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[soft instrumental music playing]
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[narrator] In southwest Asia,
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by the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea.
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A little-known story of life…
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- [bees buzz]
- [leopard growls]
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…in a land steeped in history,
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and landscapes shaped through millennia.
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Prepare your sensesfor Saudi Arabia's wildest secrets.
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[music builds]
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[oryx huffs]
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[birds squawking]
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[music fades]
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[wondrous music playing]
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[narrator] Above the refreshing waves,and under the water,
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a world of wonder thrives.
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Families of diverse animalslive, travel, hunt, and feed in harmony.
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[dolphins whistle]
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[narrator] The Red Sea is hometo a wealth of marine life.
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Nestled in its southeastern corner,
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the Farasan Islands and their waters
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are a Man and Biosphere programby UNESCO.
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This archipelagoof around 180 coral islands
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is protected for its rich biodiversity.
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Hidden beneath the surfaceis an abundance of marine life.
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[wondrous music continues]
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[rustling]
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[music fades]
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[mysterious music playing]
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[narrator]
From the smallest shoals of fish
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to the majestic manta ray,whose wingspan can exceed six meters.
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Possibly one of the mostprized sightings underwater
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is the magnificent whale shark,
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with its delicately spotted markings.
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Despite only feedingon plankton and small fish,
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they can grow up to 12 meters in length.
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[mysterious music continues]
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[narrator] Sharks,fast and efficient hunters,
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feared by some,
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are also crucial to the stabilityof this undersea habitat.
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Turtles play an important role
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in the ecological balanceof underwater life.
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They feed on a variety of sponges.
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If left alone,
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the sponges can slowand hinder the growth of coral reefs.
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As well, their continuous grazingof seagrass in shallow waters
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keeps it from growing rampant.
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Healthy seagrass beds are importantfor oxygenation and carbon reduction.
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Inadvertently, the turtles' dietpromotes a healthy ocean life.
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[mysterious music continues]
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- [birds chirping]
- [music fades]
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[narrator] Mangrove forests rangethe southwestern waters
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of the Jizan region.
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[flamingos squawk]
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[narrator] Mangroves arean invaluable natural carbon sink,
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sequestering more carbon per square milethan tropical forests.
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[flamingos squawk]
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[narrator] The mangroves alsohelp create sheltered lagoons,
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and greater flamingos flock hereto the shallow waters in their hundreds
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to feed and mate.
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These are the largest of all flamingos,averaging 1.1 to 1.5 meters tall.
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Flamingos are omnivores,
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and their diet of algae, shrimp,and crustaceans
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result in their vibrant pink plumage.
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Their method of eating is…
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unique.
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With their heads inverted,they work with their bristly tongues.
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The bent shape of the bill aidsin filtering the mud
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and silt from their food.
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[flamingos squawking]
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[narrator] In between their meals,
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flamingos make their nests of mud.
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[whimsical music playing]
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[narrator] These low moundskeep the eggs out of the salt water
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and provide slightly cooler temperatures.
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[flamingo chirps]
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[whimsical music continues]
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[flamingos squawking]
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[somber music playing]
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[narrator] In the colder seasons,
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many of the greater flamingos migrateto warmer climates,
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from India to southern Africa.
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Due to global warmingand the climatic changes on our planet,
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their habitatsare becoming more and more disrupted.
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They are forced to moveto more favorable habitats.
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[flamingos squawk]
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[somber music continues]
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[music fades]
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[wind whistling]
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[birds chirping]
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[instrumental folk music playing]
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[narrator]
Arabian gazelle are shy creatures.
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This particular subspeciesis endemic and rare.
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They graze and browse the native plants,
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adapted perfectlyfor surviving in this harsh landscape.
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Hunted and persecuted for decades,
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they are nervous animals,
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always keeping an eye out for danger.
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[music fades]
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[whimsical music playing]
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[gazelle grunts]
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[music fades]
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[water rippling]
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[birds chirping]
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[narrator] The mangroves are also hometo the pink-backed pelican.
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They are gregarious and live in colonies.
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Their nests are strong and durable,often lasting years,
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and are made in the safetyand security of the treetops.
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[ethereal music playing]
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[narrator] The pelicans take to the airto find their food
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and scan with their keen eyesight.
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Their fishing techniqueis to hunt singly or in groups.
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When on the water,
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they stab with their beaksat lightning speed
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to scoop up fish into their pouch,which can expand in size.
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They then let the water drainbefore swallowing their prey.
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With their stomachs fulland appetites met,
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they return to safe roosts.
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[music fades]
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[wind whistling]
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[mysterious music playing]
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[narrator] The kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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is known for its vast, rocky landscapes,home to the world's largest sand deserts.
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The oryx are Saudi's most iconic species.
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They are the symbol of the desert,and are well adapted to live here.
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Their distinctive white furhelps them thermo-regulate their bodies
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by reflecting the harsh sunlight.
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So, despite the desert regularly reachingabove 55 degrees centigrade,
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these antelope are ableto maintain their body temperatures
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at around 38 degrees centigrade.
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Oryx are social,
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and their herds range in size
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from single pairsto several dozen animals.
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Outside the breeding season,
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the males will often livein bachelor herds,
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or on their own,
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roaming the landscapefor food, water, and shade.
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Even though they arethe world's smallest species of oryx,
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their tall, elegant hornsare well-proportioned for their size,
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and reach lengths of 70 centimeters.
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The horns evolved to serve two purposes.
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Primarily as protection against predators,
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and secondly,for the males to joust in courtship.
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Their lives are nomadic
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and their journey is endless.
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[music fades]
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[dramatic music playing]
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[narrator] Spring is the prime seasonfor dust sandstorms.
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They are the sculptors of the landscape,
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ever-changing the terrain over millennia.
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Fast, aggressive windsbuild and shape rolling dunes,
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some as high as 250 meters.
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Winds can reach 80 kilometers per hour,
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carving even the hardest rocks.
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Animals have no choicebut to take shelter until they subside.
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The oryx turn their backsand face downwind
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to protect their eyes.
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[wind whistling sharply]
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[suspenseful music playing]
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[narrator] It's impossibleto fly during a sandstorm,
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so birds landand seek refuge amongst the rocks.
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[music fades]
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[steady skittering]
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[mysterious music playing]
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[narrator] Despite their size,
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desert ants are extremely well-suitedto the environment.
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In their thousands,
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they harvest the scattered seedsdislodged by the storm
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and take them backto their nests underground
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to stock their larder.
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[mysterious music continues]
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[narrator]
Surviving the intensity of the desert
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is a game of energy conservation.
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In the long periods of time between meals,
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the desert Agama soaks up sunlight.
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Cold-blooded reptiles relyon intense heat,
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retaining the warmthto last them the cool desert nights.
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[music fades]
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[lively music playing]
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[narrator] In landscapes where foodis abundant,
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things can be a little more relaxed.
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[lively music continues]
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[music fades]
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[somber music playing]
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[narrator] Living in the desert
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is a challenge for all.
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The gazelle cannot withstand the sunfor too long.
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It is vital for them to find shade
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to prevent their bodies from overheatingand regulate at healthy levels.
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The landscape is unforgiving.
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In the summer,food is scarce and hard to find.
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Stamina and energy conservationare essential to lasting in the desert.
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[sand crunching underfoot]
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[jazzy music playing]
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[wind blowing]
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[animal cry]
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[ostrich trilling]
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[narrator]
This is the red-necked African ostrich.
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They were brought to Saudi in 1994,
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replacing the Arabian ostrichthat went extinct in 1941.
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They are well-suited for the desert,
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withstanding hot temperatures
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and surviving on moisturefrom the plants they eat.
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To aid digestion,
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ostriches eat sand and small stones
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alongside their dietof seeds and roots, insects and reptiles.
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Their feathers are loose,
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soft and smooth,
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which can keep them cool in the heat.
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In small groups,
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they range the local flora.
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[jazzy music continues]
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[music fades]
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[whimsical music playing]
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[music fades]
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- [wind whistling]
- [mysterious music playing]
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[narrator]
In the southwest corner of Saudi Arabia
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stands the Asir Mountains.
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Rising over 9,000 feet above sea level,
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it's the perfect vantage spotfor a bird of prey.
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The griffon vulture has evolved to beone of the world's most efficient flyers.
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With their broad wingspanof over 2.5 meters,
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they can soaron thermal updrafts with ease,
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flying all day, with barely a wing flapfor prolonged periods,
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to spot their next meal.
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Like other vultures,
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they are scavengers.
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With their extremely keen eyesight,
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they can spot a carcassfrom up to ten kilometers.
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- [birds chirping]
- [music fades]
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[serene music playing]
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[narrator] Despite it being harsh and dry,
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the Nubian ibex manage to scrape a livingin this challenging environment.
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[birds chirping]
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[narrator] This beige ibex,with its distinctive large, curved horns,
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grazes and browses on grasses and shrubs,
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and although the ibex needs to drink,they can go days without water.
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[ibex chomping]
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[hoofbeats clopping]
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[serene music continues]
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[wind blowing]
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[mysterious music playing]
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[narrator] High above the dry deserts
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rise the Asir Mountains.
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Every day, magic happens here.
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Warm moist air from the coast condensesas it ascends to the mountaintops.
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Rolling clouds and fog pass throughas the temperature drops,
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providing moisture to the local trees.
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In this rough and rocky range,junipers thrive,
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even at 9,000 feet above sea level.
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But not without help.
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Draped over the brancheshang curtains of bromeliads.
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The trees provide a frameon which these plants can grow,
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and in return,
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the bromeliads captureand share moisture with its host.
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[lively music playing]
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[narrator] Native to this regionare hamadryas baboons.
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[yawns]
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[narrator] Their troops can consist ofas many as 100 individuals.
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Together, they navigate the rocky slopes,
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ascending and descending the mountain,depending on the season and temperature.
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Baboons are omnivorousand feed on pretty much anything,
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including buckthorn, acacia, wild flowers,birds' eggs, insects, and reptiles.
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00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:26,320
[birds squawking]
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00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,520
[music fades]
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[baboons grunting]
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[narrator] The youngsters are playful.
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This is how they developtheir social skills.
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[baboons grunt, squeal]
269
00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,480
[baboons screech]
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00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:04,960
[baboons screech, grunt]
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[soft instrumental music playing]
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00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,440
[narrator] Living at these altitudeshas its advantages.
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00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:31,800
However, accidents happen.
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One misstep can result in injury.
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[baboons grunt]
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00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,040
[narrator] Despite these hardships,
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like all families, they remain together.
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[baboons grunt]
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[dramatic music playing]
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00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:37,120
[narrator] As the sun starts to set,they climb to sleep in the cliffs.
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[music fades]
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00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,400
[flames crackling]
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00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,320
[narrator]
With temperatures increasing globally,
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00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,000
it's not only the wildlife that suffers.
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00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:12,200
Dry, arid environments can be recipesfor disaster in warmer climates.
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00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,520
Wildfires are a natural phenomena,
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00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:17,920
but are becoming more frequent and severe
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00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:22,080
as temperatures riseand human-induced factors increase.
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00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:25,640
Once they start, they are hard to contain,
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00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,080
particularly in remote regions,
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00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,160
and can ruthlessly decimate landscapes.
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[somber music playing]
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00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:38,040
[narrator] Vast areas of forestscan be engulfed in a matter of days,
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leaving them scorched,
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00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:41,640
black and bare.
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00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,080
Habitats scarred,
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desolate, and barren.
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Charred wood and ash
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is often all that remains.
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00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:07,000
Few are lucky to survivethe intense heat and harsh flames.
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00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:22,200
However, whilst unfortunate,this is all part of a natural cycle.
302
00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:27,080
[thunder rumbling]
303
00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,200
[narrator] The seasonal dropin temperatures
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00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,520
bring heavy rain and storms,
305
00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:35,800
replenishing the parched earthand offering relief to the land.
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00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:39,840
Nutrients and moisture are returned.
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00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:46,280
- [hopeful music playing]
- [thunder rumbling]
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00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,480
[narrator] Life is given another chanceto start again,
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00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,160
to bounce back and thrive.
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00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:24,840
Life always finds a way.
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00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:26,840
[music fades]
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00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,520
[birds chirping]
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00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,000
[narrator] Deeper in the valleys,
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all of nature's ingredients come together.
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00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:37,840
The recipe for abundant life.
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00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:39,720
The result,
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an oasis.
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Heaven in a desert.
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00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,000
Just add waterand plants of all varieties.
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Wildlife of all shapes and sizes…
321
00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:53,160
thrive.
322
00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,560
[soft wondrous music playing]
323
00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:00,640
[narrator] Traveling through the kingdom,
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00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:04,560
it remains clear that water brings life.
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00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:12,200
Beneath even the shallow watersof trickling streams,
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00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:16,360
the toad is able to grow, hunt, and mate.
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00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:21,120
Their small livesare the result of this delicate balance,
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00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,600
much neededfor a strong, healthy ecosystem.
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00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:29,600
[eccentric music playing]
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00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:34,920
[narrator] On Shadah Mountain,
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00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,720
honey bees frequent aloe plantsfor pollen.
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00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:39,800
This is to produce honey,
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00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:44,600
- food for their colonies.
- [bees buzz]
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00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,720
[narrator] The Palestine sunbirdalso visits the floral bounty.
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00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,880
The maleis a flying gem of iridescent colors.
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00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:03,440
Their bill is long and down-curved,adapted to extract nectar from flowers.
337
00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:04,960
[music fades]
338
00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:07,960
[narrator] Birds play a rolein forest growth,
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00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,120
spreading seeds as they feed.
340
00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:15,640
The African gray hornbill feaston the cacti fruit.
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00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:19,280
Paddle cactus produce prickly pears,
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00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,440
and they are nutritious to the bird.
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00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,560
[soft instrumental music playing]
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00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:31,040
[narrator] Rüppell weaversskillfully source grass, twigs, and roots
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00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,680
to thread pendulous nests in the trees,
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00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,720
to lay their eggs and raise their chicks.
347
00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:44,000
[soft instrumental music continues]
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00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:51,800
[narrator] Camels have long beenan integral part of the country.
349
00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,080
Their presence here is as ancient as ours.
350
00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,280
[camel groans]
351
00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:07,280
[camel groans]
352
00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:17,880
[camels grunt]
353
00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,200
- [music fades]
- [camel groans]
354
00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:33,040
- [gentle music playing]
- [camel moans]
355
00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:40,920
[narrator] The milk produced by camelsis tasty.
356
00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:44,680
It's high in antioxidants, vitamins,and minerals.
357
00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:47,840
It's long played a part of the Saudi diet.
358
00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:54,560
- [music fades]
- [birds chirping]
359
00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:59,240
[narrator] There's an increased effortto switch to agroecology,
360
00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,880
a farming disciplinethat's better at sustaining the land.
361
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,400
This technique eases the stresson the landscape
362
00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:08,520
and reduces the use of water.
363
00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:12,440
[buzzing]
364
00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:17,240
[narrator] Fig trees are resilient,with deep roots,
365
00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:20,200
and can surviveon sparse amounts of rainfall.
366
00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:23,440
[pensive music playing]
367
00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:33,280
[narrator] Using better farmingand cultivation practices
368
00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:35,840
means we can enjoy nature's bounty,
369
00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,720
such as papaya and oranges,
370
00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:41,480
while minimizing damage to the planet.
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00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,120
If we are goingto live and survive with nature,
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00:34:47,240 --> 00:34:52,120
we must adapt and strike a balancethat sustains local ecosystems.
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00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:56,920
[music fades]
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00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:01,240
[bees buzzing]
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00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:07,840
[narrator] In Asir City,
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00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:10,760
traditional beekeeping practiceshave been passed down
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00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:13,560
by generations of farmers for centuries.
378
00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,600
There are an estimated 4,000 beekeepers,
379
00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:21,760
tending a staggering 700,000 beehives.
380
00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:25,680
[soft wondrous music playing]
381
00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:28,960
[narrator] Our relationshipwith this insect is symbiotic.
382
00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:31,760
We provide them a home to colonize,
383
00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:34,520
and in return, we harvest their honey.
384
00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:41,760
- [soft wondrous music continues]
- [bees buzz]
385
00:35:50,720 --> 00:35:54,520
[narrator] Around 3,500 tons of honeyare harvested every year.
386
00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:02,920
Approximately 70% of the bees kept here
387
00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:05,280
are native Apis populations.
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00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:11,120
[bee buzzing]
389
00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,400
[music fades]
390
00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:23,360
[birds chirping]
391
00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,280
[narrator] The chameleon livesamong banana plants.
392
00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:33,160
They feed on flies and insectsattracted to the sweet fruit sugars.
393
00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:36,600
With opposing toes on each foot,
394
00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:41,000
they are able to make a firm graspof the twigs and branches as they climb,
395
00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:45,200
and can use their prehensile tailsas a fifth hand,
396
00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:47,200
wrapping it around any shape
397
00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:49,960
to anchor their positionas they move and hunt.
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00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:53,080
Their two eyes can swivel independently,
399
00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:55,600
perfect for keeping an eye out for prey,
400
00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:57,960
as well as avoiding predators.
401
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,480
[dramatic music playing]
402
00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:13,840
[narrator]
One of Saudi Arabia's greatest animals
403
00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:15,160
is in trouble.
404
00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:20,120
[leopard growls]
405
00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:31,360
[leopard growls]
406
00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:40,880
[narrator] This is the Arabian leopard.
407
00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:55,000
[leopard grunts]
408
00:37:57,360 --> 00:37:59,200
[narrator]
Through conservation initiatives,
409
00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:01,160
the Royal Commission for Al-'Ula
410
00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:04,440
aims to restorethe Arabian leopard population.
411
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:06,400
The final goal,
412
00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,320
reintroduce the speciesinto the wilderness,
413
00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:12,400
- to the mountains of Al-'Ula.
- [leopard whines]
414
00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:19,920
[muffled voices]
415
00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:22,800
[narrator] At the center, using CCTV,
416
00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:26,080
the caretakers monitor the leopardsday and night.
417
00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:32,000
[soft instrumental music playing]
418
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:41,520
[leopard growls]
419
00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,080
[narrator]
Classified as critically endangered
420
00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:47,280
by the International Unionfor the Conservation of Nature,
421
00:38:47,720 --> 00:38:51,240
it is estimatedthat fewer than 200 Arabian leopards
422
00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:52,560
are left in the wild.
423
00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:54,800
It's up to us
424
00:38:54,880 --> 00:38:57,840
to look afterthese globally threatened animals.
425
00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,480
[music fades]
426
00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:08,920
[narrator] In the future,
427
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:11,640
we hope to seemore of these animals in the wild.
428
00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:16,160
Meanwhile,it's our duty to ensure their well-being.
429
00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:20,000
This includes letting them playto get some exercise.
430
00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:23,440
[pensive music playing]
431
00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:30,080
[music intensifies]
432
00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,080
[leopard growls]
433
00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:03,800
[leopard snarls]
434
00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,800
[leopard growls]
435
00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:29,360
- [leopard growls]
- [music fades]
436
00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:31,000
[birds squawking]
437
00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:39,000
[narrator] These are the fishermenof the Farasan Island.
438
00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,000
There is no industrial fishing here.
439
00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:47,120
Fishing here is treatedas a respectful artisan practice only.
440
00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:51,680
There is a collective effortto protect the balance of species
441
00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:55,880
and to not over-fish,in order to maintain healthy stocks.
442
00:40:56,720 --> 00:40:58,640
[soft instrumental music playing]
443
00:40:59,880 --> 00:41:02,640
[narrator] Here,men fish with hand-thrown nets.
444
00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:06,560
Afterwards,they return to the port with their catch,
445
00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:09,360
where the fish are soldto locals on the coast.
446
00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:17,840
[suspenseful music playing]
447
00:41:17,960 --> 00:41:20,840
[narrator] Adult turtles lay their eggson the beach.
448
00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:25,560
They have nested on our sandy shoresfor thousands of years.
449
00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:27,800
They do so at night,
450
00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:29,360
in the safety of darkness.
451
00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:31,880
After the eggs are laid,
452
00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:33,600
they return to the water.
453
00:41:55,720 --> 00:41:56,800
Once hatched,
454
00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:00,280
the baby turtles instinctively movetowards the brightest light.
455
00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,480
Usually, this would lead themto the ocean,
456
00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:06,640
as they crawltoward the night sky spanning above.
457
00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:11,960
Cities and traffic lights confuse themand lead them astray.
458
00:42:17,280 --> 00:42:19,640
These beaches have drastically changed.
459
00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:23,200
Plastic waste pollutes the once-soft sands
460
00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:26,880
and creates obstaclesfor the turtles trying to reach the water.
461
00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,840
Humans have made it harderfor them to survive,
462
00:42:31,120 --> 00:42:32,200
and over the years,
463
00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:35,400
fewer turtles make it safely to the ocean.
464
00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:40,920
[wondrous music playing]
465
00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:43,720
[narrator] However,our wrongs can be righted.
466
00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:45,600
In the early morning,
467
00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:48,560
rangers patrol the fencebetween the beach and the city.
468
00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:52,120
They look for stragglers,the survivors of the night,
469
00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:53,960
and bring them to the ocean.
470
00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:57,640
This small act has saved many turtles,
471
00:42:57,920 --> 00:43:01,120
but every effort must be madeto clean our beaches too.
472
00:43:02,040 --> 00:43:04,920
Perhaps we should re-designcoastal city lighting
473
00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:07,640
as to not mislead this vulnerable species.
474
00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:11,560
Survival should be made easierfor the innocent,
475
00:43:11,960 --> 00:43:15,920
and we have the capacityand compassion to do so.
476
00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:19,320
This is just one example of many ways
477
00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:23,360
we can help wildlife returnto some form of normality.
478
00:43:32,440 --> 00:43:34,160
[music fades]
479
00:43:51,120 --> 00:43:53,680
[narrator] Plastic in our watersis a huge problem.
480
00:43:54,720 --> 00:43:58,920
Turtles often confuseplastic carrier bags for jellyfish,
481
00:43:59,520 --> 00:44:01,320
and die as a result.
482
00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:05,880
Deaths are also caused by entanglement.
483
00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:11,120
The short convenience of plastic
484
00:44:11,560 --> 00:44:14,640
has a massively long consequenceon the environment.
485
00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:20,480
[gentle music playing]
486
00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:25,720
[narrator] Efforts have been madeto reduce plastic waste from the ocean.
487
00:44:26,560 --> 00:44:29,400
Recycling, reusing, and up-cycling
488
00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:33,040
are all methods usedto limit pollution and plastic use.
489
00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:37,560
In the meantime,there is a lot of litter to clean up.
490
00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:46,040
One method of regenerating our landscape
491
00:44:46,240 --> 00:44:48,000
is to plant native trees.
492
00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:51,320
Mangroves are more than a suitable answer.
493
00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:54,200
They thrive in low-oxygen soil,
494
00:44:54,480 --> 00:44:57,720
where slow-moving watersallow sediments to gather.
495
00:44:58,520 --> 00:45:01,840
In time,as mangrove forests grow and spread,
496
00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:05,160
local wildlifewill be encouraged to return.
497
00:45:06,040 --> 00:45:09,640
Here, they can feed, nest, and repopulate.
498
00:45:09,720 --> 00:45:11,640
[flamingos squawk]
499
00:45:15,960 --> 00:45:19,080
[pensive music playing]
500
00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:25,200
[narrator] At King Abdullah Universityfor Science and Technology,
501
00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:28,280
research is being done to save the coral.
502
00:45:29,360 --> 00:45:31,440
Coral is threatened by climate change,
503
00:45:31,720 --> 00:45:35,600
with increasing temperaturescausing inhospitable environments.
504
00:45:36,200 --> 00:45:38,640
Artificial coral bases are 3D-scanned,
505
00:45:38,920 --> 00:45:40,240
and replicas are made.
506
00:45:41,400 --> 00:45:45,800
A small number of live coral fragmentsare then applied to these bases.
507
00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:50,160
These small coral pieces grow fasterthan larger ones,
508
00:45:50,240 --> 00:45:52,600
and are quick to join each otheron the models.
509
00:45:56,600 --> 00:46:00,320
They are grown furtherin artificially warmer water than the sea.
510
00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:04,360
This makes them tougherand more tolerant of higher temperatures.
511
00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:07,560
A whole variety are cultivated this way
512
00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:11,280
to match the over 300 coral speciesof the Red Sea.
513
00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:18,720
[pensive music continues]
514
00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:24,680
[narrative] When large enough,
515
00:46:24,760 --> 00:46:28,800
they are returned to the oceanand planted amongst the dying coral.
516
00:46:30,600 --> 00:46:33,600
In time,these coral will grow to be stronger
517
00:46:33,680 --> 00:46:36,800
and better suitedto withstand an element of climate change.
518
00:46:37,480 --> 00:46:40,400
Additionally,they'll provide food and shelter
519
00:46:40,560 --> 00:46:43,480
for local fish populationsand marine life.
520
00:46:49,240 --> 00:46:51,200
[music fades]
521
00:46:55,880 --> 00:47:00,400
[gentle music playing]
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00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:01,520
[chick chirping]
523
00:47:01,600 --> 00:47:05,880
[narrator] Flying above the sea,the fish hawk, also known as the osprey,
524
00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:08,280
is a resident of the Farasan Island.
525
00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:15,000
[gentle music continues]
526
00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:19,600
[chick chirping]
527
00:47:22,280 --> 00:47:24,760
[narrator] They are efficientand exceptional hunters.
528
00:47:25,440 --> 00:47:27,880
They have long legs and large talons,
529
00:47:28,400 --> 00:47:30,080
and their feet on the underside
530
00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:33,680
are coveredwith small spines called spicules,
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00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:35,560
which hold their catch securely.
532
00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:49,800
The chicks won't fledgeuntil over seven weeks.
533
00:47:50,240 --> 00:47:53,960
Until then, they rely on their parentsto bring food to the nest.
534
00:47:55,360 --> 00:47:57,480
The birds have evolved hooked beaks,
535
00:47:57,880 --> 00:48:00,360
perfect for tearing the flesh of a fish.
536
00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:02,600
[chick chirping]
537
00:48:04,760 --> 00:48:05,960
[hawk screeching]
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00:48:07,800 --> 00:48:09,960
[music fades]
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00:48:25,160 --> 00:48:26,840
[hawk chirps]
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00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:30,120
[dramatic music playing]
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00:48:30,200 --> 00:48:32,480
[narrator] Ospreys are knownto pair for life,
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00:48:33,000 --> 00:48:37,880
and their nests, known as an eyrie,can be used and added to year on year.
543
00:48:38,640 --> 00:48:42,880
Some nests are known to be usedfor over 20 years by the same pair.
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00:48:47,160 --> 00:48:50,120
[hawk screeching]
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00:48:51,720 --> 00:48:53,680
[narrator] The world is not ours alone.
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00:48:54,360 --> 00:48:58,280
Whilst we benefit in many waysfrom what the land and nature provides,
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00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:00,640
we must look after the planet.
548
00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:02,560
For us to survive,
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00:49:02,640 --> 00:49:05,120
we must learn to livein harmony with nature
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00:49:05,280 --> 00:49:06,520
and change our ways
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00:49:06,600 --> 00:49:09,720
in orderto ensure sustained health and well-being
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00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:12,040
for all of Earth's inhabitants.
553
00:49:12,120 --> 00:49:16,960
[dramatic music continues]
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00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:11,520
[music fades]
47353
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