All language subtitles for Siberian Tiger Quest PBS Nature S31E01 EN SUB_Subtitles01.ENG

Narrator: IN AN ANCIENT
RUSSIAN FOREST,

WHERE LITTLE LIFE
SEEMS TO STIR,

ONE MAN FILMED ITS MOST FABLED
RESIDENT FOR THE FIRST TIME --

THE WILD SIBERIAN TIGER.

IT'S AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT TOOK
YEARS OF WATCHING AND WAITING

WHILE LIVING IN A HOLE IN
THE GROUND FOR MONTHS AT A TIME.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN TIMES

WHEN HE WAS ON THE EDGE OF
INSANITY, I'M SURE.

HIS STORY IS ONE OF ENDURANCE
AND ISOLATION.

BUT THE RETURN ON THIS HARDSHIP
IS HIS UNPARALLELED FOOTAGE OF

THREE GENERATIONS
OF A TIGER FAMILY.

NOW I'M EMBARKING ON
MY OWN TIGER ODYSSEY

WITH THIS REMARKABLE MAN
AS MY MENTOR.

THE JOURNEY ISN'T
WITHOUT RISKS...

[ BANG ]
GUNSHOT.

BUT DISCOVERY
IS ITS OWN REWARD...

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
BELIEVE THIS.

AT THE FAR EDGE OF
RUSSIA'S WILDERNESS.

Narrator: IN 2005,

KOREAN FILMMAKER
SOOYONG PARK

EMERGED FROM
RUSSIA'S FROZEN FORESTS,

THE FIRST MAN TO FILM FAMILIES
OF SIBERIAN TIGERS IN THE WILD.

HE WENT THROUGH YEARS OF
LONELINESS AND DANGER,

STALKING A PREDATOR,

ONE OF THE RAREST CATS
ON EARTH.

PARK WAS PREPARED TO INVEST
MORE OF HIS LIFE

THAN ANYONE BEFORE HIM.

HE CAPTURED FOOTAGE OF
THE ANIMALS

THAT HAUNTED
THE SEEMINGLY EMPTY FOREST.

PARK LEARNED TO
UNCOVER THE TIGERS,

NOT FABLED WHITE,
BUT CAMOUFLAGED BY

COATS THE COLOR OF FLAMES.

HIS LEGACY IS A UNIQUE RECORD OF
OVER 1,000 HOURS OF TIGER LIFE.

A LAND OF BEARS AND POACHERS --

A LAWLESS FRONTIER

AND TIGER COUNTRY.

THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST...

IT FEELS LIKE
THE EDGE OF THE WORLD.

I'M CHRIS MORGAN,
AN ECOLOGIST.

I'VE COME TO A UNIQUE PART

OF THIS VAST WILDERNESS.

I'M HERE TO UNCOVER
AN AMAZING STORY

OF ENDURANCE AND ISOLATION

IN A HIDDEN CORNER
OF RUSSIA.

I LIVE AND WORK IN THE USA.

THERE WE HAVE MANY OF
THE ANIMALS IN THESE FORESTS,

LIKE BEARS AND WOLVES.

ONLY HERE,
IN THIS PART OF RUSSIA,

THEY ROAM THE SAME WOODS
AS TIGERS AND LEOPARDS.

THE TIGERS HERE
ARE REALLY HARD TO SEE.

THEY ROAM GREAT DISTANCES --

UP TO TEN TIMES FURTHER THAN
THEIR TROPICAL COUSINS,

BECAUSE PREY,

LIKE DEER
AND WILD BOAR,

ARE FEW
AND FAR BETWEEN.

EVERYTHING IS NERVOUS,
FROM BIRDS TO PEOPLE --

ALL POTENTIAL
TIGER PREY.

THIS FOREST FEELS MAGICAL,

FULL OF
EXTRAORDINARY SIGHTS

LIKE THESE GIANT NESTS
OF BROKEN BRANCHES.

I'VE SEEN A FEW OF THESE
IN THE FOREST,

AND WHEN YOU INITIALLY
LOOK AT THEM

YOU THINK THAT
THEY'RE BIRDS' NESTS,

BUT THESE ARE ACTUALLY
BEAR NESTS.

BACK IN THE U.S.,

THE BLACK BEARS I STUDY
ARE THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

WHEN THERE ARE TIGERS
IN THE WOODS,

BEARS ARE ON THE MENU.

I'M ONLY SPENDING
A FEW WEEKS HERE --

PARK STAYED
FOR MONTHS AT A TIME.

I HAVE BEEN WARNED
I MAY NEVER SEE A TIGER.

I NEED SOMEWHERE
TO SET UP A HIDE.

WE'VE BUILT THIS TREE STAND,

AND I'M GOING TO TRY
AND SPEND SOME TIME UP HERE

AND REALLY GET A SENSE OF
WHAT PARK WENT THROUGH

WHEN HE SPENT ALL THOSE
CONSECUTIVE MONTHS

LOOKING AND WAITING
FOR TIGERS TO APPEAR.

I THINK IT'S QUITE A BIT BIGGER
THAN THE ONE THAT HE USED,

BUT WE'VE PICKED A NICE SPOT

OVERLOOKING THIS
FROZEN RIVERBED.

[ LAUGHS ]
IT'S BIG.

THE PLATFORM DOESN'T OFFER
MUCH PROTECTION,

BUT MIGHT KEEP ME
OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

THE NIGHT BELONGS TO OTHERS...

[ ANIMAL HOWLING ]

WOLVES,

BEARS, AND TIGERS.

MY WHOLE MOTIVATION
FOR BEING HERE

IS I LOVE LARGE
CARNIVORES.

AND I LOVE THINKING ABOUT
THEIR WILD LIVES

AND WHAT THEY NEED.

AND IN A FOREST LIKE THIS,
THERE IS NOTHING MORE EXTREME.

MOST OF MY TIME I SPEND
STUDYING BEARS,

BUT ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF WOLVES
AND A LITTLE BIT OF COUGARS.

SO I KNOW MY
NORTH AMERICAN CARNIVORES,

BUT THAT'S WHERE
THE SIMILARITIES END --

THIS FOREST HAS ALL KINDS OF
INCREDIBLY EXOTIC SPECIES IN IT,

INCLUDING THE TIGER.

AND THAT'S WHERE
I'M OUT OF MY ELEMENT

A LITTLE BIT,
BUT I LOVE THAT.

TO SUCCEED
WHERE ALL OTHERS FAILED,

SOOYONG PARK WENT TO
NEW EXTREMES.

THE EVIDENCE
IS IN HIS FOOTAGE.

HE LEFT HIS WIFE
AND CHILDREN IN KOREA

AND DUG A FOUR-FOOT
HOLE IN THE GROUND.

OVER FIVE YEARS,
HE WAITED AND WATCHED,

STAYING INSIDE FOR MONTHS --
HE NEVER LEFT

EVEN TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

THE TIGERS WOULD REVEAL
THEMSELVES BRIEFLY,

THEN DISAPPEAR.

AGAIN HE WOULD WAIT,
AND WAIT.

EVENTUALLY, HE CAUGHT THE UNSEEN
LIFE IN THESE BARREN FORESTS ---

HE FILMED LYNX...

SABLES...

WOODPECKERS...

AND RACCOON DOGS.

BUT IT IS HIS INTIMATE IMAGES
OF TIGERS THAT ARE UNIQUE.

HE DIDN'T JUST GRAB ODD SHOTS.

HE GOT TO KNOW INDIVIDUALS
AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HE GAVE THEM NAMES
FROM FAIRYTALES --

SNOW WHITE,
HANSEL AND GRETEL.

HIS CAMERAS WERE PRIMITIVE.

BUT HIS FOOTAGE OF A MOTHER
AND CUBS JUST INCHES AWAY

IS UNPARALLELED.

I UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE MIGHT
DEDICATE THEIR LIFE TO ANIMALS,

BUT PARK TOOK IT TO
ASTONISHING LIMITS.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE
THINGS ABOUT PARK

IS NOT JUST
THE FACT

THAT HE WOULD SIT FOR MONTHS
IN A HIDE ON HIS OWN

WAITING FOR TIGERS TO COME BY,

BUT THAT HE WOULD SIT
SOMETIMES FOR MONTHS

BEFORE THE FIRST TIGER
EVEN SHOWED UP.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN TIMES

WHEN HE WAS ON THE EDGE
OF INSANITY, I'M SURE.

ANY HUMAN WOULD BE.

I THOUGHT I HAD SEEN TIGERS

IN THE SNOW
ON FILM BEFORE,

BUT THE TRUTH IS

THEY WERE ALMOST CERTAINLY
FILMED IN CAPTIVITY.

THERE ARE MORE TIGERS
IN CAGES

THAN THERE ARE
LEFT IN THE WILD.

THE TIGERS IN THE YARD
OF THIS RUSSIAN HOME,

HAVE BEEN FILMED
COUNTLESS TIMES --

TIGERS FOR HIRE FOR
A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY.

THESE ARE SHADOWS OF THEIR
WILD BROTHERS,

BUT TIGERS ARE STILL
AWESOME PREDATORS.

SOME OF THESE CATS
EAT BEARS FOR A LIVING --

PRETTY DARNED
IMPRESSIVE CARNIVORES.

I'VE COME TO FIND OUT

WHY IT'S SO HARD TO SEE THEM
IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT.

YOU'D THINK THAT
AN ORANGE CAT LIKE THAT

WOULD STAND OUT LIKE A SORE
THUMB ON THIS WHITE BACKDROP,

BUT THEN YOU SEE THESE
ORANGE LEAVES

THAT ARE ALL PARTLY ON THE TREES
AND MOSTLY ON THE GROUND,

AND IT JUST
BLENDS IN PERFECTLY.

INCREDIBLE.

UNEXPECTED, ACTUALLY.

PARK NEVER CAME TO THIS
ODD ENCLOSURE

AT THE EDGE OF
THE WOODS.

HE FILMED IN THE WILD.

MAKES ME APPRECIATE HIS WORK
EVEN MORE.

SIBERIAN TIGERS'
TERRITORIES ARE VAST.

THEY CAN COVER OVER
1,000 MILES.

THE TERRAIN IS TOUGH.

WHERE WOULD I BEGIN TO LOOK?

LUCKILY I HAVE
THE PERFECT GUIDE...

SO, PARK.

AH!

Morgan:
PARK HIMSELF.

CHRIS MORGAN.
PARK.

[ SPEAKING KOREAN ]

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Morgan:
GOOD TO MEET YOU TOO, YEAH.

HE WILL BE MY MENTOR
FOR A SHORT TIME.

WHEN HE LEAVES, I'LL LOOK FOR
TIGERS BY MYSELF.

WE'RE HEADING BACK TO
THE FORESTS WHERE PARK WORKED,

TO THE WOODS HE CALLED HOME
FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

PARK'S PREPARATION FOR A LIFE IN
THE WILD IS UNCONVENTIONAL --

UNTIL 17 YEARS AGO,
HE STUDIED LITERATURE.

THEN KOREAN EDUCATIONAL TV SENT
HIM TO THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST.

PARK IS COMING BACK
TO SHARE HIS STORY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
OH, MY GOD.

BIG? IS IT?

BIGGER THAN YOURS?

I KNOW, I KNOW.
BUT I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD,

IT'S QUITE CAMOUFLAGED.

WHEN YOU WERE IN
YOUR HIDE,

WHAT DID YOU EAT?

300 BAGS OF RICE?

AND THAT WAS IT,
THIS IS ALL YOU ATE?

A TOILET?
OKAY, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU DO
FOR A TOILET?

[ BOTH LAUGHING ]

I'M SO INTRIGUED.

YEAH, PAPER.

YES, PLASTIC BAGS.

YEAH, HOPEFULLY NOT THE ONE
WITH THE NUTS IN IT.

WHAT WAS THE TEMPERATURE,
WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

MINUS 30?
WOW.

THAT'S BEYOND WHAT I CAN
COMPREHEND, ACTUALLY --

EVERYTHING, THE BASIC FOOD,
THE TEMPERATURE,

THE PATIENCE,
THE ENDLESS WEEKS.

IT'S ALMOST
UNBELIEVABLE.

AT THESE TEMPERATURES,

YOUR EYELIDS CAN FREEZE SHUT
IN YOUR SLEEP.

PARK ENDURED THESE
DEBILITATING TEMPERATURES

FOR MONTHS, WITHOUT LEAVING
HIS FOUR-FOOT WORLD.

WHEN HE EMERGED,
HIS MUSCLES HAD WASTED --

HE COULD BARELY WALK.

PARK DOESN'T JUST THINK
MY PLATFORM IS TOO BIG --

HE'S NOT SURE IT'S IN
THE RIGHT PLACE, EITHER.

LIKE PARK, BEFORE HE PICKED
HIS HIDING SPOTS,

I HAVE TO BE CERTAIN TIGERS
ARE IN THE AREA...

AH, YES!

Morgan: I KNOW
HOW TO TRACK PREDATORS.

BACK IN THE U.S.,
I AM REGULARLY

ON THE TRAIL OF BEARS
AND WOLVES.

FINDING SIGNS OF TIGERS

IS DIFFERENT,
THE FACTS ARE STARK --

ONLY 400 SIBERIAN TIGERS
IN AN AREA

THE SIZE OF MY HOME STATE
OF WASHINGTON.

20 TO 30 OF THEM
POACHED EVERY YEAR,

WORTH $50,000 DEAD --
IF YOU CAN FIND ONE.

PARK IS GOING TO SHOW ME HOW.

CAN YOU SMELL IT?

OH DEFINITELY,
DEFINITELY CAT SMELL!

OH LOOK HERE,
IS THAT A HAIR?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU THINK IT'S TIGER?

HAIRS.

TO FIND THE TIGERS,
PARK HAD TO THINK LIKE ONE --

A SKILL I WILL NEED.

THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN.

HE STARTS TO SHARE
HIS SECRETS.

BUT THOSE ARE NOT
MOUSE HAIRS.

PARK TAUGHT HIMSELF
TO BE AN EXPERT

ON THE ELUSIVE CATS
AND TO SHARE THEIR WORLD.

[ POUNDING ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

GUNSHOT.

SHOTGUN --
SOMEBODY KILL...

Morgan:
WE ARE NOT ALONE.

WE NEED TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT.

RUNNING INTO ARMED POACHERS
OUT HERE COULD BE FATAL.

PARK NEEDED TO
STAY HIDDEN FROM TIGERS

AND THE MEN HUNTING THEM.

THEY SELL THEM ON THE BLACK
MARKET IN NEIGHBORING CHINA

AS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE.

TIGERS HAVE BEEN HUNTED TO
THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION.

THE FEW CATS THAT REMAIN

STAY AS FAR FROM PEOPLE
AS THEY CAN.

OH, OH!

[ LAUGHING ]

TIGER TRACKS!

OH!

THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
WE FOUND THEM.

I HAVE DREAMT OF SEEING EVEN
A TRACK SINCE I WAS A CHILD.

AND THIS IS...

SO IT'S QUITE
AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT.

IT'S, UH...

THESE ARE OLD TRACKS,
BUT LOOK AT THESE,

SEE THE TOES HERE?

I'M DYING TO PLACE MY HAND

INTO THE TRACK OF A TIGER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK,
HOW MANY DAYS?

THREE OR FOUR DAYS OLD?

THAT SEEMS
FRESH ENOUGH TO ME.

IT'S SUCH A SPIRIT BOOSTER.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE FOR ME THAT
YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF

POTENTIALLY WHO THIS
INDIVIDUAL CAT IS.

LET'S LOOK FURTHER UP HERE,
I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S MORE.

THE TRACKS MIGHT BE FROM
A TIGER PARK FILMED AS A CUB.

HE NAMED HER GRETEL.

I WOULD LOVE TO FIND HER.

THIS FROZEN RIVERBED,
COVERED WITH DEER TRACKS,

IS A PERFECT SPOT

FOR A REMOTE CAMERA.

DO YOU USUALLY PUT A GPS
LOCATION ON YOUR CAMERAS?

OH, YOU JUST REMEMBERED.

PARK'S EQUIPMENT WAS BASIC,

BUT IN SOME WAYS HE WAS
AHEAD OF HIS TIME.

HE BUILT MOTION SENSORS
TO TRIGGER HIS HIDDEN CAMERAS.

I USE THESE MODERN VERSIONS

TO STUDY BEARS.

THIS PART OF SIBERIA
IS HOME TO

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL SPECIES
THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE.

I AM GOING TO LEAVE
THE CAMERAS OUT

AND CHECK THEM IN A FEW WEEKS.

WHEN PARK HID HIS CAMERAS,
EACH POSITION HAD BEEN

CAREFULLY PLANNED.

HE FOUND THE VALLEYS
WITH THE MOST PREY;

HE FOLLOWED
THE CALL OF THE CROWS,

AND TRACKS IN SNOW;

LOCAL HUNTERS SAY HE LEARNED
TO READ THE WHITE BOOK.

EVENTUALLY,
IT LED HIM TO THE TIGERS.

THE FIRST TIGER PARK ENCOUNTERED
WAS AN ADULT MALE IN HIS PRIME.

PARK FOLLOWED CROWS
TO A TIGER KILL.

HE HID CAMERAS AROUND IT,

WHILE HE WATCHED AND FILMED
FROM A HIDE.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ALONE,

HE CAPTURED THE SCENE
FROM SEVERAL ANGLES.

TEN FOOT, NOSE TO TAIL,

AND WEIGHING UP TO
A QUARTER OF A TON,

FATHERING ALL THE CUBS
IN THE AREA,

THIS TIGER WAS
THE DOMINANT MALE.

PARK CALLED HIM "KING BIG."

[ SNARLS ]

YET EVEN KING BIG
WAS CAUTIOUS --

SENSING THE CAMERAS
WAS ENOUGH TO PUT HIM OFF.

PARK KNEW THE TIGER'S TERRITORY
WAS SO LARGE

HE MIGHT NOT RETURN
FOR MONTHS.

KING BIG HAD GOOD REASON
TO BE WARY.

POACHING IS RIFE --
WE'VE FOUND MORE TRACKS.

WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES
ON THE TRAIL.

DO YOU THINK
THE TIGER CAME FIRST

AND THE MAN
IS FOLLOWING HIM?

AND THEN THE MAN
AFTERWARDS.

EASIEST WAY FROM A TO B
FOR THE TIGERS.

YEAH, PERFECT.

I AM BEGINNING TO PICK UP
THE TECHNIQUES PARK USED

TO HOME IN ON HIS TIGERS.

NOW IS MY CHANCE TO VISIT

THE TINY SPACE
IN WHICH HE WAITED.

WOW, LOOK AT THAT --
HOME SWEET HOME, PARK.

OH, MY GOODNESS, THAT'S SO
INTERESTING TO SEE IT!

OH, MY GOODNESS!

IT'S SMALL!
SO SMALL!

HOW LONG DID YOU
STAY IN HERE?

SEVEN MONTHS.

RACCOON DOG?

TO FILM AT NIGHT,

PARK ADAPTED INFRARED
SECURITY CAMERAS.

HE HAD NEVER SEEN THE TIGER

HE KNEW AS "BLOODY MARY,"

NAMED AFTER
HER GRUESOME KILL SITES.

HE HAD TO WAIT 60 DAYS

BEFORE HE FINALLY
MET HER.

SHE WAS FOLLOWED BY
THREE CUBS.

HAVING LEFT HIS WIFE
AND CHILDREN IN KOREA,

THIS IS WHERE PARK MET
HIS SECOND FAMILY.

Martin: SKY WHITE?
OKAY.

HIS SECOND ENCOUNTER

WITH THIS FAMILY
WAS CHILLING.

PARK COWERED INSIDE

AS BLOODY MARY
AND HER CUBS ATTACKED.

THE PLANKS BROKE WITH
THREE TIGERS ON THE ROOF.

ITS LEG IS DOWN HERE,
AND YOU'RE SITTING...

MY GOD.

[ LAUGHING ]

AND YOUR HEART IS GOING...

THEY COULD HAVE KILLED HIM,

BUT FOR SOME REASON BLOODY MARY
LED HER TIGERS AWAY --

SHE LET PARK LIVE.

DID YOU SEE BLOODY MARY
FROM THE --

THE LAST TIME YOU SAW
BLOODY MARY?

Morgan: LIKE SOMETHING
FROM A WAR ZONE,

POACHERS HIDE GUNS IN
THE UNDERGROWTH.

BLOODY MARY WAS KILLED
WHEN SHE STEPPED ON A TRIP WIRE

TRIGGERING A RIFLE.

SO, YOU SEE HER HERE
WITH HER FAMILY,

AND THEN THE LAST TIME

YOU SEE HER
IS WHEN SHE'S BEEN SHOT

BY A POACHER'S
RIFLE TRAP.

PARK SEEMS TO RE-LIVE
HER TRAGEDY.

I REALLY WANT TO SEE
A TIGER.

ONLY THREE MONTHS?

ONLY THREE MONTHS.

PARK'S DREAM WAS TO TELL
THE STORY OF A WHOLE FAMILY.

NOW BLOODY MARY WAS DEAD, HIS
HOPES RESTED ON HER THREE CUBS.

THEY WERE ALMOST FULLY GROWN,

SO HE HOPED THEY WOULD SURVIVE
ON THEIR OWN.

PARK FOLLOWED THEIR TRACKS,

THROUGH THE RIVER VALLEYS
AND FORESTS, OVER THE MOUNTAINS,

ALL THE WAY TO THE COAST.

WE'RE GOING TO RETRACE
SOME OF HIS ROUTE

SO I CAN VISIT
THE OTHER PLACES HE FILMED.

...AND SLEEP IN
THE MOUNTAINS AND GO, GO.

Morgan: FROM THE MOUNTAINS
TO THE COAST?

PARK LEADS ME TO THE FARTHEST
BORDER OF THE TIGERS' DOMAIN --

THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

WOW.
THIS IS IT.

[ EXCLAIMING ]

IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD,

AND EVEN LESS LIKE A PLACE
I WOULD EXPECT TIGERS TO LIVE.

WE DON'T SEE MANY ANIMALS,

BUT I AM FINDING
EVIDENCE OF THEM NOW.

SIKA DEER CANNOT
FIND VERY WELL.

NO, NO, NO.
WOOD CHIPS HERE.

DEER.

SMALL DEER,
ARE THESE ROE DEER?

EVEN THE OCCASIONAL GLIMPSE...

OTTER! OTTER!

THEY WANT THE NUTRIENTS
AND SALT.

SO, THE TIGERS
KNOW IT?

CHRIS!

AH, THAT'S TIGER IS IT?

OH, WOW, LOOK!
YES!

ON CUE -- PROOF OF TIGERS
ON THE SHORE.

OLD, HUH?

OH, THAT'S AMAZING TO
SEE THEM ON THE BEACH!

LOOK AT THE SIZE,
VERY BIG DISTANCE,

IT MUST BE A BIG
TIGER, YEAH.

MAYBE A BIG MALE.

IT'S EXCITING, EVEN IF THESE
TRACKS ARE OLDER

THAN THE LAST ONES
WE FOUND.

PARK'S SEARCH ALONG THE COAST
FOR THE THREE CUBS PAID OFF.

HE FOUND TWO OF THEM LIVING
TOGETHER, SHARING A KILL.

HE WAS CONCERNED THAT

THE FEMALE CUB
HE CALLED SNOW WHITE

HAD DISAPPEARED.

WITH LUCK SHE HAD SIMPLY GONE
IN SEARCH OF HER OWN TERRITORY,

SOMEWHERE SAFER, PERHAPS.

THE REMAINING TWO TIGERS

STAYED ON THE COASTAL EDGE OF
THEIR MOTHER'S TERRITORY.

IT WAS UNUSUAL TO SEE

SUCH LARGE CATS TOGETHER,
BUT PARK INSISTS

TIGERS ARE MUCH MORE SOCIAL
THAN SOME SCIENTISTS SAY.

BEFORE LONG,

THINGS CHANGED.

[ SNARLING ]

THE MALE REFUSED

TO SHARE HIS KILLS
WITH HIS SISTER.

THE FAMILY WAS SPLITTING UP.

NOW, EACH TIGER WOULD NEED
ITS OWN TERRITORY.

PARK CAREFULLY
PLANNED NEW HIDES,

EACH WITH A NETWORK OF
REMOTE CAMERAS.

WOW!

YEAH, SO YOU COULD SEE FROM
YOUR HIDE LOOKING THAT WAY

TOWARDS WHERE
THE CAMERA TRAPS WERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE GOOD
TIGER HABITAT THERE, HEY?

YEP, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD BE
IF I WAS A TIGER.

AFTER THEIR MOTHER'S DEATH,

THE TWO TIGERS SPLIT HER COASTAL
TERRITORY BETWEEN THEM.

THE EDGE OF THEIR RANGE
WAS THE OCEAN.

PARK KNEW IF HE
FOLLOWED THE COAST,

HE WOULD FIND THE TIGERS
PATROLLING THEIR PERIMETER.

HE CAPTURED THEM
STALKING THE CLIFF TOP RIDGES,

A POSTCARD IMAGE,
FRAMED BY WILD AZALEAS.

PARK FILMED THE MALE TIGER,
SKY WHITE,

SURVEYING HIS TERRITORY

FROM CLIFF TOP BLUFFS.

WE'VE COME TO THE SAME SPOT.

IT'S A MAGNIFICENT
LOOKOUT POINT.

SHOTS OF A TIGER

SCANNING THE PACIFIC COAST
HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE, PARK.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
PARTS OF YOUR FILM,

WHERE THE TIGER COMES OUT

AND LOOKS LEFT AND RIGHT

AND ASSESSES
HIS TERRITORY.

AND WHEN YOU WERE IN THE HIDE,

HOW MANY DAYS WAS IT
BEFORE THE TIGER ARRIVED?

[ MARTIN LAUGHS ]

AND BEFORE 80 DAYS,
DID YOU THINK, "FORGET IT"?

DID YOU SOMETIMES THINK,
"FORGET IT, I CAN'T WAIT."

PARK KNEW HE WOULD FACE YEARS OF
ISOLATION AND HARDSHIP.

BUT HE WAS UNPREPARED FOR
HIS TIGERS'

TRAGIC STRUGGLE
FOR SURVIVAL.

PARK HOPED THE CUB,
SKY WHITE,

WOULD REPLACE HIS FATHER,
KING BIG, AS THE DOMINANT MALE.

BUT LIKE HIS MOTHER BEFORE HIM,
THE YOUNG MALE DIED

BEFORE HIS TIME,
MURDERED BY POACHERS.

THAT MUST BE VERY SAD FOR YOU
TO THINK ABOUT THAT?

THE REMAINING TIGER
ON THE COAST,

THE SISTER, MOON WHITE,

SURVIVED THROUGH
TO THE NEXT YEAR.

HE PICKED UP HER TRAIL
ON THE SAME COASTAL RIDGES.

SHE WAS MARKING HER TERRITORY

AND PARK WAS DELIGHTED TO
DISCOVER SHE WAS PREGNANT.

SHE LOOKED UNDERWEIGHT.

PARK KNEW HOW HARD IT IS

FOR A FIRST-TIME MOTHER
AND HER CUBS

TO SURVIVE.

MONTHS LATER, HE WAS ABLE TO
FILM HER WITH HER CUB.

THE WINTER HAD BEEN
ESPECIALLY HARSH,

AND PREY HAD PLUMMETED.

HE TRACKED THE MOTHER AND CUB
TO A VILLAGE.

IN HER DESPERATION
TO FEED THE CUB,

SHE HAD TAKEN A DOG.

WHEN HE NEXT FOUND THE PAIR,
THE CUB WAS IN TROUBLE.

HIS PAW WAS INJURED
AND BADLY INFECTED.

MOON WHITE WAS EAGER TO MOVE ON
IN SEARCH OF FOOD.

PARK WATCHED THE CUB FALLING
FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND.

HE NEVER SAW
EITHER OF THEM AGAIN.

YEARS IN THE WILD GAVE PARK
AN UNDERSTANDING

OF THE FRAGILE RELATIONSHIPS
IN NATURE.

IN THIS PART OF SIBERIA,

ONE SPECIES OF TREE
SUSTAINS ALL LIFE.

IF THE PINE TREES
FAIL TO FRUIT,

DEER AND BOAR --
THE TIGERS' PREY --

MUST MOVE ON.

PARK REALIZED THE TIGERS ARE
INTIMATELY LINKED TO THE PINES.

THIS IS MY FIRST

EVIDENCE OF KOREAN
PINE TREE FEEDING,

LOOK AT THE SIZE
OF THAT CONE!

SEE THAT, THIS IS WHERE
THE NUTS SIT IN HERE.

THE PINE NUTS --

AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
IN THIS FOREST RELIES ON THESE.

HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS

IS WHAT ALL THE FUSS
IS ABOUT.

INNOCUOUS AS IT LOOKS,

THIS TINY THING IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR PROPPING UP
THIS WHOLE ECOSYSTEM HERE

AND EVERYTHING THAT
THE TIGER DEPENDS UPON.

AS WE HIKE, I AM PUTTING OUT
MORE CAMERA TRAPS,

BUT I'M NOT JUST AFTER
SHOTS OF ANIMALS.

I WANT TO SEE HOW THIS COMPLEX
ECOSYSTEM WORKS.

ONLY BY DISCOVERING
WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON

CAN WE HOPE TO SAVE
TIGERS AND BEARS.

PARK WAS DEVASTATED

THAT THE NEW GENERATION
OF TIGERS ON THE COAST

FAILED TO SURVIVE.

HE HEADED INLAND IN SEARCH OF
THE LAST REMAINING TIGER,

THE FEMALE, SNOW WHITE.

HIS GROWING INSTINCT

LED HIM TO A SPECIAL PLACE,

A SHANGRI-LA,
RICH IN KOREAN PINE --

AND THE TIGERS' PREY
THAT DEPEND ON IT.

THIS IS GREAT!
IT'S SO NICE,

BECAUSE I CAN PICTURE
THE FILM IN MY MIND.

THIS IS IT.

THE GROUND WAS FROZEN SO SOLID,
PARK COULDN'T DIG A HOLE.

INSTEAD HE HID
15 FEET UP A TREE,

PERCHED ON A TINY PLATFORM.

OH, YES, YEAH,
THE WEDGES.

CUT OUT OF THE SIDE
OF THE TREE THERE.

MIND BLOWING.

MY RESPECT FOR YOU
IS VERY HIGH.

[ LAUGHING ]

PARK WAITED HERE FOR SO LONG
WITHOUT SEEING ANY TIGERS,

HE EVEN BEGAN TO FILM SNOWFALLS.

PARK HOPED
THEIR MOTHER WAS HUNTING --

THEY WOULDN'T SURVIVE LONG
WITHOUT HER.

[ WATER GURGLING ]

HE CHOSE THIS SPOT BECAUSE OF
A HOT SPRING...

CONFIDENT TIGERS WOULD DRINK AT
A SMALL HOLE IN THE ICE,

KEPT OPEN BY THE WARM WATER.

BROTHER AND SISTER,

LOST IN FAIRYTALE WOODS,

HANSEL AND GRETEL
HAD THE PERFECT NAMES.

THE YOUNG MALE CAT IS CURIOUS.

HE INVESTIGATES THE CAMERAS.

HIS SISTER
HANGS BACK NERVOUSLY.

IT TOOK PARK SUCH FAITH
TO WAIT HERE --

THESE SCENES
ARE HIS REWARD.

AMAZING,
I WOULD FALL OFF.

I WOULD FALL OFF
THE PLATFORM.

DID YOU, LIKE --
[ GASPS ]

HE CAN STILL RECOGNIZE
EACH TRUNK AND BRANCH.

PARK WAS HAPPY ENOUGH
FILMING HANSEL AND GRETEL,

BUT WHEN THEY RETURNED
WITH THEIR MOTHER,

HE KNEW HE HAD FOUND
SNOW WHITE.

SHE HAD SURVIVED.

PARK HAD ANOTHER FAMILY
TO WATCH AND FILM.

HE REMAINED UP HIS TREE,
UNHARMED.

PERHAPS, AFTER ALL THIS TIME,

SNOW WHITE TOLERATED
HIS PRESENCE.

HE HADN'T JUST ENTERED
THE TIGER'S WORLD,

HE WAS NOW PART OF IT.

THESE SHOTS OF TIGERS

WOULD BE HARD
TO FILM ANYWHERE.

FOR WILD SIBERIAN TIGERS,

THEY WERE MEANT TO BE
IMPOSSIBLE.

OVER THE YEARS,
WALKING HUNDREDS OF MILES,

SLEEPING ALONE IN THE FOREST
FOR MONTHS ON END,

PARK HAD FOLLOWED THREE
GENERATIONS OF HIS TIGER FAMILY.

WHEN YOU GO, WHEN YOU LEAVE,

AND I TRY A TREE STAND

OR A HIDE,
WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

PARK ISN'T A RECLUSE --

HE DIDN'T LIKE BEING ALONE,
AND HE MISSED HIS FAMILY.

HIS ENDURANCE IS WHAT MAKES HIM
DIFFERENT TO MOST OF US.

AND THE PLACE ITSELF
KEPT HIM GOING.

HE WAITED FOR TIGERS

LIKE A FOREST
WAITING FOR SPRING.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
INTO YOUR WORLD.

ALL RIGHT, MY FRIEND,
BE SAFE.

TAKE CARE.

IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT PLACE
IN THIS FOREST

WITHOUT HIM, I THINK.

[ BIRDS CALLING ]

PARK HAS LEFT,

BUT I AM HEADING BACK IN

TO TRY AND EXPERIENCE
THE WILDERNESS AS HE DID.

6:00 A.M.,
I JUST WOKE UP,

HAD A COUPLE OF HOURS' SLEEP

AND THE COLD WOKE ME UP.

I HAD TO GET UP
AND PUT SOME MORE CLOTHES ON

AND A WARMER HAT.

[ RAPID THUMPING ]
THERE'S A WOODPECKER.

THE FIRST INDICATION
THAT THERE'S REALLY

ANY OTHER ANIMAL AROUND
IS THAT WOODPECKER.

[ WOODPECKER DRUMMING ON TREE ]

HE'S QUITE CLOSE.

IT JUST GIVES ME
A HUGE LEVEL OF RESPECT

FOR WHAT PARK HAS
ACCOMPLISHED.

THE SIT-AND-WAIT STRATEGY
IS NOT FOR ME.

[ CHUCKLES ]

A FRESH SNOWFALL,
A NEW CHAPTER IN THE WHITE BOOK.

I MUST READ
WITHOUT MY GUIDE.

CAT TRACKS --
SUDDENLY THE FOOTSTEPS

ARE VERY MUCH
CLOSER TOGETHER.

SMALL WILDCAT
CROSSES THE ROAD RIGHT HERE

AND JOINS
THE MANCHURIAN HARE TRACKS.

DEER TRACKS...
IT'S A GREAT SPOT.

ON WHAT LOOKS LIKE WOULD BE
A REALLY GOOD CHOICE

FOR A TIGER SCENT-MARKING TREE.

[ SNIFFING ]

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

AH! AH!

I BELIEVE THAT IS
A TIGER HAIR.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING

HAS BRUSHED ITS FACE AGAINST IT
RIGHT HERE.

THERE'S ANOTHER HAIR
RIGHT THERE.

ANOTHER ONE HERE.

ALL UP AND DOWN
THIS AREA.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS TIGER
COMING UP TO THIS TREE,

WALKING ALONG THIS ROAD HERE,

THIS BEING A PERFECTLY ANGLED
BIRCH TREE.

COMING UP TO IT,

SMELLING WHO WAS HERE
PREVIOUSLY.

GRABBING HIS PAWS AROUND IT,

WHICH WOULD HAVE REACHED
BEYOND MY REACH.

HIS FRONT PAWS UP THERE.

THEN HIS FACE...

RUBBING IT LIKE THIS,

AND THERE'S
THE WHISKER MARKS.

PERFECT, JUST LIKE
YOUR HOUSE CAT DOES

ON THE EDGE OF THE COUCH.

THE FIRST SIGNS OF TIGER
I FOUND ON MY OWN --

MY TEACHER WOULD BE PROUD.

I SPOTTED THE TREE
BY THINKING LIKE A TIGER,

BY THINKING LIKE PARK.

I AM GETTING CLOSER EACH DAY.

I'VE JUST FOUND THIS
AND I AM VERY EXCITED,

MY HEART IS POUNDING.

THIS IS A SCRAPE,

THIS IS WHAT A TIGER WOULD DO --

THEY WOULD SCRAPE
INTO THE GROUND LIKE THIS,

AND PARK,
JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO,

WAS TELLING ME THAT EACH TIGER

HAS A DIFFERENT WAY
OF DOING THIS.

SOME OF THEM CREATE
A WIDE, SHALLOW SCRAPE,

SOME OF THEM CREATE
A REALLY DEEP, NARROW SCRAPE.

HE SAID KING BIG
WOULD GO RIGHT DOWN

UNTIL HE COULDN'T GO
ANY FURTHER,

REALLY DEEP, AND THEN THEY PEE
OR DEFECATE RIGHT HERE.

IF IT WAS A BOAR
IT WOULD BE MORE RANDOM,

JUST PUSHING UP THE SNOW
IN ANY DIRECTION.

BUT THIS, EVEN THE GRASS
IS FACING THIS WAY.

LET ME LOOK AT OUR TRACKS
FROM THIS MORNING

A BIT MORE CAREFULLY.

THE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS
A TIGER RIGHT HERE AT ANY POINT

IS GREAT, THOUGH.

I JUST WISH I COULD FIND
SOME FRESH TRACKS

TO HELP VERIFY
THE SITUATION.

CAN'T YOU JUST
IMAGINE HIM,

AFTER WE PASS THROUGH HERE,

YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE
THAT TIGER CATCHING OUR SCENT,

'CAUSE WE STINK TO A TIGER,
THAT'S FOR SURE.

AND HIM COMING TO EXPLORE
ONCE WE'RE WELL UP THE TRAIL.

'CAUSE WE WENT AT LEAST
TWO MILES BEYOND THIS.

SO, HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO COME IN.

THE TIGERS ARE EVERYWHERE,

BUT NOWHERE.

FOR MY LAST WEEK,
I'M COLLECTING MY CAMERAS.

I HAVE PUT OUT TEN.

PARK USED MANY MORE,
OVER A MUCH LONGER TIME.

I'D LOVE TO SEE
ANY ANIMALS ON MY CAMERAS.

[ REVIEWING FOOTAGE ]

NOT A THING...

NOT A THING.

I'VE COPIED PARK AND USED
A HOT SPRING AS BAIT.

I HAVE HIGH HOPES
FOR THIS CAMERA.

YOU WOULDN'T BE BLAMED
FOR THINKING THAT

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO ANIMALS
IN THIS FOREST, ACTUALLY.

OH!
OH, LEAVES!

[ LAUGHS ]

I THOUGHT A BIRD JUST FLEW IN,
BUT IT WAS LEAVES.

LISTEN TO THAT WIND.

FROM THE EIGHT CAMERAS SO FAR,

ALL I HAVE IS TEN HOURS OF
FALSE TRIGGERS, WIND AND LEAVES.

LOOKING ACROSS THE EMPTY FOREST,

IT SEEMS HARDLY SURPRISING

THAT I HAVE CAUGHT
SO LITTLE ON CAMERA.

IN PARK'S FOOTAGE,

THE FORESTS ARE
TEEMING WITH LIFE.

I GUESS THAT'S
PART OF ITS MAGIC.

PARK WAS ABLE TO FILM
SNOW WHITE, HANSEL AND GRETEL

THROUGHOUT THE FINAL WINTER,

WATCHING THE CUBS
LEARN AND GROW.

THE FAIRY-TALE ENDING
TO HIS TIGER QUEST.

I'M STARTING TO GRASP
WHAT KEPT HIM GOING.

THE HOPE THAT
A TIGER WILL REVEAL ITSELF

IS OVERWHELMING.

TODAY, HANSEL AND GRETEL
WOULD BE SEVEN YEARS OLD --

TIGERS IN THEIR PRIME,

IF THEY'VE AVOIDED
THE POACHERS' TRAPS.

NOBODY IS LIKELY TO REPEAT
PARK'S OBSESSION,

OR HIS SUCCESS.

THESE FORESTS
ARE DISAPPEARING

RIGHT ACROSS
THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST.

WHEN THEY ARE GONE,

SCENES LIKE THIS
WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST.

I'VE RETRACED MY STEPS TO WHERE
MY JOURNEY WITH PARK BEGAN,

TO COLLECT THE FIRST CAMERAS
WE PUT OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

OKAY, THESE ARE
THE LAST FOUR CAMERA TRAPS,

SO MY LAST CHANCE
TO CAPTURE SOMETHING

ON FILM.

SIKA DEER --
NICE TIGER PREY.

NO, NOTHING ELSE.

HMM?

OKAY, MOST OF THESE
ARE ME SETTING IT UP.

[ LAUGHS ]

OH, WHAT IS THAT?

WOW! A RACCOON DOG.

NICE! I SAW RACCOON DOG SCAT
ALL THE WAY UP TO THIS CAMERA.

SUCH A CRAZY LOOKING ANIMAL,

AN ABSOLUTE CROSS BETWEEN
A DOG AND A RACCOON.

OH!

WILD CAT!

THANK GOODNESS
WE GOT SOMETHING.

[ GASPS ]

[ SHUDDERS ]

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
BELIEVE THIS...

WE'VE GOT A TIGER!

WE'VE GOT A TIGER!

THERE IS A TIGER
ON THIS CAMERA.

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.

MY HEART IS POUNDING
OUT OF MY CHEST.

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!

OH!

AMAZING, I CAN EVEN HEAR
THE ICE CRACKING

AS SHE CAUTIOUSLY CROSSES
THE FROZEN RIVER.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

THAT'S OUR
SECOND-TO-LAST CAMERA,

ALL THIS WORK,
ALL THESE MILES.

THERE ARE TIGERS HERE.

[ ICE CREAKING ]

I WAS BEGINNING TO WONDER.

I DIDN'T THINK
I WOULD BE CAPABLE OF

ENDURING PARK'S ORDEAL.

BUT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS
ON SEEING MY ONE TIGER,

ON MY CAMERA,
PERHAPS I AM.

I DIDN'T SEE IT

WITH MY OWN EYES,
AND I'M FINE WITH THAT --

STAYING AWAY FROM HUMANS

IS THE BEST CHANCE
THESE TIGERS HAVE.

AND WHEN PARK SAW
HOW CAREFULLY

MY TIGER CROSSES
THE CREAKING ICE,

HE INSTANTLY RECOGNIZED
AN OLD FRIEND...

GRETEL, THE FAIRYTALE TIGER
HE FIRST FILMED

ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

To learn more about what you've
seen on this "Nature" program,

visit pbs.org.