All language subtitles for Horizon.2024.1080p.NF.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.Atmos.H.264-MiKA3LS0N_track4_[eng]

[soft instrumental music playing]

[narrator] In southwest Asia,

by the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea.

A little-known story of life…

- [bees buzz]
- [leopard growls]

…in a land steeped in history,

and landscapes shaped through millennia.

Prepare your senses
for Saudi Arabia's wildest secrets.

[music builds]

[oryx huffs]

[birds squawking]

[music fades]

[wondrous music playing]

[narrator] Above the refreshing waves,
and under the water,

a world of wonder thrives.

Families of diverse animals
live, travel, hunt, and feed in harmony.

[dolphins whistle]

[narrator] The Red Sea is home
to a wealth of marine life.

Nestled in its southeastern corner,

the Farasan Islands and their waters

are a Man and Biosphere program
by UNESCO.

This archipelago
of around 180 coral islands

is protected for its rich biodiversity.

Hidden beneath the surface
is an abundance of marine life.

[wondrous music continues]

[rustling]

[music fades]

[mysterious music playing]

[narrator]
From the smallest shoals of fish

to the majestic manta ray,
whose wingspan can exceed six meters.

Possibly one of the most
prized sightings underwater

is the magnificent whale shark,

with its delicately spotted markings.

Despite only feeding
on plankton and small fish,

they can grow up to 12 meters in length.

[mysterious music continues]

[narrator] Sharks,
fast and efficient hunters,

feared by some,

are also crucial to the stability
of this undersea habitat.

Turtles play an important role

in the ecological balance
of underwater life.

They feed on a variety of sponges.

If left alone,

the sponges can slow
and hinder the growth of coral reefs.

As well, their continuous grazing
of seagrass in shallow waters

keeps it from growing rampant.

Healthy seagrass beds are important
for oxygenation and carbon reduction.

Inadvertently, the turtles' diet
promotes a healthy ocean life.

[mysterious music continues]

- [birds chirping]
- [music fades]

[narrator] Mangrove forests range
the southwestern waters

of the Jizan region.

[flamingos squawk]

[narrator] Mangroves are
an invaluable natural carbon sink,

sequestering more carbon per square mile
than tropical forests.

[flamingos squawk]

[narrator] The mangroves also
help create sheltered lagoons,

and greater flamingos flock here
to the shallow waters in their hundreds

to feed and mate.

These are the largest of all flamingos,
averaging 1.1 to 1.5 meters tall.

Flamingos are omnivores,

and their diet of algae, shrimp,
and crustaceans

result in their vibrant pink plumage.

Their method of eating is…

unique.

With their heads inverted,
they work with their bristly tongues.

The bent shape of the bill aids
in filtering the mud

and silt from their food.

[flamingos squawking]

[narrator] In between their meals,

flamingos make their nests of mud.

[whimsical music playing]

[narrator] These low mounds
keep the eggs out of the salt water

and provide slightly cooler temperatures.

[flamingo chirps]

[whimsical music continues]

[flamingos squawking]

[somber music playing]

[narrator] In the colder seasons,

many of the greater flamingos migrate
to warmer climates,

from India to southern Africa.

Due to global warming
and the climatic changes on our planet,

their habitats
are becoming more and more disrupted.

They are forced to move
to more favorable habitats.

[flamingos squawk]

[somber music continues]

[music fades]

[wind whistling]

[birds chirping]

[instrumental folk music playing]

[narrator]
Arabian gazelle are shy creatures.

This particular subspecies
is endemic and rare.

They graze and browse the native plants,

adapted perfectly
for surviving in this harsh landscape.

Hunted and persecuted for decades,

they are nervous animals,

always keeping an eye out for danger.

[music fades]

[whimsical music playing]

[gazelle grunts]

[music fades]

[water rippling]

[birds chirping]

[narrator] The mangroves are also home
to the pink-backed pelican.

They are gregarious and live in colonies.

Their nests are strong and durable,
often lasting years,

and are made in the safety
and security of the treetops.

[ethereal music playing]

[narrator] The pelicans take to the air
to find their food

and scan with their keen eyesight.

Their fishing technique
is to hunt singly or in groups.

When on the water,

they stab with their beaks
at lightning speed

to scoop up fish into their pouch,
which can expand in size.

They then let the water drain
before swallowing their prey.

With their stomachs full
and appetites met,

they return to safe roosts.

[music fades]

[wind whistling]

[mysterious music playing]

[narrator] The kingdom of Saudi Arabia

is known for its vast, rocky landscapes,
home to the world's largest sand deserts.

The oryx are Saudi's most iconic species.

They are the symbol of the desert,
and are well adapted to live here.

Their distinctive white fur
helps them thermo-regulate their bodies

by reflecting the harsh sunlight.

So, despite the desert regularly reaching
above 55 degrees centigrade,

these antelope are able
to maintain their body temperatures

at around 38 degrees centigrade.

Oryx are social,

and their herds range in size

from single pairs
to several dozen animals.

Outside the breeding season,

the males will often live
in bachelor herds,

or on their own,

roaming the landscape
for food, water, and shade.

Even though they are
the world's smallest species of oryx,

their tall, elegant horns
are well-proportioned for their size,

and reach lengths of 70 centimeters.

The horns evolved to serve two purposes.

Primarily as protection against predators,

and secondly,
for the males to joust in courtship.

Their lives are nomadic

and their journey is endless.

[music fades]

[dramatic music playing]

[narrator] Spring is the prime season
for dust sandstorms.

They are the sculptors of the landscape,

ever-changing the terrain over millennia.

Fast, aggressive winds
build and shape rolling dunes,

some as high as 250 meters.

Winds can reach 80 kilometers per hour,

carving even the hardest rocks.

Animals have no choice
but to take shelter until they subside.

The oryx turn their backs
and face downwind

to protect their eyes.

[wind whistling sharply]

[suspenseful music playing]

[narrator] It's impossible
to fly during a sandstorm,

so birds land
and seek refuge amongst the rocks.

[music fades]

[steady skittering]

[mysterious music playing]

[narrator] Despite their size,

desert ants are extremely well-suited
to the environment.

In their thousands,

they harvest the scattered seeds
dislodged by the storm

and take them back
to their nests underground

to stock their larder.

[mysterious music continues]

[narrator]
Surviving the intensity of the desert

is a game of energy conservation.

In the long periods of time between meals,

the desert Agama soaks up sunlight.

Cold-blooded reptiles rely
on intense heat,

retaining the warmth
to last them the cool desert nights.

[music fades]

[lively music playing]

[narrator] In landscapes where food
is abundant,

things can be a little more relaxed.

[lively music continues]

[music fades]

[somber music playing]

[narrator] Living in the desert

is a challenge for all.

The gazelle cannot withstand the sun
for too long.

It is vital for them to find shade

to prevent their bodies from overheating
and regulate at healthy levels.

The landscape is unforgiving.

In the summer,
food is scarce and hard to find.

Stamina and energy conservation
are essential to lasting in the desert.

[sand crunching underfoot]

[jazzy music playing]

[wind blowing]

[animal cry]

[ostrich trilling]

[narrator]
This is the red-necked African ostrich.

They were brought to Saudi in 1994,

replacing the Arabian ostrich
that went extinct in 1941.

They are well-suited for the desert,

withstanding hot temperatures

and surviving on moisture
from the plants they eat.

To aid digestion,

ostriches eat sand and small stones

alongside their diet
of seeds and roots, insects and reptiles.

Their feathers are loose,

soft and smooth,

which can keep them cool in the heat.

In small groups,

they range the local flora.

[jazzy music continues]

[music fades]

[whimsical music playing]

[music fades]

- [wind whistling]
- [mysterious music playing]

[narrator]
In the southwest corner of Saudi Arabia

stands the Asir Mountains.

Rising over 9,000 feet above sea level,

it's the perfect vantage spot
for a bird of prey.

The griffon vulture has evolved to be
one of the world's most efficient flyers.

With their broad wingspan
of over 2.5 meters,

they can soar
on thermal updrafts with ease,

flying all day, with barely a wing flap
for prolonged periods,

to spot their next meal.

Like other vultures,

they are scavengers.

With their extremely keen eyesight,

they can spot a carcass
from up to ten kilometers.

- [birds chirping]
- [music fades]

[serene music playing]

[narrator] Despite it being harsh and dry,

the Nubian ibex manage to scrape a living
in this challenging environment.

[birds chirping]

[narrator] This beige ibex,
with its distinctive large, curved horns,

grazes and browses on grasses and shrubs,

and although the ibex needs to drink,
they can go days without water.

[ibex chomping]

[hoofbeats clopping]

[serene music continues]

[wind blowing]

[mysterious music playing]

[narrator] High above the dry deserts

rise the Asir Mountains.

Every day, magic happens here.

Warm moist air from the coast condenses
as it ascends to the mountaintops.

Rolling clouds and fog pass through
as the temperature drops,

providing moisture to the local trees.

In this rough and rocky range,
junipers thrive,

even at 9,000 feet above sea level.

But not without help.

Draped over the branches
hang curtains of bromeliads.

The trees provide a frame
on which these plants can grow,

and in return,

the bromeliads capture
and share moisture with its host.

[lively music playing]

[narrator] Native to this region
are hamadryas baboons.

[yawns]

[narrator] Their troops can consist of
as many as 100 individuals.

Together, they navigate the rocky slopes,

ascending and descending the mountain,
depending on the season and temperature.

Baboons are omnivorous
and feed on pretty much anything,

including buckthorn, acacia, wild flowers,
birds' eggs, insects, and reptiles.

[birds squawking]

[music fades]

[baboons grunting]

[narrator] The youngsters are playful.

This is how they develop
their social skills.

[baboons grunt, squeal]

[baboons screech]

[baboons screech, grunt]

[soft instrumental music playing]

[narrator] Living at these altitudes
has its advantages.

However, accidents happen.

One misstep can result in injury.

[baboons grunt]

[narrator] Despite these hardships,

like all families, they remain together.

[baboons grunt]

[dramatic music playing]

[narrator] As the sun starts to set,
they climb to sleep in the cliffs.

[music fades]

[flames crackling]

[narrator]
With temperatures increasing globally,

it's not only the wildlife that suffers.

Dry, arid environments can be recipes
for disaster in warmer climates.

Wildfires are a natural phenomena,

but are becoming more frequent and severe

as temperatures rise
and human-induced factors increase.

Once they start, they are hard to contain,

particularly in remote regions,

and can ruthlessly decimate landscapes.

[somber music playing]

[narrator] Vast areas of forests
can be engulfed in a matter of days,

leaving them scorched,

black and bare.

Habitats scarred,

desolate, and barren.

Charred wood and ash

is often all that remains.

Few are lucky to survive
the intense heat and harsh flames.

However, whilst unfortunate,
this is all part of a natural cycle.

[thunder rumbling]

[narrator] The seasonal drop
in temperatures

bring heavy rain and storms,

replenishing the parched earth
and offering relief to the land.

Nutrients and moisture are returned.

- [hopeful music playing]
- [thunder rumbling]

[narrator] Life is given another chance
to start again,

to bounce back and thrive.

Life always finds a way.

[music fades]

[birds chirping]

[narrator] Deeper in the valleys,

all of nature's ingredients come together.

The recipe for abundant life.

The result,

an oasis.

Heaven in a desert.

Just add water
and plants of all varieties.

Wildlife of all shapes and sizes…

thrive.

[soft wondrous music playing]

[narrator] Traveling through the kingdom,

it remains clear that water brings life.

Beneath even the shallow waters
of trickling streams,

the toad is able to grow, hunt, and mate.

Their small lives
are the result of this delicate balance,

much needed
for a strong, healthy ecosystem.

[eccentric music playing]

[narrator] On Shadah Mountain,

honey bees frequent aloe plants
for pollen.

This is to produce honey,

- food for their colonies.
- [bees buzz]

[narrator] The Palestine sunbird
also visits the floral bounty.

The male
is a flying gem of iridescent colors.

Their bill is long and down-curved,
adapted to extract nectar from flowers.

[music fades]

[narrator] Birds play a role
in forest growth,

spreading seeds as they feed.

The African gray hornbill feast
on the cacti fruit.

Paddle cactus produce prickly pears,

and they are nutritious to the bird.

[soft instrumental music playing]

[narrator] Rüppell weavers
skillfully source grass, twigs, and roots

to thread pendulous nests in the trees,

to lay their eggs and raise their chicks.

[soft instrumental music continues]

[narrator] Camels have long been
an integral part of the country.

Their presence here is as ancient as ours.

[camel groans]

[camel groans]

[camels grunt]

- [music fades]
- [camel groans]

- [gentle music playing]
- [camel moans]

[narrator] The milk produced by camels
is tasty.

It's high in antioxidants, vitamins,
and minerals.

It's long played a part of the Saudi diet.

- [music fades]
- [birds chirping]

[narrator] There's an increased effort
to switch to agroecology,

a farming discipline
that's better at sustaining the land.

This technique eases the stress
on the landscape

and reduces the use of water.

[buzzing]

[narrator] Fig trees are resilient,
with deep roots,

and can survive
on sparse amounts of rainfall.

[pensive music playing]

[narrator] Using better farming
and cultivation practices

means we can enjoy nature's bounty,

such as papaya and oranges,

while minimizing damage to the planet.

If we are going
to live and survive with nature,

we must adapt and strike a balance
that sustains local ecosystems.

[music fades]

[bees buzzing]

[narrator] In Asir City,

traditional beekeeping practices
have been passed down

by generations of farmers for centuries.

There are an estimated 4,000 beekeepers,

tending a staggering 700,000 beehives.

[soft wondrous music playing]

[narrator] Our relationship
with this insect is symbiotic.

We provide them a home to colonize,

and in return, we harvest their honey.

- [soft wondrous music continues]
- [bees buzz]

[narrator] Around 3,500 tons of honey
are harvested every year.

Approximately 70% of the bees kept here

are native Apis populations.

[bee buzzing]

[music fades]

[birds chirping]

[narrator] The chameleon lives
among banana plants.

They feed on flies and insects
attracted to the sweet fruit sugars.

With opposing toes on each foot,

they are able to make a firm grasp
of the twigs and branches as they climb,

and can use their prehensile tails
as a fifth hand,

wrapping it around any shape

to anchor their position
as they move and hunt.

Their two eyes can swivel independently,

perfect for keeping an eye out for prey,

as well as avoiding predators.

[dramatic music playing]

[narrator]
One of Saudi Arabia's greatest animals

is in trouble.

[leopard growls]

[leopard growls]

[narrator] This is the Arabian leopard.

[leopard grunts]

[narrator]
Through conservation initiatives,

the Royal Commission for Al-'Ula

aims to restore
the Arabian leopard population.

The final goal,

reintroduce the species
into the wilderness,

- to the mountains of Al-'Ula.
- [leopard whines]

[muffled voices]

[narrator] At the center, using CCTV,

the caretakers monitor the leopards
day and night.

[soft instrumental music playing]

[leopard growls]

[narrator]
Classified as critically endangered

by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature,

it is estimated
that fewer than 200 Arabian leopards

are left in the wild.

It's up to us

to look after
these globally threatened animals.

[music fades]

[narrator] In the future,

we hope to see
more of these animals in the wild.

Meanwhile,
it's our duty to ensure their well-being.

This includes letting them play
to get some exercise.

[pensive music playing]

[music intensifies]

[leopard growls]

[leopard snarls]

[leopard growls]

- [leopard growls]
- [music fades]

[birds squawking]

[narrator] These are the fishermen
of the Farasan Island.

There is no industrial fishing here.

Fishing here is treated
as a respectful artisan practice only.

There is a collective effort
to protect the balance of species

and to not over-fish,
in order to maintain healthy stocks.

[soft instrumental music playing]

[narrator] Here,
men fish with hand-thrown nets.

Afterwards,
they return to the port with their catch,

where the fish are sold
to locals on the coast.

[suspenseful music playing]

[narrator] Adult turtles lay their eggs
on the beach.

They have nested on our sandy shores
for thousands of years.

They do so at night,

in the safety of darkness.

After the eggs are laid,

they return to the water.

Once hatched,

the baby turtles instinctively move
towards the brightest light.

Usually, this would lead them
to the ocean,

as they crawl
toward the night sky spanning above.

Cities and traffic lights confuse them
and lead them astray.

These beaches have drastically changed.

Plastic waste pollutes the once-soft sands

and creates obstacles
for the turtles trying to reach the water.

Humans have made it harder
for them to survive,

and over the years,

fewer turtles make it safely to the ocean.

[wondrous music playing]

[narrator] However,
our wrongs can be righted.

In the early morning,

rangers patrol the fence
between the beach and the city.

They look for stragglers,
the survivors of the night,

and bring them to the ocean.

This small act has saved many turtles,

but every effort must be made
to clean our beaches too.

Perhaps we should re-design
coastal city lighting

as to not mislead this vulnerable species.

Survival should be made easier
for the innocent,

and we have the capacity
and compassion to do so.

This is just one example of many ways

we can help wildlife return
to some form of normality.

[music fades]

[narrator] Plastic in our waters
is a huge problem.

Turtles often confuse
plastic carrier bags for jellyfish,

and die as a result.

Deaths are also caused by entanglement.

The short convenience of plastic

has a massively long consequence
on the environment.

[gentle music playing]

[narrator] Efforts have been made
to reduce plastic waste from the ocean.

Recycling, reusing, and up-cycling

are all methods used
to limit pollution and plastic use.

In the meantime,
there is a lot of litter to clean up.

One method of regenerating our landscape

is to plant native trees.

Mangroves are more than a suitable answer.

They thrive in low-oxygen soil,

where slow-moving waters
allow sediments to gather.

In time,
as mangrove forests grow and spread,

local wildlife
will be encouraged to return.

Here, they can feed, nest, and repopulate.

[flamingos squawk]

[pensive music playing]

[narrator] At King Abdullah University
for Science and Technology,

research is being done to save the coral.

Coral is threatened by climate change,

with increasing temperatures
causing inhospitable environments.

Artificial coral bases are 3D-scanned,

and replicas are made.

A small number of live coral fragments
are then applied to these bases.

These small coral pieces grow faster
than larger ones,

and are quick to join each other
on the models.

They are grown further
in artificially warmer water than the sea.

This makes them tougher
and more tolerant of higher temperatures.

A whole variety are cultivated this way

to match the over 300 coral species
of the Red Sea.

[pensive music continues]

[narrative] When large enough,

they are returned to the ocean
and planted amongst the dying coral.

In time,
these coral will grow to be stronger

and better suited
to withstand an element of climate change.

Additionally,
they'll provide food and shelter

for local fish populations
and marine life.

[music fades]

[gentle music playing]

[chick chirping]

[narrator] Flying above the sea,
the fish hawk, also known as the osprey,

is a resident of the Farasan Island.

[gentle music continues]

[chick chirping]

[narrator] They are efficient
and exceptional hunters.

They have long legs and large talons,

and their feet on the underside

are covered
with small spines called spicules,

which hold their catch securely.

The chicks won't fledge
until over seven weeks.

Until then, they rely on their parents
to bring food to the nest.

The birds have evolved hooked beaks,

perfect for tearing the flesh of a fish.

[chick chirping]

[hawk screeching]

[music fades]

[hawk chirps]

[dramatic music playing]

[narrator] Ospreys are known
to pair for life,

and their nests, known as an eyrie,
can be used and added to year on year.

Some nests are known to be used
for over 20 years by the same pair.

[hawk screeching]

[narrator] The world is not ours alone.

Whilst we benefit in many ways
from what the land and nature provides,

we must look after the planet.

For us to survive,

we must learn to live
in harmony with nature

and change our ways

in order
to ensure sustained health and well-being

for all of Earth's inhabitants.

[dramatic music continues]

[music fades]