merit is a way of earning celestial favour 243 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:16,320 for doing a good deed. 244 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:23,880 It might be giving alms to a monk, chanting Buddhist scripture, 245 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:27,120 or releasing an animal into the wild. 246 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,400 As befits their size and place in Thai culture, 247 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:36,360 to release an elephant is one of the highest forms of making merit. 248 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:42,840 Today, six will be set free, 249 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,720 six elephants for the 60th birthday 250 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:49,280 of Thailand's much-loved Princess Sirindhorn. 251 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:16,280 It's a very big day for a little elephant like Earn. 252 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,720 She has to face the crowds of well-wishers. 253 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:25,120 And Annan has even taught her to bow for the Princess. 254 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:39,440 The Princess blesses them with holy water. 255 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:52,600 She offers them each a stick or two of sugar cane for their journey, 256 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,200 and they are free. 257 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:14,200 Annan and the team of rangers will continue to monitor their progress. 258 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,960 There's already a herd of previously released elephants 259 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:31,000 roaming the forest. 260 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:36,400 Hopefully, in time, Wadsana and Earn will join up with them. 261 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:40,360 But first, they need to get used to life without Annan. 262 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:51,240 Elephants have always occupied a special place in Thai mythology. 263 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:56,440 But other animals share that mythical status. 264 00:34:56,640 --> 00:35:00,400 And some are a lot harder to get along with. 265 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:08,720 In rural Sakaerat, north-east of Bangkok, 266 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:13,120 a lethal conflict is taking place between villagers and snakes. 267 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:27,520 There are more than 175 snake species in Thailand. 268 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:35,120 This little Asian vine snake is one of more than 100 that are venomous. 269 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:40,120 And more than half of those are highly dangerous. 270 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:47,440 There are up to 10,000 snake bites per year in Thailand. 271 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:50,100 And one type of snake bites more people 272 00:35:50,300 --> 00:35:52,760 than all the other snakes put together. 273 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:59,720 This roadside community is typical of rural Thailand. 274 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:02,280 Running through its centre 275 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:06,480 is a river that dries up entirely in the hot season. 276 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:18,560 As night falls, it becomes a perilous place, 277 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:20,320 haunted by predators. 278 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:30,360 Pit vipers. 279 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,160 Barely 60 centimetres long, 280 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:39,160 this green pit viper is making its way to a site 281 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,400 where it can ambush frogs, lizards or mice. 282 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:47,840 It's all too easy for someone passing by 283 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:52,040 to brush dangerously close to this striking little snake. 284 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:04,240 Snakes are often killed on sight, 285 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,160 but there's a snake conservation team here 286 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:10,080 that is trying to save the snakes and people 287 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:12,600 in the Sakaerat area and beyond. 288 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:19,760 A call has come in that a huge king cobra has tried to enter a house, 289 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:22,680 and has taken refuge in a potted shrub. 290 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:36,160 Colin Strine, head of the snake team, assesses the situation. 291 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:38,440 Stet back, step back, step back. 292 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:42,600 It's one of the world's most deadly snakes. 293 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:46,160 OK, I'm going to go ahead and make the grab now. 294 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:52,960 I'm trying to bring out the vines that it's grabbing onto. 295 00:37:53,160 --> 00:37:58,000 The bite of a king can deliver enough venom to kill an elephant. 296 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:00,240 So there's no room for error. 297 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:03,560 Here we go, here we go. Go, go, go. 298 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,720 - Grip now, grip now, please. - OK. - Good. 299 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:11,440 Good job. 300 00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:14,680 Release, let go. 301 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:16,920 OK. 302 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:21,520 If this snake had not been rescued, the locals would have felt 303 00:38:21,720 --> 00:38:23,880 they had no choice but to kill it. 304 00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:31,000 Bagged and boxed, the cobra will be taken back 305 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:32,920 to the conservation centre. 306 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:42,720 Nice and easy. We don't see any parasites. OK. 307 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:46,320 Snakes that are brought in by the team are given a sedative 308 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:48,360 prior to a thorough health check. 309 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:53,120 Measurements are taken for the team's research. 310 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,920 Perfectly natural, and it's quite common with humans 311 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:00,640 to be very fearful of snakes. 312 00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:03,160 I guess we should just be really happy 313 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:08,340 that they were willing to call instead of just killing it. 314 00:39:08,540 --> 00:39:13,520 We do work pretty hard to try and educate people about snakes, 315 00:39:13,720 --> 00:39:15,360 and about not to be afraid of them. 316 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:20,880 The king cobra is the longest of all venomous snakes 317 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:24,320 and reaches close to six metres in length. 318 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,160 This male is a mere three-and-a-half metres. 319 00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:35,960 The sleeping king is inflated. 320 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:40,520 The long lungs running down his body are full of anaesthetic 321 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:45,080 which has to be manually forced out before he can come around. 322 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:57,200 It's crucial that rescued snakes are returned to their own territories, 323 00:39:57,400 --> 00:39:59,400 so they're given time to recover fully 324 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:02,880 before being released a short distance from their capture sites. 325 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:13,760 For Colin, every king safely returned to its territory 326 00:40:13,960 --> 00:40:15,760 is a success story. 327 00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:20,840 It feels good, because they're still alive. 328 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:24,280 It's always a pleasant feeling when they're going back into the wild. 329 00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:37,920 Some Thai people believe that encountering a snake 330 00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:40,320 is a sign of good luck and good fortune... 331 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,440 ..though it might be best to avoid sharing the water with one. 332 00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:53,200 The ancient serpent cult of this region teaches 333 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:56,640 that the wealth of Thailand was bestowed upon it 334 00:40:56,840 --> 00:40:58,160 by the Naga snake spirits, 335 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:01,280 living in the kingdom's waterways. 336 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:10,880 For centuries, these waterways have helped transport 337 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:13,360 people and goods around Thailand. 338 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:23,560 At watery crossroads, floating markets sprang up everywhere. 339 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:45,240 These days, modern commerce is fast replacing the traditional. 340 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:51,560 But an amiable armada of old women, vessels laden with local produce, 341 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:54,880 still invades Tha Kha, west of Bangkok, 342 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:57,240 to buy and sell from boat to boat. 343 00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:11,640 The lowlands of central Thailand 344 00:42:11,840 --> 00:42:14,920 have long been the agricultural heart of the country. 345 00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:20,400 A network of canals was constructed to link rivers 346 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:22,920 and allow the transportation of goods 347 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:27,280 east from Cambodia and south-west from coastal provinces. 348 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:32,520 During the rainy season, 349 00:42:32,720 --> 00:42:35,920 fertile sediment washes down these waterways, 350 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:39,320 eventually reaching the Gulf of Thailand. 351 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:46,800 As the monsoon subsides, the sea teems with life. 352 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,720 The waters are ripe for harvest. 353 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:57,640 And one of the largest yield comes in the form of a very small fish. 354 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:07,680 It's anchovy season at fishing villages all along the Gulf Coast. 355 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:12,520 The daily catch is deftly filleted 356 00:43:12,720 --> 00:43:15,800 and neatly laid out to dry in the sun. 357 00:43:21,240 --> 00:43:25,320 This must take place before the fish start to spoil. 358 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:28,920 So everyone plays a part in the process. 359 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:39,520 Once the sun and breeze have done their work, 360 00:43:39,720 --> 00:43:42,600 the dried fish will keep for up to a year. 361 00:43:54,080 --> 00:43:58,240 There's plenty for everyone in this seasonal pay-out. 362 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:08,760 Flocks of terns are always ready to cash in. 363 00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:18,000 But a much larger fisherman has arrived in these waters. 364 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:31,240 The locals call it chao pho lai, meaning very big grandfather. 365 00:44:34,440 --> 00:44:37,440 A 15-metre-long Bryde's whale. 366 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:46,360 Whales are thought to bring good luck, 367 00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:50,520 but locals believe that bad things happen to those who harm them. 368 00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:56,840 Chao pho lai is also the name for Thai mafia. 369 00:44:57,040 --> 00:44:58,160 Godfathers. 370 00:45:02,560 --> 00:45:07,000 From August to December, the whales gather in the Gulf of Thailand 371 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:10,280 to make the most of the abundant anchovies. 372 00:45:12,440 --> 00:45:13,760 They usually feed alone, 373 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:16,560 though a mother and calf will hunt together. 374 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:34,560 These two have located a school of anchovies. 375 00:45:47,720 --> 00:45:50,680 Like other whales in the rorqual family, 376 00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:52,800 such as blue and humpback whales, 377 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:57,500 Bryde's whales sieve each monumental mouthful 378 00:45:57,700 --> 00:46:02,200 through long, coarse bristles called baleen. 379 00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:04,880 At least, that's how it usually works. 380 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:09,520 These whales are exhibiting behaviour 381 00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:12,240 that is puzzling marine biologists. 382 00:46:24,480 --> 00:46:27,240 Some think the anchovies are too small, 383 00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:31,000 and would slip through the coarse baleen of the Bryde's. 384 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:34,720 So the whales rock and swill the fish to the back of the gullet 385 00:46:34,920 --> 00:46:36,560 so they can swallow them. 386 00:46:55,160 --> 00:46:59,160 In other parts of the world where they feed on larger fish, 387 00:46:59,360 --> 00:47:01,960 Bryde's whales don't use this method. 388 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:06,760 But here they seem to have developed a unique way of making the most 389 00:47:06,960 --> 00:47:08,840 of Thailand's fertile waters. 390 00:47:18,560 --> 00:47:23,440 These giants of the sea are treated with respect and reverence. 391 00:47:40,040 --> 00:47:46,080 In central Thailand, the giants of the forest are gaining freedom 392 00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:48,840 and ever more footholds in the wild. 393 00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:58,720 The little elephant family is learning to live on its own. 394 00:48:22,560 --> 00:48:26,720 Climbing a tall and slippery bank could be dangerous for Earn. 395 00:48:27,960 --> 00:48:29,560 But Wadsana shows her how, 396 00:48:29,760 --> 00:48:32,040 ascending the slope on her knees. 397 00:48:48,920 --> 00:48:51,720 It looks like Earn's going to be just fine. 398 00:48:57,080 --> 00:49:00,440 The rangers follow the elephants regularly, 399 00:49:00,640 --> 00:49:02,480 checking to make sure they are healthy 400 00:49:02,680 --> 00:49:05,480 and learning to feed themselves successfully. 401 00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:27,360 Annan will never come into close contact with them again. 402 00:49:27,560 --> 00:49:32,040 They'll now live out their lives in the forest as wild elephants. 403 00:49:55,320 --> 00:49:59,640 The Asian elephant is the enduring symbol of Thailand. 404 00:50:00,800 --> 00:50:05,200 At Sublangka, their breeding herd in the wild is also a symbol 405 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:08,960 of Thailand's transition from past to present. 406 00:50:10,120 --> 00:50:13,240 Making merit and earning goodwill from the gods, 407 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:16,520 means also renewing the forest. 408 00:50:28,320 --> 00:50:33,440 In the forests, fields, and even the cities of central Thailand, 409 00:50:33,640 --> 00:50:38,160 nature thrives, with the blessing and help of its people. 410 00:50:48,680 --> 00:50:53,120 Unique, spiritual and still untamed. 411 00:50:56,080 --> 00:51:01,400 The ancient bonds between humans and animals live on. 412 00:51:14,480 --> 00:51:18,800 During the filming of the central Thailand episode, 413 00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:20,640 the crew visited Sakaerat, 414 00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:24,040 a hot spot for conflict between humans and snakes. 415 00:51:27,840 --> 00:51:32,200 The one creature they really wanted to film was a very pretty snake 416 00:51:32,400 --> 00:51:34,160 with a very bad reputation. 417 00:51:38,480 --> 00:51:40,800 It's a snake that has been carefully studied 418 00:51:41,000 --> 00:51:44,600 here at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station. 419 00:51:44,800 --> 00:51:46,880 These will put you in hospital. 420 00:51:48,560 --> 00:51:52,360 Producer Steve Cole is introduced to the serpent in question 421 00:51:52,560 --> 00:51:54,880 by snake research assistant Ben Marshall. 422 00:51:55,080 --> 00:51:59,360 These guys are responsible for the vast majority of bites in Thailand. 423 00:51:59,560 --> 00:52:01,120 They are beautiful, aren't they? 424 00:52:01,320 --> 00:52:03,360 It's a green pit viper. 425 00:52:03,560 --> 00:52:05,400 How far would that snake strike? 426 00:52:05,600 --> 00:52:09,280 Is it a she? Would she expect me to be a lot closer before she... 427 00:52:09,480 --> 00:52:11,760 Yeah, much closer, and a lot more agitated. 428 00:52:11,960 --> 00:52:14,880 These guys are not going to waste their time, waste their venom, 429 00:52:15,080 --> 00:52:16,440 they will attempt to hide. 430 00:52:16,640 --> 00:52:19,440 They will attempt to just stay absolutely still. 431 00:52:19,640 --> 00:52:23,080 It sounds like the sort of snake we might have some hope of filming! 432 00:52:23,280 --> 00:52:25,080 Absolutely. Especially when you find one, 433 00:52:25,280 --> 00:52:27,080 cos he's not going to be going anywhere. 434 00:52:29,400 --> 00:52:34,120 Finding these creatures in the wild can be both difficult and dangerous. 435 00:52:35,440 --> 00:52:38,680 But, luckily for Steve, this team rescues and releases 436 00:52:38,880 --> 00:52:40,320 the types of venomous snake 437 00:52:40,520 --> 00:52:43,280 that most often come into conflict with people. 438 00:52:45,840 --> 00:52:47,520 Many of these are radio tagged 439 00:52:47,720 --> 00:52:50,880 to provide data on their habits and whereabouts. 440 00:52:51,080 --> 00:52:53,280 I keep thinking she, but I could be wrong. 441 00:52:53,480 --> 00:52:55,680 It's this inside info that Steve needs. 442 00:52:56,960 --> 00:53:01,400 And snake researcher Sammy Assad is here to guide the film team. 443 00:53:04,200 --> 00:53:08,360 Three tagged pit vipers have made this dry riverbed their home. 444 00:53:10,080 --> 00:53:14,040 They don't move around much, so they should be easy to find. 445 00:53:14,240 --> 00:53:15,760 That's the theory. 446 00:53:21,320 --> 00:53:24,960 Green pit vipers hunt under the cover of darkness. 447 00:53:27,200 --> 00:53:31,040 Sammy quickly picks up the signal of one of the transmitters. 448 00:53:37,400 --> 00:53:38,680 So, at the moment, 449 00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:41,280 it's sounding like he's just within the base 450 00:53:41,480 --> 00:53:43,880 of this, kind of, liana vegetation covered tree. 451 00:53:45,760 --> 00:53:47,920 I'd definitely be careful moving around here, 452 00:53:48,120 --> 00:53:50,960 cos there are lots of other green pit vipers in the area. 453 00:53:51,160 --> 00:53:52,840 So if you're going to walk around, 454 00:53:53,040 --> 00:53:54,720 make sure you've got a head torch on. 455 00:53:56,080 --> 00:54:00,040 After checking he's not about to have his very own snake conflict, 456 00:54:00,240 --> 00:54:03,360 cameraman Si Wagen sets up lights. 457 00:54:06,760 --> 00:54:08,880 I can see him now. 458 00:54:10,240 --> 00:54:11,120 Got him. 459 00:54:11,320 --> 00:54:13,240 Ah, fantastic! 460 00:54:15,320 --> 00:54:17,740 In this tangle of twigs and branches, 461 00:54:17,940 --> 00:54:20,360 you can just see his coils there. 462 00:54:20,560 --> 00:54:21,760 The scales. 463 00:54:21,960 --> 00:54:24,600 It's impossible to pick out his head at the moment. 464 00:54:26,080 --> 00:54:28,480 They just blend in so beautifully, 465 00:54:28,680 --> 00:54:32,520 it's almost impossible to see them in this tangle of leaves. 466 00:54:35,040 --> 00:54:36,360 But if he stays there, 467 00:54:36,560 --> 00:54:38,840 we won't be able to get a good shot of him. 468 00:54:40,800 --> 00:54:43,640 The pit viper showed no sign of moving, 469 00:54:43,840 --> 00:54:47,080 so the team come back to the same location the next night. 470 00:54:49,760 --> 00:54:52,560 They hope to find a more accessible snake. 471 00:54:56,480 --> 00:54:57,560 So... 472 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:02,560 It's amazing that our light doesn't bother him, 473 00:55:02,760 --> 00:55:05,060 but it seems like his method of defence 474 00:55:05,260 --> 00:55:07,560 is the same as his method of attack. 475 00:55:07,760 --> 00:55:09,520 Just keep very still. 476 00:55:11,480 --> 00:55:16,480 Now, they have seen for themselves how still pit vipers can be, 477 00:55:16,680 --> 00:55:20,080 they have an even more complicated shot in mind. 478 00:55:20,280 --> 00:55:24,720 We are going to try to get a motion-control camera shot. 479 00:55:26,200 --> 00:55:29,440 Motion control cameras run along small tracks, 480 00:55:29,640 --> 00:55:32,800 allowing smooth moves into a subject. 481 00:55:33,000 --> 00:55:36,560 In this case, Steve is hoping they can create the feel 482 00:55:36,760 --> 00:55:38,080 of a striking snake 483 00:55:38,280 --> 00:55:41,400 without the danger of an actual snake attack. 484 00:55:42,440 --> 00:55:45,880 I've no idea even if it's pointing in the right direction. 485 00:55:46,080 --> 00:55:47,480 No, it's not. 486 00:55:50,320 --> 00:55:52,160 It's trickier than we thought. 487 00:55:52,360 --> 00:55:54,780 I always thought it would be tricky! 488 00:55:54,980 --> 00:55:57,400 I, on the other hand, was an optimist. 489 00:55:57,600 --> 00:55:58,880 Wrongly so! 490 00:56:00,360 --> 00:56:03,680 The problem is, the focus has to be pin sharp 491 00:56:03,880 --> 00:56:05,800 at the closest point to the snake. 492 00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:07,720 I can't quite achieve focus there. 493 00:56:07,920 --> 00:56:12,600 And that means the camera is well inside the snake's striking range. 494 00:56:12,800 --> 00:56:14,920 I physically have to get closer to it. 495 00:56:31,680 --> 00:56:33,200 To get focus, 496 00:56:33,400 --> 00:56:36,000 I'm going to have to put my hand right next to its face. 497 00:56:36,200 --> 00:56:38,800 - You can't do that. - No. So I'm going to guess the focus. 498 00:56:39,000 --> 00:56:40,840 And then run it back and forwards 499 00:56:41,040 --> 00:56:44,680 until such time as we get the focus correct. 500 00:56:45,760 --> 00:56:49,680 OK, so... We're going to have to inch forward. 501 00:56:49,880 --> 00:56:53,600 Once Si has set the focus as close to the snake as possible, 502 00:56:53,800 --> 00:56:58,160 he has to stop the camera in exactly the right spot. 503 00:56:58,360 --> 00:57:01,280 I've got about 3mm to park this camera. 504 00:57:02,760 --> 00:57:05,920 The depth of field at point of focus is so shallow 505 00:57:06,120 --> 00:57:08,280 there's no margin for error. 506 00:57:14,840 --> 00:57:17,400 Right, Steve, here we go. 507 00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:24,880 Well, that's sharp. 508 00:57:25,080 --> 00:57:26,120 Spot on. 509 00:57:29,560 --> 00:57:32,240 I think that's about as close as we're going to get. 510 00:57:32,440 --> 00:57:35,440 It's closer than I thought we'd be able to get, 511 00:57:35,640 --> 00:57:37,200 and he's been very patient, 512 00:57:37,400 --> 00:57:40,200 so I think it's time for us to leave him alone now. 513 00:57:40,400 --> 00:57:43,200 He's also paying way too much attention me now. 514 00:57:44,520 --> 00:57:47,560 And I don't like that! He's only little, but he's scary. 515 00:57:50,440 --> 00:57:52,800 The team has got the shot. 516 00:57:53,000 --> 00:57:57,360 The green pit viper finds a less busy place to hunt, 517 00:57:57,560 --> 00:57:59,120 and speeded up, 518 00:57:59,320 --> 00:58:01,920 the shot is suitably striking. 519 00:58:07,080 --> 00:58:11,440 Next time, we head to Thailand's untamed north, 520 00:58:11,640 --> 00:58:16,160 where mysterious cloud forests are home to ancient customs. 521 00:58:17,160 --> 00:58:19,760 Here, life can be tough. 522 00:58:19,960 --> 00:58:23,960 And survival means forging unexpected alliances. 523 00:58:27,400 --> 00:58:28,720 Both old... 524 00:58:29,880 --> 00:58:31,160 ..and new.