All language subtitles for Europes.New.Wild.S01E04.1080p

-Europe...

A continent renowned
for its spectacular cities

and civilizations.

But this is surprisingly
wild land,

with over 10 million
square kilometers

of diverse natural habitat...

stretching from the northernmost
reaches of the Arctic...

to the crystal-clear waters
of the Mediterranean sea.

And across
this extraordinary continent,

an epic transformation
is under way...

as the wild heart of Europe
is unleashed once more.

♪♪

People are supporting
the natural world.

-Let's go to the nest
and see how the chick is.

-Species are being reintroduced.

-She's not sleeping very well,
so we have to be really fast.

-And nature itself
is bouncing back.

♪♪

The circle of life
is being reforged...

as the wild returns to Europe.

Where an iconic river feeds
the continent's

most important wetland...
many creatures are thriving.

But some need a helping hand.

♪♪

♪♪

-From its source
in Germany's Black Forest,

the Danube River flows east
across Europe

for almost 3,000 kilometers.

This iconic water source feeds
some of the continent's

most important natural habitats.

Europe's second longest river,
the Danube,

weaves its way
through 10 countries.

And at the border of Romania
and Ukraine,

the river splits
into a huge delta,

where it empties
into the Black Sea.

This vast network of wetlands
and channels

spans over 5,500
square kilometers...

[ Birds chirping ]

...and is home to over 3,000
animal species.

Many have found sanctuary
in this wild paradise

for thousands of years.

♪♪

But one is a more
recent arrival.

[ Bird crying ]

In spring, a call rings out
in the morning mist.

[ Bird crying ]

Fifty years ago, this sound
was unheard in the delta.

[ Bird crying ]

♪♪

But today golden jackals
are thriving here.

[ Birds chirping ]

Closely related to wolves,
once they find a mate,

golden jackals stick together
for life.

♪♪

They're perfectly adapted
to hunting

but never say no to a free meal.

They've spotted
a potential opportunity.

[ Birds squawking ]

These scavenging crows
seems to have found something.

And the jackals want in
on the action.

♪♪

Jackal pairs are three times
more successful

when working together.

[ Jackal snarls ]

They use their snarls
to intimidate the crows

and snatch the prize.

[ Birds squawking ]

While the male eats...

...the female stands guard.

[ Birds squawking ]

[ Jackal growling ]

The birds are more of a nuisance
than a threat.

♪♪

They settle for any small scraps
they can find.

[ Birds squawking ]

But there's a bigger bird

with its eyes
on the jackals' prize.

This one is top dog.

[ Birds chirping ]

This white-tailed eagle
is almost a meter tall

and one of the largest
birds of prey on earth.

♪♪

Her hooked beak is built
for tearing flesh

from the dead
and
the living.

[ Jackal growls ]

The hungry jackals know
to be careful.

But the crows push their luck.

♪♪

[ Birds squawking ]

♪♪

Time to find a meal elsewhere.

Fortunately,
jackals are highly adaptable.

Until recently, they onlyexisted
in tiny isolated pockets

in the southeast of Europe.

But a rapid expansion
has seen them advance

across the continent...

and brought them here,
to the Danube delta.

-If I was a jackal,
you know, I hit the jackpot.

This is pretty good.
This is nice.

There's a lot of food,
there's a lot of shelter,

and, you know, lots of water.

It's good.

-For jackals, one of the delta's
biggest attractions

is the absence of wolves,

which haven't been seen here
for over half a century.

[ Birds chirping ]

With less competition,
these opportunistic predators

are able to capitalize
on the delta's offerings.

Over 10% of the Danube delta
is used for cattle grazing.

Newborn calves are an
opportunity too good to miss.

In some parts of the world,

nearly 2% of calves are killed
by golden jackals.

♪♪

[ Cows lowing ]

While these hunters
are thriving,

many other species have been
negatively impacted

by the agricultural boom.

Dikes built to protect farmland
from flooding

have caused the biggest change.

♪♪

In the 1970s, Ermakov island,
onthe Ukrainian side of the delta,

was diked and drained
to make way for agriculture.

When an area is starved
of its natural water source,

land morphs into
a barren dust bowl

and its resident wildlife
vanishes.

However, all was not lost.

A decade ago,
the Worldwide Fund for Nature

removed the dikes, reconnecting
the island to the river.

Nature quickly took control,

breathing life
back into the landscape.

So far over 3,500 hectares
have been embraced by the wild.

Plants returned
with a vengeance.

Fish and birds followed,

attracted by the huge numberof
insects now flourishing here.

[ Birds chirping ]

But the unchecked explosion
of vegetation

is making life difficult
for other species.

♪♪

Like this grass snake.

She's solar-powered

and needs the sun
to jump-start her metabolism.

But in this dense greenery,

she struggles to find clearings
that the sun's rays can reach.

Without a sunny spot where
she can recharge, she's cold

and unable to move quickly
to escape predators.

♪♪

She continues to search...

...tasting the air
to guide her way.

♪♪

♪♪

She slithers her way
towards a clearing.

But the spot has already
been taken.

[ Insects buzzing ]

Her search must continue.

On this overgrown island,

competition for sunbathing spots
is unusually high.

[ Animal lows ]

Ermakov island is choking
on its own vegetation.

So an organization
called Rewilding Europe

is pioneering a project

to reintroduce a herd of Mother
Nature's finest landscapers.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

European water buffalo once
roamed the entire continent.

Their huge appetites
kept plant life in check.

But over 10,000 years ago,
they became extinct.

Today, Rewilding Europe
is releasing seven

of their Asiatic counterparts
onto the island.

[ Buffalo grunting ]

The goal is to control the
overgrown vegetation on Ermakov

and restore the natural balance
between plants and animals.

♪♪

For the first time in history,

water buffalo step
onto the island.

[ Buffalo grunting ]

♪♪

♪♪

Their impact
is almost immediate.

Water buffalo wallow
to cool themselves,

creating small lakes
and shallows

that attract birds, fish,
and insects.

♪♪

Their constant grazing produces
a mosaic

of landscapes and clearings
needed by other wildlife.

[ Birds chirping,
water splashing ]

♪♪

Reintroducing buffalo
and removing dikes

helps restore the Danube's
ecosystem.

♪♪

The restoration of key habitats
will also give an added boost

to over 300 species of bird
which call the wetlands home.

Many of the winged residents
migrate huge distances

every year to nest
in the lush habitat.

But there's one
that outranks them all.

♪♪

Great white pelicans
are true giants,

with a wingspan
of over three meters...

vital for a creature weighing
up to 15 kilograms,

one of the heaviest flying birds
in the world.

Outside of Africa,
The Danube delta hosts

the biggest gathering
of pelicans on earth.

Thousands travel here,
with two things on their mind...

breeding... and feeding.

With 75 different fish
on the menu,

these waters provide
a gourmet feast.

Each pelican eats almost
two kilograms of fish a day,

catching them
in their large pouches

and swallowing them whole.

In mass-feeding sessions,
pelicans consume tons of fish...

in just a few hours.

♪♪

[ Pelicans squawking ]

Their impressive fishing skills
do not go down well

with everyone.

Fishermen see the birds
as competition,

with some even resorting
to killing the pelicans.

-There used to be
organized campaigns

of destroying colonies
or destroying nests in colonies

or disturbing birds
during their breeding season

in order to avoid having them
growing in numbers.

They would just go
and destroy the nests.

-But in the 1990s,

the wetlands became
a protected biosphere reserve.

With the delta's
new special status

and pelican nest sites
off limits to fishermen,

the population exploded.

With the birds'
insatiable appetites,

the impact on fish numbers
in the delta could be serious.

♪♪

Sebastian Bugariu
from BirdLife Romania

is out to determine how fast the
pelican population is growing.

[ Engine revving ]

And the best way to do that
is to get a bird's-eye view.

♪♪

Nesting pelicans
are unmissable from the air.

It's not long
before Sebastian locates

the delta's largest colony.

And it looks bigger than ever.

♪♪

In total, he finds
almost 18,500 birds

in this one megacolony.

Across the delta, pelican
numbers have nearly quadrupled

in less than a decade.

♪♪

[ Birds squawking ]

The Danube delta offers more
than just fish

to the migrating pelicans.

It's also a pristine habitat
for the winged visitors.

Over 200,000 hectares
of reed beds

take root in these wetlands.

♪♪

Almost the size
of Yosemite National Park,

it's the largest habitat of its
kind anywhere in the world.

♪♪

The reed bed functions
as Europe's most important

natural water-purification
system...

...trapping sediment
and impurities,

allowing them to be filtered
and broken down.

Reed beds are vital

for the health
of the entire delta ecosystem.

[ Birds chirping ]

For pelicans, the plants
are the perfect nesting sites.

♪♪

The reeds are trampled
into flat platforms,

ideal for raising chicks.

♪♪

There are enough reeds here

to support tens of thousands
of nesting pelicans.

♪♪

But elsewhere,
vast tracts of reed bed

have been lost
to human activity.

Scientists believethe
sudden explosion of pelicans

in the delta could be due
to habitat loss elsewhere.

With many nesting locations
no longer available,

it's likely the birds
have no choice

but to flock to the pristinedelta
in massive concentrations.

♪♪

It's not just pelicans
seeking refuge in the wetlands.

For thousands of years,
Europe's rivers and waterways

have been shaped
by an extraordinary creature.

This dam was builtby the
largest rodent in Europe.

Beavers spend most
of their lives in the water.

But before they dive in,
they top up with waterproof oil,

which secretes
from their glands.

[ Birds chirping ]

They cover themselves
from head to toe...

♪♪

...before heading out
for a swim.

His ancestors grew up
to one and a half meters long.

He might be a lot smaller,

but his impact
is still enormous.

Beavers control the flow
of water by building dams

from carefully selected
branches.

[ Birds chirping ]

Their orange teeth contain iron,
making them strong enough

to cut through even the biggest
of tree trunks.

♪♪

The rodents' dams have
a huge impact on their habitat.

Flooding is reduced,

which in turn gives birth
to clearings and wetlands

within the forest.

These slow-moving waters provide
a vital habitat

for hundreds
of freshwater creatures...

...nurseries for young fish

and breeding grounds
for frogs and insects.

♪♪

But even the mighty beaver's
work is dwarfed

by human efforts to control
the environment.

To tame the Danube
and generate electricity,

two massive dams were built

across the river's
Iron Gates Gorge.

These are the biggest barriers
on the Danube.

♪♪

But there are over 60 others.

In some parts, the river meets
a wall every 16 kilometers

As a result, the Danube
is a vastly different river

than the one
it was destined to be.

♪♪

Damming has slowed and warmed
its waters.

♪♪

This change impacts
every creature on the Danube,

from its largest residents...
to its smallest.

♪♪

Below the surface,

primitive insects grow
in the murky waters.

These bizarre invertebrates
have barely changed

in over 300 million years.

Under the water, the creatures
grow for around three years

before emerging.

It's only when it surfaces that
its identity becomes apparent.

[ Birds chirping ]

The mayfly.

This is the last stage
of the insect's life,

and it now has just a few hours
to live.

♪♪

♪♪

The evening air comes alive
as the mayflies all swarm

during a single evening to
perform their courtship dance.

♪♪

This is a frenzied drive
to procreate,

the very last thing they'll do
on earth.

♪♪

Each female will lay
around 3,000 eggs,

which are dispersed
on the surface of the water.

♪♪

♪♪

Though small, these creatures
are a vital part

of the aquatic food chain.

[ Birds chirping ]

Throughout their life cycle,

they feed numerous birds
and fish.

But within days
of their emergence,

the only sign
of the mayflies' existence

are their ghost-like shells.

Even in death, the insects
affect the landscape.

Their corpses fertilize
the riverbanks,

helping new plants grow.

But industrialization
and water pollution

have led to terrible
consequences for the mayfly.

They once flourished
across the continent.

Today, 98% of the Europeanmayfly
population has been lost.

But the Tisza River remains
a mayfly stronghold.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Downstream, the Danube delta
is a last safety net

for many other creatures.

♪♪

♪♪

Marsh frogs are one ofthe
delta's most iconic animals.

And in spring, their calls can
be heard from dawn till dusk.

[ Frogs chirping ]

♪♪

They're the largest frog
in Europe,

with a volume to match.

[ Frogs chirping ]

♪♪

But this symphony of sound
brings dangers.

Almost every other predator
in the delta eats marsh frogs.

♪♪

They're a protein-rich prize

for the herons
that stalk the shallows.

♪♪

♪♪

The frogs have little
in the way of defense.

Diving underwater or leaping
away are their only options.

♪♪

But right now,

their attention is focused
on more important matters.

This is mating season,

and the shallow waters
of the delta

are heaving with amorous frogs.

[ Frogs chirping ]

This male is looking
for suitable females.

But they all seem to be hiding.

For now, he can only find
other males.

But hopefully soon these waters
will be littered

with frog spawn.

[ Frogs chirping ]

♪♪

The Danube delta is a
treasure trove of biodiversity.

Over half of all European
freshwater fish species

live in its waters.

Millions of aquatic residents

inhabit this dense
underwater jungle...

...relying on the reeds
and roots to protect them

from the strong currents
and dangers.

But even in the slow-moving
waters of the delta,

they're not completely safe.

Submerged on the edge
of a shallow channel,

this female fen raft spider

could spend up to half an hour
underwater...

♪♪

...surviving on the thin layer
of oxygen trapped in her hair.

But she surfaces
when it's time to hunt.

♪♪

Unlike many spiders,

the fen raft spider doesn't use
a web to catch its dinner.

She uses the surface tension
of the water

to pick up vibrations
from her prey...

...above
and
below the surface.

♪♪

Perched atop the water,

she allows herself to drift
across her territory...

waiting for telltale vibrations

to reach her antennae-like
hairs.

[ Insects chirping ]

For her,
the movement of an insect

is like ringing a dinner bell.

♪♪

♪♪

These hunters have over
30different insects on their menu.

But sometimes
a bug just isn't enough.

This stickleback
is just centimeters away

from the spider's grasp.

♪♪

But luckily for the fish,
she's full.

For now.

♪♪

Europe's fish have much bigger
problems than predators.

In its cold coastal waters,
three-spiked stickleback

are beginning a perilous journey
upstream.

They've spent two years
in the sea.

Now they've reached adulthood,

an innate urge to fight
the current is taking hold.

The stickleback are heading
to their spawning grounds,

in the freshwater rivers
and streams of Europe.

♪♪

This is a habit over
a million years in the making.

As adults, they are now
10 centimeters long,

easy prey for endless predators.

Many of the stickleback
will not make it

to their spawning grounds.

But their species depends
on the brave few that succeed.

♪♪

In Europe's waterways,
there are some hurdles

that their ancestors
never had to face.

♪♪

♪♪

They've reached a lock.

They can smell the way,

but the water pressure
feeding through the small gap

is stronger than anything
they've encountered before.

♪♪

The call upstream
forces them forward.

One by one,
they fight the current.

But only some are strong enough.

All this way... for nothing.

For this stickleback,
this is the end of the line.

But the rest of the shoal
moves on.

They still have many kilometers
to cover

and many more man-made obstacles
in their way.

♪♪

Dams are a death sentence
for fish populations,

and on the Danube, they've
pushed more than one species

to the brink of extinction.

♪♪

[ Birds chirping ]

For thousands of years, the
delta has relied on its river

depositing sediment downstream
to create new habitats.

But in the last century,

industrialization on the Danube
has had a devastating effect.

-Most of the rivers in Europe
have been altered

in all kinds of ways...
Straightened, diked, dammed.

But all those measures upstream,
of course,

have an impact downstream.

-Dams stop sediment
reaching the delta.

And without it,
the delta can't replenish.

In some parts of the region,

land is even being reclaimed
by the sea.

♪♪

And vital habitat is vanishing
as a result.

Like sandbanks, which provide
breeding grounds for sea birds.

[ Birds squawking ]

This sandbank is home
tothousands of herring-gull nests.

♪♪

♪♪

Right now, the chicks look like
little balls of fluff,

but they will be ready to leave
the nest in just a few weeks.

Their parents are happy to leave
them for hours at a time

while they hunt for food,

as there's very few predators
here on the sandbank.

But that doesn't stop the chicks
from panicking

at any sign of danger.

♪♪

This chick has been spooked
by a low-flying pelican.

♪♪

But it's a false alarm.

Despite the lack of real danger,
the chick has now lost his way.

♪♪

Unfortunately, his feathers
aren't yet water resistant.

♪♪

He soon realizes his mistake.

His other reaction to danger
is a little less charming.

This morning's breakfast makes
its second appearance.

For some birds,
this may be a technique

for losing weight
before a flight.

But his wings aren't yet
fully formed.

So now he looks for cover.

♪♪

When he finally manages to find
his nest,

it's time to sleep off
the adventure.

[ Birds crying in distance ]

Sandbanks like these
are essential

for ground-nesting birds.

Fortunately,
efforts are under way

to replace these habitats
where they have vanished.

♪♪

The Netherlands relies on dams

to protect its land
from the sea.

But recently,

the floodgates on the country's
Haringvliet were opened.

For the first time
in almost 50 years,

the river was reconnected
to the North Sea.

And the impact has been
extraordinary.

Nature is returning.

Migratory fish,
like the stickleback,

are now able to reach their
freshwater spawning grounds,

and coastal birds
are rediscovering this estuary.

But more dams upstream

means sediment still can't reach
these areas.

So organizations like
the World Wide Fund for Nature

are stepping in to replace
the estuary's missing sediment.

♪♪

This extraordinary measure
creates sandbanks,

restoring vital habitat
for Europe's coastal creatures.

Birds and seals can now use
these man-made sites

for breeding.

-There's so many things you can
do to give space to the river,

where you then have a win-win

between, let's say,
river restoration,

ecological restoration
of rivers, flood protection.

-There is hope
that Haringvliet represents

the beginning
of a global change,

reconnecting rivers from source
to sea.

Healthy waterways allow
natural processes

to shape the landscape
with each changing season.

Every spring, the remote
forests of the Danube delta

are hit by a deluge of water.

♪♪

These half-submerged willow
trees become fortresses

protected by freshwater moats...

...as floodwaters force
the delta's animals

up into the branches.

♪♪

Over 30 different species
of birds nest here

in huge mixed colonies.

♪♪

Cormorants, spoonbills,
egrets, and herons

all nest side-by-side
in the willow trees.

[ Birds squawking ]

The treetop nests may keep
the chicks safe

from ground attacks,

but the wetlands are home
to aerial assassins...

...including the Danube's
most prolific villains.

[ Birds squawking ]

Rooks, ravens,
magpies, and crows...

some of the most intelligent
animals on the planet.

The crows have deliberately
built their nest here,

perfectly positioned to stake
out their neighbors' nests.

Like these cormorants.

This is a critical
breeding ground

for the fish-hunting birds.

Each nest produces
up to six chicks.

Around half the size ofthe
more common great cormorant,

the Danube has Europe's largest
colony of pygmy cormorants.

Their chicks haven't yet learned
to fly

and could be a tasty treat
for a hungry crow.

But even the largest species
are at risk

when their parents leave
the nest.

♪♪

♪♪

With no adults around, the
opportunistic crow moves in.

Fortunately for the chicks,

this winged villain
was only after their dinner.

♪♪

[ Birds squawking ]

Thanks to this breeding site
in the Danube delta,

cormorant populations have
exploded in the last 40 years.

But beyond this oasis,

there's one European bird
that needs a helping hand.

The northern bald ibis
has been extinct

in the wilds of Europe
for over 300 years.

But a small population survive
in captivity.

[ Birds chirping ]

Now a team of scientists
areundertaking a pioneering project

to bring this ibis back
to the wild

by raising captive birds,

and teaching them their
ancient migration routes.

The project is based
near Germany's Lake Constance,

the ibis's ancient
summer feeding ground.

Here, captive-born chicks are
raised by human foster mothers.

♪♪

The chicks visually imprint
on the first animal they see,

and this connection is for life.

-I've raised
about five generations now.

Each bird has
different characters.

Some of them are more shy.

Some of them
are more adventurous.

Even in years, they will know
that we are the foster parents.

They will know that we raised
them and trained with them.

So it's pretty exciting
that they will recognize us

for the rest of their lives.

[ Birds chirping ]

♪♪

-Using the birds' innate impulse
to follow their human mothers,

the team have spent the last
three months teaching the ibis

to follow a microlight airplane
through the skies.

[ Woman speaking German ]

The mission is to teach
these birds

the ancient migration routes
to their wintering grounds,

which are almost 900 kilometers
away, in central Italy.

[ Women shouting in German ]

[ Engine starts ]

Today is the moment of truth.

The team takes to the air...

♪♪

...with the ibis following
close behind.

♪♪

The birds' instincts kick in.

They fly in formation
and stay close to their mother.

♪♪

Each bird is fitted
with a radio tag

to track their route

and capture information
about how they migrate.

♪♪

The flight goes perfectly.

In total, they will cover
almost 900 kilometers.

A new hope for endangered birds
in Europe and across the world

becomes a reality.

-It is pretty amazing.

It's the best feeling,

actually flying
with the birds over the Alps.

And the birds are only following
because you are the person

that is sitting inside
the microlight.

They trust you so much, they
would go anywhere with you.

And I would have never believed
that there is the possibility

to bond with an animal
like that.

♪♪

-After intensive training,
all 30 birds make it

to their wintering grounds
in Italy...

locking the route into their
memory for future migrations.

One day,
they'll pass this knowledge on

to their own wild-born chicks.

♪♪

♪♪

Across Europe,

the success of reintroduction
programs like these

are turning back the clock

after decades of species
and habitat loss

and will help countless
other animals.

A helping hand
is all nature needs.

-Nature is so resilient,

and I think that's
what inspires me so much,

is that if you let it go,

you get the most
beautiful things coming back.

-In the Danube delta, the
rewilding of natural systems

is already having a huge impact,
as Europe discovers a new wild.

♪♪

[ Bird squawks ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

-To order "Europe's New Wild"
on DVD,

visit ShopPBS
or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

Also available
on Amazon Prime Video.

♪♪