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00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:25,319
Russia: Massive mountains with
Peaks well over 5,000 meters -

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00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:30,679
- characterize the southwest
the largest country in the world.

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00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,319
Impassable and wild.

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00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,719
Home to rare animals.

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00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,639
Tropical-looking birds live here.

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00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,399
And the last mountain bison
of the world. The Caucasus.

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00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,599
On the border between
Europe and Asia, -

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00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,519
- between the Black Sea
and the Caspian Sea:

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00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,279
The snow-capped mountains
pushes up there.

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00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:19,279
The mountains of the Caucasus range
is over 1,000 kilometers.

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00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:21,479
From West to East.

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00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,799
The area is almost 1.5 times larger
like Germany.

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00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,879
Here are Russia's highest
and lowest point.

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00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,919
The northern part of the mountains
belongs to Russia.

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00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,359
The so-called "Greater Caucasus".

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00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,759
The highest mountain is "Elbrus"
with 5,642 meters.

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00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,399
If you count the Caucasus
to Europe, -

18
00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,279
- it is the highest mountain
of the continent.

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00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:09,559
Over 8OO meters higher than
the "Mont Blanc" in the Alps.

20
00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,719
The rare Caucasian ibex
is also called "Tur".

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00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:21,239
He lives under
the snow-capped peaks.

22
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,519
ln heights between
8OO and 4.2OO meters.

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00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,799
On steep slopes and rocky cliffs.

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00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,359
The males form
own small groups.

25
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,839
Separated from females
and young animals.

26
00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,879
They graze the mountain pastures.

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00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,799
The massive bucks
weigh over 100 kilos.

28
00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,079
They have impressive horns.

29
00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,159
They are 75 centimeters long.

30
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,719
The bucks begin in late fall
to measure their strengths.

31
00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,999
The mating season will soon begin.

32
00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:44,559
Only the strongest and highest ranked
Males will reproduce.

33
00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,519
Rugged peaks, huge forests,
remote high valleys:

34
00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,159
They make the Caucasus -

35
00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:15,079
- one of the most species-rich
areas of the earth.

36
00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:20,999
Biodiversity is based on
the diversity of landscapes.

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00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,839
There are more than in the Caucasus
6.5OO plant species.

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00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,999
There's a quarter of it only here.

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00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,759
A deer with her calf.

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00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,119
The cub is first
a few weeks old.

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00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,759
Hinds usually bring
only one cub was born.

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00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:08,399
The calves are through her
spotted juvenile plumage well camouflaged.

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00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,719
(The lynx calls)

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00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,479
The call of the lynx
worries the calf.

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00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,439
The big cat won't move
approach the young animal.

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00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,439
As long as the mother is near.

47
00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:30,719
The lynx is a solitary hunter.

48
00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:38,199
It usually only preys on young ones
or sick red deer.

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00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,519
The cat with the eye-catching ones
Brush-eared is not hunting.

50
00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,879
She's on her way
to their own offspring.

51
00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:01,039
He is still so young that he
is almost exclusively supplied with milk.

52
00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,879
The little ones are around 8 weeks old.

53
00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,039
They are already testing their strength.

54
00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:20,839
The harmless brawls practice
the muscles for later life.

55
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,719
Only the females care
with lynxes about the offspring.

56
00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:38,719
The single mothers
are in operation around the clock.

57
00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,039
Playing makes you hungry.

58
00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,879
The boys fill up greedily
their stomachs with milk.

59
00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:13,679
Towering tall perennials are typical
for the vegetation of the Caucasus.

60
00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,239
Zamudin Guchev is here
on the search.

61
00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,959
He belongs to the group of "Adygians".

62
00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,759
One of 8O peoples
in the Caucasus.

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00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,439
The object of his desire:

64
00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,079
The giant hogweed.

65
00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:41,079
The plant is often over 3 meters high
became a plague for us.

66
00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,279
It overgrows everything.

67
00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,879
Their poisonous milky juice destroys
the UV protection of the skin.

68
00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,839
This is their home.
Zamudin Guchev knows:

69
00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,719
The dried plant is suitable
good for making flutes.

70
00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,519
The traditional music -

71
00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,959
- the Adygen threatens
to be forgotten.

72
00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,279
Only 1OO,OOO people left -

73
00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,719
- the ethnic group live
on the northern edge of the mountains.

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00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,999
Morning mood on the massif
the Greater Caucasus.

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00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:53,799
There is in the Kavkazsky National Park
a special treasure:

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00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,439
Mountain bison.

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00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,519
An extremely rare sight.

78
00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,399
The old bison bull
is a ton heavy.

79
00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:09,239
The cops are most of the time
traveling as a loner.

80
00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:15,959
The Caucasus has always been
the home of the mountain bison.

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00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,719
But the last wild animal
was shot in 1927.

82
00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,639
There were back breedings and
Reintroductions into the wild.

83
00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,159
That secured her comeback.

84
00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:33,119
The inventory still fluctuates greatly
and is endangered by poaching.

85
00:09:55,280 --> 00:10:00,679
mountain flower meadows
the image of the High Caucasus.

86
00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,879
Many species are known
only from gardens.

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00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,519
checkerboard flower.

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00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,159
And gentian.

89
00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,319
Rhododendrons.

90
00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,199
The Caucasus is also bear country.

91
00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:38,999
A Syrian brown bear.

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00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:45,079
His light brown fur and the
small body size distinguishes -

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00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,919
- him clearly
other brown bears.

94
00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:54,439
The animals spend the summer
preferably above the tree line.

95
00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:59,439
Their territories can be up to
1,000 square kilometers in size.

96
00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,679
Your original habitat
extends -

97
00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,799
- from the Caucasus to the Middle East.

98
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,679
They are everywhere today
become rare.

99
00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:17,679
The inaccessible Caucasus is
one of their last retreats.

100
00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:29,439
A flock of Tur females with young
comes threateningly close to the bears.

101
00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:41,039
The attackers have the door
discovered long ago in open areas.

102
00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:45,479
They are also too fast.

103
00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,759
Bears can't do them
become dangerous.

104
00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,399
Large groups of females -

105
00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,159
- move through the highlands in summer.

106
00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,799
Always looking for
the best pastures.

107
00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:10,079
You need next to grasses
and herbs also minerals.

108
00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,919
That's why the animals gather
at so-called “salt licks”.

109
00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:23,519
They move to the last ones in the fall
snow-free steep slopes.

110
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,719
Around the dry grass
to be grazed.

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00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:58,599
The Caucasus is a mountain range
the superlatives.

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00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:04,119
More than 12 peaks are higher
as the highest mountain in the Alps.

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00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:09,599
The double peak of Elbrus
towers over all mountain ranges.

114
00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,399
He will too
"Throne of the Gods" -

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00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,359
- and called "King of Spirits".

116
00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:21,359
The kingdom of the Caucasus chamois
is just a little deeper.

117
00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:29,439
Animals related to goats
are adapted to life at altitude.

118
00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,799
Your lungs are significantly larger -

119
00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,439
- than those of their cousins
in the lowlands.

120
00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:44,399
The Caucasus chamois is through
Poaching now endangered.

121
00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:50,879
She has become the most inaccessible
Regions of the mountains retreated.

122
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:14,159
The mountains of the Western Caucasus are one
the rainiest regions in Europe.

123
00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,079
Up to 4,000 millimeters of precipitation
per year.

124
00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,639
That's 5 times as much
like in Hamburg.

125
00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:32,239
Armies of clouds gather
on the southwest flank of the mountains.

126
00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,479
They race towards the peaks.

127
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:46,479
They rain down in their attempt
to overcome the barrier.

128
00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,359
And they are getting smaller and smaller
and lighter.

129
00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,879
Only a fraction
of precipitation -

130
00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,919
- reaches the other side
of the mountains.

131
00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,599
The northeast of the Caucasus.

132
00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:22,959
His landscapes show this
a completely different face.

133
00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:32,399
Bizarre rock towers, rather
reminiscent of the “Wild West”.

134
00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,399
The wide sky belongs to the vultures.

135
00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,239
Griffon vultures nest in
a steep rock face.

136
00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:57,079
The female rarely leaves
his only chick.

137
00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,279
The male brings
the family food.

138
00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,919
It's his job.

139
00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:13,199
An adult vulture eats
up to five kilos of carrion.

140
00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,719
With just one meal.

141
00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:22,039
The male is almost without one
Stop looking for food.

142
00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:30,359
Meanwhile, the female protects
his young from the hot sun.

143
00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:32,559
It gives him shade.

144
00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,999
The Levant Otters,
a poisonous snake.

145
00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,159
She eats mammals,
reptiles and birds.

146
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,879
The vulture chick must
not fear them.

147
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,879
As long as his mother is vigilant.

148
00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,239
The Levant Otter is
the largest viper in Europe.

149
00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,599
It can reach up to two meters
become long.

150
00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:06,679
Dagestan is a pastoral country.

151
00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:11,279
The Russian Republic is located
in the slipstream -

152
00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,359
- the peak of the Greater Caucasus.

153
00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:23,439
The shepherds have huge flocks.

154
00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:27,799
They move over with them
Hills and plateaus.

155
00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,119
Like it has for thousands of years.

156
00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:38,599
The higher summer pastures
are their goal.

157
00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,879
They still provide food,
when everything withers further down.

158
00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:50,759
The herds are moving in
a city made of clay.

159
00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,079
Bee-eaters nest here.

160
00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:58,519
They have nesting holes in them
dug a steep wall.

161
00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:04,039
The magnificent birds are straight
returned from Africa.

162
00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,359
They begin courtship.

163
00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,119
The male has a bee
or wasp captured.

164
00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,319
It beats the insect
against a branch.

165
00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,079
As long as it takes
loses its poisonous stinger.

166
00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:32,399
A gift without "evil
Surprise" for the chosen one.

167
00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,479
Choose bee-eaters
her partner every spring.

168
00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:45,599
To share with him
to raise the young.

169
00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:55,999
He is only allowed to approach her if
she accepts his bridal gift.

170
00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:14,999
The mating is over.

171
00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:19,719
The two already have each other
previously built a home.

172
00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:23,439
They have dug a breeding tube.

173
00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:26,359
A Caucasus dragon.

174
00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,279
She uses the cracks in the rock
as shelter.

175
00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:36,439
She usually only comes outdoors,
to warm up. Or for hunting.

176
00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,919
The huge shifting dune
from Sarykum.

177
00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:08,359
She rises like one
small Sahara in eastern Dagestan.

178
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,959
The top of the dune is
over 260 meters high.

179
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:25,559
A very special living space
with very own residents.

180
00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:33,959
A long-eared hedgehog.

181
00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,559
He is a nocturnal animal.

182
00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:42,999
He takes advantage of the cool morning hours,
to go hunting.

183
00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:49,799
The ears reach a length
of up to four centimeters.

184
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,519
They are not just for listening.

185
00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:57,599
The angel regulates them
also his body temperature.

186
00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,999
Ear gels are thanks to the
long legs very quickly.

187
00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:07,359
They lay during raids
up to 8 kilometers back.

188
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,239
Above all, they feed themselves
of insects.

189
00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:13,719
They are desert specialists.

190
00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:17,999
The lions survive
several weeks without water.

191
00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,439
But they survive without food
just a few days.

192
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,239
The temperatures are rising
in the morning.

193
00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:57,639
The ear bud then stretches
back into self-dug buildings.

194
00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:03,999
The earth tubes are barely enough
one meter in depth.

195
00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:10,559
The huge dune has people
the region has always fascinated.

196
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,359
"Sarykum" means "golden sand".

197
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,439
In the language of the Tartars.

198
00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:23,159
Toad's head agamas inhabit
steppe and desert areas.

199
00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,039
From the Sahara to Tibet.

200
00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,039
They are masters of disguise.

201
00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,119
Others are hunting.

202
00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:43,919
The dragon then dives.

203
00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,799
The toadhead dragon
at the “belly dance”.

204
00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,039
Nobody can do that better than her.

205
00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,359
We leave the plains of Dagestan.

206
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:19,279
We return to the mountains
the Greater Caucasus.

207
00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:48,239
Covering over 2,000 glaciers
the highlands of the Caucasus.

208
00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,919
Most are
in the western and -

209
00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:54,839
- central part of the mountains.

210
00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,159
Global warming leaves
these glaciers are shrinking.

211
00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:02,679
But there are still giants.

212
00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:07,839
The largest is in the
Kabardino Balkarsky protected area.

213
00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:13,519
The glacier tongue begins at the
Bezengi Wall, a rock face.

214
00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,759
It extends 13 kilometers into the valley.

215
00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:40,319
The fresh antlers of the red deer
rise up in the valleys.

216
00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,759
They are not fully grown yet.

217
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,999
And covered with velvet raffia.

218
00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,999
The calves are already there
grown properly.

219
00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:03,079
But they give way to their mothers
only rarely from the side.

220
00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:08,759
A bear!

221
00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,439
He has the small group in his sights.

222
00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,919
But bears rarely hunt red deer.

223
00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:19,839
Defend hinds
her calves energetic.

224
00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,479
With powerful kicks.

225
00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:33,279
The deer have
scented the bear.

226
00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:43,479
So the brown bears have to
make do with vegetarian food.

227
00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,079
Most of their food
is vegetarian.

228
00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,679
Another hunter was successful.

229
00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:04,679
The mother lynx.

230
00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,759
She killed a deer calf.

231
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,399
For their boys.

232
00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,679
The little ones are
about five months old.

233
00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,079
They just become
rarely suckled.

234
00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:27,839
The lynx cubs begin
after a few weeks, -

235
00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,879
- to eat the mother's prey.

236
00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:38,679
Lynxes eat per meal
up to 2.5 kilos of meat.

237
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,519
When they are fully grown.

238
00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:50,119
The boys can't speak yet
take care of yourself.

239
00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:56,599
They'll see you next time
Stay with mother in spring.

240
00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:01,559
Only then do you try
to find your own territory.

241
00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,759
The family is coming tomorrow
back to her crack.

242
00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:20,199
The lynx camouflages itself until then
the prey under branches and leaves.

243
00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:36,039
It's quite spectacular, one
single mountain bison can be seen.

244
00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:42,039
It's a sensation, a complete one
To see a herd of shy animals.

245
00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,559
These film recordings are
so far unique.

246
00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:52,359
Forming the bison of the Caucasus
Herds of up to 80 animals.

247
00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,919
You hike over 40 kilometers
a day.

248
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:04,919
There was one in the 1930s
Reintroduction of bison.

249
00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:09,999
After that there were almost 1,500 of them
Wild cattle in the Western Caucasus.

250
00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:16,239
There are so many nowhere else
Bison in the wild.

251
00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:22,319
The animals are perfect
adapted to life in nature.

252
00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:30,279
A handsome bull
prepares his dust bath.

253
00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,999
He marks the wallow with urine.

254
00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:45,999
He spreads his own scent
like that all over the body.

255
00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,399
A perfume that women love.

256
00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:06,959
The return of the mountain bison
is a story -

257
00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,879
- with ups and downs.
Poaching increased sharply -

258
00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,279
- after the end of the Soviet Union.

259
00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,879
The stock is back
collapsed.

260
00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,599
Only about 2OO animals
escaped the bullets.

261
00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,959
There are again today
about 44O mountain bison.

262
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:39,239
They move over the plateaus
in the northwest of the Caucasus.

263
00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:06,319
Rapid weather changes,
large amounts of rain -

264
00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,679
- and spontaneous winter outbreaks.

265
00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,919
They are typical of the Caucasus.

266
00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:19,599
It can even in summer
snow at higher altitudes.

267
00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,199
Snow depths of up to 12 meters.

268
00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:30,119
The Caucasus is considered one of the
snowiest mountains on earth.

269
00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:36,519
And it is one of the most dangerous
mountains of the earth.

270
00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,079
Through the extremes
Weather conditions.

271
00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:31,639
Huge avalanches are racing
down the slopes all year round.

272
00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,599
They are particularly common
at the end of winter.

273
00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,479
Far away from the snow-capped peaks.

274
00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,359
In the shadow of the Sarykum Dune
in Dagestan.

275
00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:05,679
The climate is milder here.

276
00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:14,639
Enjoy Moorish tortoises
the warming rays of the sun.

277
00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:21,079
They enjoy
the flowering meadows.

278
00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:23,719
In their own way.

279
00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,359
The males begin
with courtship.

280
00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:42,639
Right after the winter torpor,
Mid-February to early May.

281
00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,279
Ecstasy the turtle way.

282
00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:06,119
A successful pairing
enough for several clutches.

283
00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:11,399
The gratitude of the turtle lady
is within limits.

284
00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:27,879
The vast steppes of the Caspian
Depression north of the Caucasus.

285
00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:32,879
This is where it lies
lowest point in Russia:

286
00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:36,159
Almost 30 meters below
the sea level.

287
00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,159
An endless sea of ​​grass.

288
00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:44,879
An animal lives here
like from another world.

289
00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:48,039
Bizarre skulls show the way.

290
00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:51,479
Saigas.

291
00:33:55,160 --> 00:34:00,439
Striking feature of this one
Antelope is their strange trunk.

292
00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:03,519
It warms you in winter
the icy air.

293
00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:08,439
Saigas once migrated in huge numbers
Herds across the steppes -

294
00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,279
- on the northern edge of the Caucasus.

295
00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,079
They are threatened with extinction.

296
00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:16,959
Especially the bucks
are hunted.

297
00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,759
Your horns are
sought after as a sexual enhancer.

298
00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,959
Saigas are now
protected in Russia.

299
00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,999
Hunting them is forbidden.

300
00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:38,439
Whether the stocks will recover again,
however, remains uncertain.

301
00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:02,519
A sandstorm is coming.

302
00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:05,279
High time, -

303
00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,479
- to get to safety.

304
00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:13,999
The dragon leaves again
at diving station.

305
00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,639
Others prefer to keep their heads down.

306
00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:36,159
The little headband dwarf snake
sought cover in time,

307
00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:39,279
before the sand swallows everything.

308
00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:02,639
(bees buzz loudly)

309
00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:08,399
Spring in the Kaspi Depression.
The steppe is transforming -

310
00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:10,999
- in a sea of pink flowers.

311
00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,879
The earache is back
on the hunt.

312
00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,799
This time he got one
particularly large chunks selected:

313
00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:25,879
a poisonous centipede.

314
00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:41,519
The fearless little fighter
overwhelms his victim.

315
00:36:44,720 --> 00:36:49,199
The angel has to get away from the claws
Be careful of the centipede.

316
00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:55,359
Their powerful poison can even affect humans
cause slight symptoms of paralysis.

317
00:37:01,720 --> 00:37:06,719
The dragon on its sunny spot
remains unimpressed by all of this.

318
00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:15,799
A pair of maiden cranes
are nearby.

319
00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:19,359
These birds are graceful.

320
00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:23,839
They are the smallest ones
the crane family.

321
00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:28,519
They come here for their
to raise offspring.

322
00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:32,439
Maiden cranes usually have
two chicks.

323
00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:36,359
It is over 30 degrees Celsius.

324
00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:41,439
The little ones try
to walk in the shadow of their parents.

325
00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:46,959
Maiden cranes are migratory birds.
They fly in late summer.

326
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:51,399
Their winter quarters
are far away in Sudan.

327
00:37:55,240 --> 00:37:59,439
The Caspian Sea is
the largest inland lake in the world.

328
00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:04,799
It has an area
the size of Germany.

329
00:38:06,720 --> 00:38:11,879
There is a Scheltopusik on the bank.
It grows up to one meter long.

330
00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:15,839
The Russian name
means "yellow-bellied".

331
00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:21,199
The reptile looks
like a snake.

332
00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:25,319
But it is more like
related to lizards.

333
00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:28,039
His legs have regressed.

334
00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:36,359
A landscape like on
another planet.

335
00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:43,199
Over 3OO mud volcanoes bubble
near the Caspian Sea.

336
00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:52,239
The chimneys emit a mixture
Sound, water and gases.

337
00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:54,879
Especially methane.

338
00:38:56,240 --> 00:39:02,599
Mud volcanoes are located along
of fractures in the earth's crust.

339
00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:07,359
The western shore of the Caspian Sea
is such a zone.

340
00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:14,239
A primal being lives in him:
the sturgeon, a sought-after supplier of caviar.

341
00:39:14,440 --> 00:39:17,519
The living fossil
is highly endangered.

342
00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:24,279
People were still here in the 1970s
more than 10,000 tons into the network.

343
00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:29,159
Today only a few thousand.
And the inventory is decreasing.

344
00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:31,879
Sturgeons live to be 150 years old.

345
00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:34,919
True Methuselahs.

346
00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:39,199
The bulging mouth
can be pushed forward.

347
00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:43,479
The barbels serve
searching for food on the ground.

348
00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:50,039
The future of this peculiar
Pisces is uncertain.

349
00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:55,319
Another rare animal species lives -

350
00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:58,999
- here in the reed belt.
Extremely shy.

351
00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:03,439
And hardly filmed so far:
the cane cat.

352
00:40:04,080 --> 00:40:08,959
Because of their habitat
and the black ear brush -

353
00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:12,479
- she will too
Called "swamp lynx".

354
00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:17,839
But she is closer with wild cats
related than to lynxes.

355
00:40:24,440 --> 00:40:28,399
The attentive huntress
discovered a quail.

356
00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:38,319
She sneaks up carefully.

357
00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:53,239
Unlucky.

358
00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:59,719
Formation flight in front of those with snow
covered peaks of the Caucasus.

359
00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:03,519
A massive swarm
of little bustards.

360
00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:40,399
It is in the high mountains
it has now become winter.

361
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,199
It's rutting season
in the bezoar goats.

362
00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:47,799
The animals are extreme climbers.

363
00:41:48,440 --> 00:41:53,079
They live in special
inaccessible parts of the mountains.

364
00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:56,679
It's a wild form
the domestic goat.

365
00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:01,519
The Caucasus is hers
northernmost distribution area.

366
00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:05,439
Starts at the end of November
the rutting season.

367
00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:10,519
The bucks are closing in
female and the young.

368
00:42:10,720 --> 00:42:14,519
This is how herds are formed
with several dozen animals.

369
00:42:14,720 --> 00:42:18,759
The females will
driven into a rutting arena.

370
00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:26,039
Ready to mate or not?

371
00:42:26,240 --> 00:42:30,039
The males leave
for this on her nose.

372
00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:33,559
But not everyone
comes into play.

373
00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:44,599
A handsome goat has arrived
watched the goings-on long enough.

374
00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,559
He's mixing now
among the herd.

375
00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:51,919
He is the highest ranking male.

376
00:42:55,720 --> 00:43:01,159
He alone has the privilege
to mate with most females.

377
00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:13,319
The gestation period is short
half a year.

378
00:43:13,960 --> 00:43:19,559
The small bezoar goats are in the
to be born next spring.

379
00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:36,279
The snow-capped peaks
of the Caucasus.

380
00:43:36,920 --> 00:43:42,159
One of the last unknown ones
Natural landscapes of our earth.

381
00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:46,279
Hardly any offers
other high mountains -

382
00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:51,839
- so many animal and plant species
a living space.

383
00:43:54,840 --> 00:43:58,239
Russia's mightiest mountains -