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(sparse mysterious music)
(wind whistling)
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In South America,
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there's one country where the tallest peak
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is 6,263 meters above sea level,
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where the cold winds contend with snow and ice.
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And far below, rising from the mist, lush forest,
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seemingly endless, home to innumerable animal species.
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(light orchestral music)
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And off the coast, an ocean sanctuary,
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an archipelago of islands
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celebrated for its exceptional wildlife.
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The country is Ecuador, ideally situated on the equator.
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From the Amazon rainforest to the Galapagos Islands,
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with the snow-capped Andes in between,
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these enormously varied ecosystems
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make Ecuador a nation of mega biodiversity.
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(rousing orchestral music)
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(wind whistling)
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(insects chirping)
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In the eastern part of the country,
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there's an unending symphony of sounds.
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The Amazon rainforest is everywhere vibrant with life.
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This region of the enormous Amazon River basin
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is considered the planet's richest reserve of plant
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and animal life.
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During the great ice ages, untold species took refuge here,
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some of them still survive.
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The Yasuni National Park has the greatest diversity
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of tree species found anywhere in the world.
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This lush vegetation
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is explained largely by the high humidity.
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The heavy rainfall stagnates over the clay soil,
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which is relatively impermeable.
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The scarlet macaw, like other wildlife,
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can drink just about anywhere,
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yet they seem to congregate around this small pool of water.
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This one seems reluctant to fly down to the ground,
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where it would be vulnerable,
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especially because many mammal species
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also drink at this spot.
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A cat could be lying in wait,
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hidden in the dense vegetation, ready to spring,
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(water trickling)
(insects chirping)
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(bird caws)
so the scarlet macaws
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remain on the lookout and hesitate.
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But why do they come here to this tiny clearing
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when there's ample water everywhere?
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One of them goes first,
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possibly bolder than the rest or thirstier.
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(water trickling)
(insects chirping)
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(birds cawing)
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Seeing there's no immediate danger, the others follow.
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(birds cawing)
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This patch of water is actually a freshwater spring
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emerging from under the hill above the clearing.
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As the rainwater seeps through the soil,
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it takes on minerals that are essential for health,
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and because there are few such springs in the forest,
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the birds gather in the same places.
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(birds cawing)
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There's a further benefit for the macaws.
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They can ingest clay to protect their digestive system
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from the acidity in the fruits they feed on.
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In the rainforest, many fruits are acidic,
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a defensive mechanism that plants have evolved
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to deter animals from eating them.
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This gives the fruit time to ripen
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and a better chance to germinate when it's on the ground.
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But the macaws have overcome that problem.
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Centuries of experience have taught them macaws
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the value of clay as a gastric dressing
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and a way to reduce the effects of the acids in fruits.
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(water trickling)
(insects chirping)
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(birds flapping)
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Thus, in the equatorial forest,
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each plant or animal species
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has found a way to adapt to the constraints
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and advantages of its environment.
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The entire ecosystem hinges on a very complex balance
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where each plant, each creature,
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has its place and plays a role.
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That's why the loss of any species is tragic,
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as it removes a vital part from a complex mechanism
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involving other species, which may, each in its turn,
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be threatened,
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and this could lead to a catastrophic collapse.
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Yes, fortunately, nature can adapt to changes,
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but nature does things at its own slow pace,
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which requires enormous amounts of time.
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(birds chirping)
(tense thoughtful music)
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One witness of the exceptionally slow pace of evolution
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is the hoatzin.
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This amazing bird has hardly changed in 18 million years,
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probably because it had no need to do so.
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Hoatzins are the oldest bird species still alive today.
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(birds chirping)
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One original feature of the hoatzin is its digestive system,
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which resembles that of ruminants in certain ways.
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Indeed, it eats practically nothing but leaves
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and in huge amounts because the diet is nutritionally poor.
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It spends lots of time moving through the trees
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in search of the best shoots.
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This diet has the advantage of making the hoatzin's flesh
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indigestible to predators.
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That's why eagles, small cats, and monkeys
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will hunt young chicks, but not the adults.
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(foliage rustling)
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Not far away, this white-fronted capuchin
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has stolen eggs from the nest of a Spix's guan.
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These monkeys are highly evolved and quite intelligent.
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In fact, they're the only American monkey species
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that uses tools.
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It's easy for them to distract birds and steal their eggs.
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The hardest part is eating the eggs
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without being bothered by young members of the group.
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(foliage rustling)
(insects chirping)
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Capuchins live in groups of a dozen or more members.
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There's an alpha couple
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and a little else in the way of a social hierarchy.
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Food is abundant, so there's enough for everyone.
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Capuchins are active during the daytime,
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moving in search of fruit trees and other foods,
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such as insects and small invertebrates.
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(foliage rustling)
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Capuchins often form a very noisy group
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and the racket they make in the forest doesn't go unnoticed.
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These common squirrel monkeys are smaller.
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They have no trouble finding the capuchins
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and are eager to follow them.
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Not only do the capuchins alert them to any dangers,
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but they also lead them to the best fruit trees,
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and the squirrel monkeys take advantage of any scraps
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that capuchins happen to drop.
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(foliage rustling)
(sparse tense music)
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(thunder crashing)
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(rain lashing)
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Thunderstorms breaking throughout the day
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don't often affect the busy common squirrel monkeys.
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They communicate with high-pitched calls and cries.
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(monkeys chattering)
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(thunder crashing)
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Unlike many other tree monkeys,
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squirrel monkeys don't have a prehensile tail,
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but they're still very agile.
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The squirrel monkey travels repeatedly
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over the same branches,
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marking them with scent so they can find the path
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to their favorite fruits and berries.
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(monkeys chattering)
(rain pattering)
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Squirrel monkeys are naturally curious and playful,
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and they're sometimes captured for the pet trade,
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but the greatest danger they and so many other species face
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is the loss of habitat due to deforestation.
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The primary threat in this part of the Amazon
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is accelerating petroleum exploration and production.
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(monkeys chattering)
(birds chirping)
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Whether it rains for an hour or for days on end,
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the rainfall always stops.
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An evaporation immediately begins, replenishing the clouds.
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(wildlife chatters)
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(birds chirping)
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For the white-throated toucan,
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the rain itself is not a problem, but mosquitoes, gnats,
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and other insects take refuge under its plumage.
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The toucan removes them with its beak.
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Toucans are primarily fruit eaters,
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so these insect parasites are just an annoyance.
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(wildlife chatters)
(birds chirping)
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Insects thrive in the varzea, the seasonal floodplain forest
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that is inundated several months a year.
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Here, the acidic black water flows slowly,
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tracing channels through a labyrinth of vegetation.
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Plants climb skyward as they contend for light.
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The foliage is so thick
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that visibility is limited to one meter or two.
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The ground is a tangle of roots and rotting branches.
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Yet the forest rings out with innumerable chirping sounds,
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evidence of mysterious life.
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But what animals live here, in the varzea forest?
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(sparse mysterious music)
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The South American coati
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is perfectly adapted to this equatorial forest biome.
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Its long fur coat provides protection from insects.
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Its acute sense of smell, coupled with a long snout,
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means it can detect and capture prey
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or fruits from a distance.
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(insects chirping)
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The coati's claws make it an excellent climber.
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Coatis usually live in families of five or six members,
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but this one, who's about four months old,
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is possibly lost or an orphan.
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Still, it seems capable of finding food on its own,
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and its omnivore diet
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means there should be no trouble doing so.
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(insects chirping)
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(wildlife chatters)
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But for the time being,
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it looks like this little coati wants a quiet place to nap
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where it will be comfortable without falling.
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(insects chirping)
(wildlife chattering)
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(birds chirping)
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All the mammals that inhabit this dense forest
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are more or less capable of climbing trees
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for food and shelter.
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These monkeys, Spix's night monkey,
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show only the tips of their snouts at the end of the day
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when they begin to go hunting.
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These nocturnal primates wait for the sun to set
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as their large eyes cannot stand strong light.
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(insects chirping)
(wildlife chattering)
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Night falls suddenly here at the equator.
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In an hour's time, the active wildlife changes completely,
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as nocturnal species emerge.
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Some, because it's the best time to hunt,
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and others, on the contrary,
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because they're protected by the darkness.
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The Amblypygi, or whip spider,
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may look like a frightening cross between a scorpion
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and a spider, yet it produces no venom and spins no web.
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Instead, it waits in ambush to catch insects with pedipalps,
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which look like feet with claws.
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Thus, whether predators or prey,
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the creatures of the night are always on the alert.
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The least mistake could be fatal.
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(light thoughtful music)
(wildlife chattering)
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The glacier on Mount Antisana,
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a volcano that reaches 5,750 meters above sea level,
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is the closest glacier to the Amazon rainforest.
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(river rushing)
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The water from rain and melting ice
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rushes to the foothills of the Andes
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before flowing into the Napo River.
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The water then flows slowly eastward into the Amazon
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and then the Atlantic Ocean.
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This is a journey of over 5,000 kilometers,
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with some 20 cycles of evaporation and rainfall.
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Thus, the Andes Mountain Range,
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which extends across Ecuador from north to south,
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is the divide between two watersheds.
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The rivers that originate on the western slopes
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flow more swiftly into the Pacific Ocean.
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The Andes include many active volcanoes,
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yet the relief is due primarily to mountain building
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by plate tectonics over the past 70 million years.
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This has resulted in a stratification
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of different forest types,
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ranging from the rainforest in the Amazon basin
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to other forests as high as 3,500 meters above sea level.
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(birds chirping)
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Plants have had millions of years
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to adapt to these changing geological
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and climate conditions.
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Many epiphytes have emerged.
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These plants grow well above ground level, on branches,
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where they benefit from the constantly humid air.
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Species that grow in a cloud forest
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at altitudes over 1,000 meters
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are very different from species found at lower altitudes
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that cannot withstand temperature variations
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or the lack of light.
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(thunder rumbles)
(rain patters)
262
00:17:39,810 --> 00:17:42,840
While the sun often shines in the early morning,
263
00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,980
clouds that form lower on the Amazonian plain rise at midday
264
00:17:46,980 --> 00:17:51,635
and dark in the sky, justifying the term "cloud forest."
265
00:17:51,635 --> 00:17:54,802
(wildlife chattering)
266
00:17:55,951 --> 00:18:00,951
(waterfall crashing)
(river rushing)
267
00:18:16,260 --> 00:18:20,490
The rain pours down, suddenly swelling the river beds.
268
00:18:20,490 --> 00:18:23,010
From waterfalls to mountain torrents,
269
00:18:23,010 --> 00:18:25,170
the water rushes down the steep slopes
270
00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:27,123
on the eastern side of the Andes.
271
00:18:29,070 --> 00:18:31,170
For this pair of torrent ducks,
272
00:18:31,170 --> 00:18:34,320
the swift running water is a means of navigation
273
00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:35,943
and a place to catch their food.
274
00:18:38,670 --> 00:18:41,880
The female, identifiable by her reddish breast,
275
00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:43,083
floats downriver.
276
00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:49,567
The male soon realizes that she is no longer in sight,
277
00:18:49,567 --> 00:18:52,234
(river rushing)
278
00:18:56,700 --> 00:18:59,880
but she's already managed to move upstream.
279
00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:01,710
With their large webbed feet,
280
00:19:01,710 --> 00:19:04,683
torrent ducks can face the most powerful currents.
281
00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,590
(river burbling)
282
00:19:11,970 --> 00:19:14,190
Undaunted by eddies and rocks,
283
00:19:14,190 --> 00:19:17,853
they plunge for underwater larvae and small invertebrates.
284
00:19:18,981 --> 00:19:21,731
(river bubbling)
285
00:19:33,030 --> 00:19:36,570
Their population is threatened by the introduction of trout,
286
00:19:36,570 --> 00:19:38,520
which feed on the same prey,
287
00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,433
and by the construction of hydroelectric dams.
288
00:19:46,890 --> 00:19:50,640
This couple seems to have welcomed the next generation.
289
00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,390
Shortly after hatching, the featherweight torrent ducklings
290
00:19:54,390 --> 00:19:57,210
are able to fend for themselves in the water,
291
00:19:57,210 --> 00:19:59,550
carefully watched over by the parents,
292
00:19:59,550 --> 00:20:01,053
who guide them in the current.
293
00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,760
Ducklings have to stop frequently to catch their breath,
294
00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:12,090
and on the rocks, their plumage makes it hard for predators
295
00:20:12,090 --> 00:20:13,315
to spot them.
296
00:20:13,315 --> 00:20:15,982
(river rushing)
297
00:20:23,010 --> 00:20:26,910
As the only birds in this region that can feed underwater,
298
00:20:26,910 --> 00:20:30,843
torrent ducks occupy a unique ecological niche.
299
00:20:32,910 --> 00:20:35,253
Other species also nest on the shore.
300
00:20:37,380 --> 00:20:41,010
The torrent tyrannulet feeds on flying insects
301
00:20:41,010 --> 00:20:42,750
it captures near the banks
302
00:20:42,750 --> 00:20:46,050
and doesn't compete with torrent ducks for food,
303
00:20:46,050 --> 00:20:48,120
especially now that the tyrannulets
304
00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:51,240
are preparing for mating, looking for soft materials
305
00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,373
to build their nest amid the rocks.
306
00:20:59,490 --> 00:21:01,650
A little further up the riverbank,
307
00:21:01,650 --> 00:21:04,710
another bird is building its future home.
308
00:21:04,710 --> 00:21:08,580
It's an impressive project, as the nest hangs from a branch
309
00:21:08,580 --> 00:21:10,233
and will have to resist the wind.
310
00:21:11,164 --> 00:21:13,140
(birds chirping)
(wildlife chattering)
311
00:21:13,140 --> 00:21:17,220
The mountain cacique is an outstanding building engineer,
312
00:21:17,220 --> 00:21:20,073
selecting sturdy fibers from the palm leaves.
313
00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:29,100
He carries each strand to the nest, puts it in place,
314
00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:30,990
and ties it to the other strands,
315
00:21:30,990 --> 00:21:33,810
weaving everything together to form a structure
316
00:21:33,810 --> 00:21:36,367
capable of bearing his weight.
317
00:21:36,367 --> 00:21:39,200
(birds chirping)
318
00:21:55,620 --> 00:21:59,100
Shuttling back and forth, from his nest to the trees,
319
00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:02,922
the mountain cacique can build his nest in a single day.
320
00:22:02,922 --> 00:22:07,922
(birds chirping)
(wildlife chattering)
321
00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,910
It takes energy to build a nest.
322
00:22:11,910 --> 00:22:15,240
The many-banded aracari, on the other hand,
323
00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,933
uses cavities in tree trunks hollowed out by other species.
324
00:22:20,410 --> 00:22:23,160
That leaves all day to groom his plumage,
325
00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:24,783
to frolic, and to feed.
326
00:22:26,910 --> 00:22:28,770
And the bird can look mighty tempting
327
00:22:28,770 --> 00:22:30,873
to the black-mantled tamarin.
328
00:22:33,015 --> 00:22:38,015
(birds chirping)
(wildlife chattering)
329
00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,780
Tamarins are always alert to their surroundings,
330
00:22:42,780 --> 00:22:45,180
especially when a slate-colored hawk
331
00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:47,378
is perching in the vicinity.
332
00:22:47,378 --> 00:22:50,211
(birds chirping)
333
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:53,790
For the time being, at least,
334
00:22:53,790 --> 00:22:56,013
the hawk doesn't seem to be a danger.
335
00:22:59,430 --> 00:23:02,700
Black-mantled tamarins live in small groups.
336
00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:04,320
They are sociable creatures
337
00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:08,040
and sometimes even follow other species of monkeys or birds
338
00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:09,543
to locate fruit trees.
339
00:23:11,070 --> 00:23:14,160
And to find their way back, they mark favorite paths
340
00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:15,933
and locations with their scent.
341
00:23:23,370 --> 00:23:24,900
Deep in the forest,
342
00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:28,710
insects are dense from evening through early morning.
343
00:23:28,710 --> 00:23:32,250
This knowledge is second nature to the turquoise jay,
344
00:23:32,250 --> 00:23:34,110
who hunts mainly at dawn
345
00:23:34,110 --> 00:23:38,360
when nocturnal insects are plump and easier to catch.
346
00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:43,360
(birds chirping)
(wildlife chattering)
347
00:23:51,660 --> 00:23:54,930
The green jay is another insect eater.
348
00:23:54,930 --> 00:23:57,030
When he finds a good place to hunt,
349
00:23:57,030 --> 00:23:59,490
he stakes his claim to the territory,
350
00:23:59,490 --> 00:24:02,073
ready to defend it against intruders.
351
00:24:02,976 --> 00:24:05,809
(birds chirping)
352
00:24:32,250 --> 00:24:35,820
The ochre-breasted antpitta is a timid bird
353
00:24:35,820 --> 00:24:38,253
and seldom leaves the shade of the undergrowth.
354
00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,024
It flies down to the ground to capture small invertebrates.
355
00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:46,774
(birds chirping)
356
00:24:57,102 --> 00:24:59,790
Hummingbirds are not very discreet.
357
00:24:59,790 --> 00:25:01,860
They are, however, very small,
358
00:25:01,860 --> 00:25:04,680
sometimes measuring less than 10 centimeters
359
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,620
and rarely weighing more than 10 grams.
360
00:25:07,620 --> 00:25:10,950
But their constant motion and bright iridescent plumage
361
00:25:10,950 --> 00:25:12,583
never go unnoticed.
362
00:25:12,583 --> 00:25:15,904
(birds chirping)
(wildlife chattering)
363
00:25:15,904 --> 00:25:18,960
(bird whooshing)
364
00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,060
The rivalry between species
365
00:25:21,060 --> 00:25:24,120
isn't just a matter of the colors of their plumage.
366
00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:26,520
These tiny birds are extremely aggressive
367
00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:27,900
toward one another,
368
00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:31,530
chasing rivals away, going at them full speed,
369
00:25:31,530 --> 00:25:33,693
even if it means colliding midair.
370
00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:38,610
All to defend their food sources,
371
00:25:38,610 --> 00:25:41,790
generally masses of flowering plants.
372
00:25:41,790 --> 00:25:45,150
When a hummingbird rests, it's only for a moment
373
00:25:45,150 --> 00:25:49,769
to recuperate, preen, or simply observe the surroundings.
374
00:25:49,769 --> 00:25:53,192
(birds chirping)
375
00:25:53,192 --> 00:25:55,350
(bird whooshing)
376
00:25:55,350 --> 00:25:58,530
Their fighting spirit is easily explained.
377
00:25:58,530 --> 00:26:01,680
Hummingbirds need constant access to food.
378
00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,730
During the day, they must feed every 15 minutes or so.
379
00:26:05,730 --> 00:26:09,300
Theirs is the fastest metabolism in the animal kingdom,
380
00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:12,483
with a heart rate of some 1,000 beats per minute.
381
00:26:14,910 --> 00:26:18,360
They have to drink half their weight in sugar every day.
382
00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:19,920
Deprived of food,
383
00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:23,205
a hummingbird would die within two hours.
384
00:26:23,205 --> 00:26:28,205
(bird flapping)
(wildlife chattering)
385
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:37,650
All 132 species of hummingbirds found in Ecuador
386
00:26:37,650 --> 00:26:39,120
have developed long beaks
387
00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:41,550
that let them extract nectar from flowers
388
00:26:41,550 --> 00:26:43,380
with the tip of their tongue.
389
00:26:43,380 --> 00:26:46,230
They can do this midair, without landing,
390
00:26:46,230 --> 00:26:48,570
without damaging the petals.
391
00:26:48,570 --> 00:26:51,510
Rubbing their beaks on the pistil of each flower,
392
00:26:51,510 --> 00:26:54,150
they play a vital role as pollinators,
393
00:26:54,150 --> 00:26:57,270
which is essential for many plants' survival.
394
00:26:57,270 --> 00:27:00,000
This is a mutually beneficial arrangement,
395
00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,217
as are so many in nature.
396
00:27:02,217 --> 00:27:07,217
(birds chirping)
(bird flapping)
397
00:27:13,682 --> 00:27:18,682
(gentle thoughtful music)
(wildlife chattering)
398
00:27:20,820 --> 00:27:24,510
At higher altitudes, the mountains are more rugged,
399
00:27:24,510 --> 00:27:27,633
with sheer rock and gorges carved by the rivers.
400
00:27:30,390 --> 00:27:35,160
At 2,500 meters very tall trees are rarer.
401
00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,100
Trees that haven't been carried away by landslides
402
00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:40,140
provide an excellent opportunity
403
00:27:40,140 --> 00:27:42,003
for spectacled bears to play.
404
00:27:45,469 --> 00:27:47,040
(birds chirping)
405
00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,970
These two spectacled bear cubs are waiting for their mother.
406
00:27:50,970 --> 00:27:52,440
They haven't been weaned,
407
00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:56,130
so she left them here before seeking food for herself.
408
00:27:56,130 --> 00:27:57,690
Here, they can play gently
409
00:27:57,690 --> 00:27:59,643
and improve their climbing skills.
410
00:28:00,930 --> 00:28:03,390
Also called the Andean bear,
411
00:28:03,390 --> 00:28:07,290
this is the only bear species native to South America.
412
00:28:07,290 --> 00:28:09,120
Unlike North American bears,
413
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:12,570
the spectacled bear is almost exclusively vegetarian
414
00:28:12,570 --> 00:28:13,980
and doesn't hibernate
415
00:28:13,980 --> 00:28:16,023
because there are no harsh winters here.
416
00:28:16,915 --> 00:28:19,980
(soft playful music)
(wildlife chattering)
417
00:28:19,980 --> 00:28:22,080
Spectacled bears spend most of their time
418
00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:23,610
in high-altitude meadows
419
00:28:23,610 --> 00:28:27,453
at about 4,000 meters above sea level, above the tree line.
420
00:28:29,190 --> 00:28:32,220
But for a few weeks, they go down to the cloud forest
421
00:28:32,220 --> 00:28:34,023
to feed on the ripening fruit.
422
00:28:35,910 --> 00:28:38,790
These are plants the cubs have never seen before.
423
00:28:38,790 --> 00:28:42,240
Everything they do is a matter of play, exploration,
424
00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,531
and physical exercise.
425
00:28:44,531 --> 00:28:49,531
(soft playful music continues)
(wildlife chattering)
426
00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,460
The name spectacled bear
427
00:29:14,460 --> 00:29:16,170
comes from the light-colored patterns
428
00:29:16,170 --> 00:29:18,510
that some of them have around their eyes
429
00:29:18,510 --> 00:29:20,580
and not because they are nearsighted,
430
00:29:20,580 --> 00:29:23,043
although they are, indeed, nearsighted.
431
00:29:24,386 --> 00:29:29,386
(soft playful music continues)
(birds chirping)
432
00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,300
When the cubs are tired,
433
00:29:39,300 --> 00:29:41,070
they'll nap on the nest of branches
434
00:29:41,070 --> 00:29:42,513
prepared by their mother.
435
00:29:43,958 --> 00:29:46,791
(birds chirping)
436
00:29:50,121 --> 00:29:52,871
(rain pattering)
437
00:29:55,590 --> 00:29:58,020
They're awakened by a familiar sound:
438
00:29:58,020 --> 00:29:59,463
Their mother is back.
439
00:30:11,580 --> 00:30:14,550
The mother bear has been wearing a radio transmitter caller
440
00:30:14,550 --> 00:30:16,410
ever since farmers in the nearby valley
441
00:30:16,410 --> 00:30:18,930
caught her eating their corn in a field.
442
00:30:18,930 --> 00:30:21,510
They've relocated her to a higher altitude
443
00:30:21,510 --> 00:30:23,370
and have been tracking her ever since,
444
00:30:23,370 --> 00:30:26,520
to check that she doesn't return to the farmland.
445
00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,460
She was very fortunate because, in other places,
446
00:30:29,460 --> 00:30:32,410
spectacled bears have been killed for doing the same thing.
447
00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:35,190
For the time being,
448
00:30:35,190 --> 00:30:37,560
her main concern is returning to the nest,
449
00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,673
to nurse her seven-month-old cubs.
450
00:30:39,673 --> 00:30:44,673
(wildlife chattering)
(river rushing)
451
00:31:09,277 --> 00:31:12,783
After nursing, the entire family falls asleep.
452
00:31:31,140 --> 00:31:35,342
An hour later, the nap is over, and it's time to move.
453
00:31:35,342 --> 00:31:38,175
(birds chirping)
454
00:32:16,980 --> 00:32:19,980
The cubs carefully observe their mother's every move
455
00:32:19,980 --> 00:32:21,513
before following her lead.
456
00:32:26,310 --> 00:32:28,770
It's more difficult with small paws.
457
00:32:28,770 --> 00:32:31,383
It's a good thing they can count on rugged claws.
458
00:32:32,769 --> 00:32:37,769
(birds chirping)
(river rushing)
459
00:32:54,488 --> 00:32:57,821
(light whimsical music)
460
00:33:08,010 --> 00:33:10,980
Their mother is leading them to the opposite shore,
461
00:33:10,980 --> 00:33:13,800
but when they start to climb, she spots a male bear
462
00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:15,540
coming downhill through the scrub,
463
00:33:15,540 --> 00:33:17,616
moving in their direction.
464
00:33:17,616 --> 00:33:20,699
(light tense music)
465
00:33:26,790 --> 00:33:29,010
She changes course immediately.
466
00:33:29,010 --> 00:33:32,280
The male could kill her cubs in order to mate with her.
467
00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:34,710
She prefers to stay at this lower altitude,
468
00:33:34,710 --> 00:33:36,453
hoping he won't pick up her scent.
469
00:33:42,990 --> 00:33:46,050
Fortunately, the wind is blowing in the right direction,
470
00:33:46,050 --> 00:33:46,883
downhill.
471
00:33:51,330 --> 00:33:53,130
Having found nothing of interest,
472
00:33:53,130 --> 00:33:56,733
the male goes back up, as the family watches attentively.
473
00:33:58,081 --> 00:34:01,914
(light tense music continues)
474
00:34:05,340 --> 00:34:08,313
Here, they will wait until the danger is passed.
475
00:34:09,277 --> 00:34:14,277
(soft thoughtful music)
(birds chirping)
476
00:34:20,278 --> 00:34:23,361
(waterfall crashing)
477
00:34:24,930 --> 00:34:28,440
The multitude of waterfalls cascading from the cliffs
478
00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:31,260
is a sign that there are other untamed places
479
00:34:31,260 --> 00:34:32,673
at higher altitudes.
480
00:34:35,394 --> 00:34:38,227
(wind whistling)
481
00:34:53,250 --> 00:34:55,980
At nearly 4,000 meters above sea level,
482
00:34:55,980 --> 00:34:58,410
the landscape changes radically.
483
00:34:58,410 --> 00:35:01,200
The cold, the winds, the thin air,
484
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,450
and the strong ultraviolet radiation
485
00:35:03,450 --> 00:35:05,460
impose their demands on the plants
486
00:35:05,460 --> 00:35:08,370
that have managed to survive in this environment.
487
00:35:08,370 --> 00:35:12,570
Most are endemic species which can grow only in this biotope
488
00:35:12,570 --> 00:35:14,673
called the paramo ecosystem.
489
00:35:17,490 --> 00:35:20,610
Here a continuous wind dries the ground,
490
00:35:20,610 --> 00:35:23,640
but the soil and the rock are covered with mosses,
491
00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:24,660
which hold moisture
492
00:35:24,660 --> 00:35:27,270
and provide a substrate for other plants.
493
00:35:27,270 --> 00:35:30,870
Certain plants can live like this for several hundred years.
494
00:35:30,870 --> 00:35:32,670
The secret to their longevity
495
00:35:32,670 --> 00:35:35,223
might lie in their extremely slow growth.
496
00:35:37,350 --> 00:35:40,650
Despite the harsh climate, this environment still hosts
497
00:35:40,650 --> 00:35:42,870
a great diversity of plant species,
498
00:35:42,870 --> 00:35:45,243
remarkable for their shapes and colors.
499
00:35:47,430 --> 00:35:50,670
The lakes and ponds form a series of wetlands
500
00:35:50,670 --> 00:35:53,160
that are invaluable to the few bird species
501
00:35:53,160 --> 00:35:55,474
that can survive at this altitude.
502
00:35:55,474 --> 00:35:58,307
(wind whistling)
503
00:36:02,130 --> 00:36:06,180
Naturally, there are fewer animal species at this altitude,
504
00:36:06,180 --> 00:36:09,360
but the presence of raptors, like this Puna hawk,
505
00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,390
indicates that they find enough prey to survive.
506
00:36:12,390 --> 00:36:14,730
In addition to small birds and rodents,
507
00:36:14,730 --> 00:36:16,860
larger mammals are found on the flanks
508
00:36:16,860 --> 00:36:18,720
of the Antisana volcano
509
00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:21,833
and at the foot of the Antisana glacier.
510
00:36:21,833 --> 00:36:26,833
(wind billows)
(birds chirping)
511
00:36:29,370 --> 00:36:33,420
The white-tailed deer have also acclimatized to the paramo.
512
00:36:33,420 --> 00:36:35,310
They live in small family groups,
513
00:36:35,310 --> 00:36:38,100
consisting of a dominant male, his harem,
514
00:36:38,100 --> 00:36:39,780
and their young offspring.
515
00:36:39,780 --> 00:36:43,440
These high isolated valleys provide food and safety.
516
00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:46,170
Spectacled bears aren't a danger to adults,
517
00:36:46,170 --> 00:36:48,300
and the only threat comes from cougars
518
00:36:48,300 --> 00:36:50,715
that are few and far between.
519
00:36:50,715 --> 00:36:53,465
(wind whistling)
520
00:37:02,460 --> 00:37:05,400
The swirling winds bring a variety of sent,
521
00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:07,470
some of them intriguing.
522
00:37:07,470 --> 00:37:10,500
Even when grazing, the buck is ever on the alert,
523
00:37:10,500 --> 00:37:13,113
attentive to the least change in his surroundings.
524
00:37:15,851 --> 00:37:18,518
(wind gusting)
525
00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:29,433
Especially to the scent of blood.
526
00:37:30,552 --> 00:37:33,135
(wind lashing)
527
00:37:35,340 --> 00:37:37,380
These spacious grassy plains
528
00:37:37,380 --> 00:37:40,050
are now also used for cattle grazing,
529
00:37:40,050 --> 00:37:43,140
but in this rugged terrain, with its harsh climate,
530
00:37:43,140 --> 00:37:45,330
any fall can be fatal.
531
00:37:45,330 --> 00:37:46,830
After breaking her bones,
532
00:37:46,830 --> 00:37:51,060
this poor cow dragged herself there but died of thirst.
533
00:37:51,060 --> 00:37:52,740
In this wild place,
534
00:37:52,740 --> 00:37:56,010
one creature's death allows others to survive.
535
00:37:56,010 --> 00:37:58,473
Condors have already spotted the carcass,
536
00:38:02,730 --> 00:38:06,270
but it's a young carunculated caracara that lands first
537
00:38:06,270 --> 00:38:08,010
before the condors.
538
00:38:08,010 --> 00:38:09,480
Other adults join in
539
00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:11,572
and also lay their claim to the carcass.
540
00:38:11,572 --> 00:38:16,572
(birds squawking)
(wind whistling)
541
00:38:32,700 --> 00:38:35,880
A couple of adult caracaras and two younger birds
542
00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:39,420
attack the flesh, preserved by the cold of the night.
543
00:38:39,420 --> 00:38:42,510
This is a rare feast for them because, most often,
544
00:38:42,510 --> 00:38:46,200
scavengers have to settle for small rodents, amphibians,
545
00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:48,000
worms, and insects.
546
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:50,643
They're also capable of digging for seeds.
547
00:38:53,370 --> 00:38:54,690
Opportunistic feeding
548
00:38:54,690 --> 00:38:57,330
is especially important for the caracaras
549
00:38:57,330 --> 00:38:59,700
because food is scarce at this altitude
550
00:38:59,700 --> 00:39:01,353
and will thus be fought over.
551
00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:06,837
Nothing ever goes to waste in these desolate climbs.
552
00:39:06,837 --> 00:39:10,337
(tense thoughtful music)
553
00:39:14,070 --> 00:39:16,770
Other scavengers have a different strategy,
554
00:39:16,770 --> 00:39:20,370
conserving energy to restrict their nutritional needs.
555
00:39:20,370 --> 00:39:24,423
Consider the largest of the raptors, the Andean condor.
556
00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,220
With a wingspan of three meters,
557
00:39:29,220 --> 00:39:33,030
the condor has the greatest wing area of any living bird.
558
00:39:33,030 --> 00:39:36,780
Soaring on updrafts, it covers enormous distances.
559
00:39:36,780 --> 00:39:39,030
So great is its ability to navigate
560
00:39:39,030 --> 00:39:41,643
that it almost never needs to flap its wings.
561
00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:45,930
When the condor sleeps,
562
00:39:45,930 --> 00:39:48,423
its body temperature falls several degrees.
563
00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:52,200
In the morning, it wakes slowly
564
00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:55,230
and stretches to invigorate its muscles and joints,
565
00:39:55,230 --> 00:39:57,330
waiting for the air to warm sufficiently
566
00:39:57,330 --> 00:39:59,793
to cause updrafts along the rock face.
567
00:40:02,220 --> 00:40:05,403
Only then can the condor take flight over the void.
568
00:40:06,652 --> 00:40:10,402
(brooding mysterious music)
569
00:40:27,180 --> 00:40:30,570
The condor exercises perfect control over flight
570
00:40:30,570 --> 00:40:33,750
by directing the primary feathers at the wingtips.
571
00:40:33,750 --> 00:40:36,900
It can soar to altitudes of 6,000 meters,
572
00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:38,460
cross mountain summits,
573
00:40:38,460 --> 00:40:40,983
and seek carrion in distant valleys.
574
00:40:42,572 --> 00:40:47,072
(brooding mysterious music continues)
575
00:40:58,260 --> 00:41:01,830
A male condor will sometimes travel in search of a mate.
576
00:41:01,830 --> 00:41:03,690
The female lays a single egg,
577
00:41:03,690 --> 00:41:06,360
and both parents will take care of it together,
578
00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:08,460
like many long-lived species,
579
00:41:08,460 --> 00:41:10,890
and they can live for up to 50 years.
580
00:41:10,890 --> 00:41:13,740
The condor breeds very few offspring:
581
00:41:13,740 --> 00:41:17,100
On average, only one every two or three years.
582
00:41:17,100 --> 00:41:20,790
Thus, when necessary, the species regulates its reproduction
583
00:41:20,790 --> 00:41:23,492
to avoid overpopulation.
584
00:41:23,492 --> 00:41:26,325
(wind whistling)
585
00:41:31,020 --> 00:41:35,400
At higher altitudes, nearly 5,000 meters above sea level,
586
00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:38,580
begins the realm of eternal ice and snow,
587
00:41:38,580 --> 00:41:41,790
where not even the hardiest plants can survive.
588
00:41:41,790 --> 00:41:43,770
The cold, the wind,
589
00:41:43,770 --> 00:41:47,490
and the thin air prevent any form of perennial life.
590
00:41:47,490 --> 00:41:51,386
Glaciers rain and majesty on the volcano peaks.
591
00:41:51,386 --> 00:41:56,386
(tense thoughtful music)
(wind lashing)
592
00:42:09,661 --> 00:42:13,328
(dramatic thoughtful music)
593
00:42:19,276 --> 00:42:22,740
Rising to 5,900 meters above sea level,
594
00:42:22,740 --> 00:42:26,370
Cotopaxi is not the highest volcano in Ecuador,
595
00:42:26,370 --> 00:42:28,200
but it's one of the most beautiful,
596
00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:31,410
with its perfect cone in its red and black lava,
597
00:42:31,410 --> 00:42:34,860
contrasting with the sparkling white walls of ice,
598
00:42:34,860 --> 00:42:36,930
but that's where its danger lies.
599
00:42:36,930 --> 00:42:38,760
When the volcano awakens,
600
00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:41,700
the earth's heat melts the glacier.
601
00:42:41,700 --> 00:42:45,660
Large blocks break off, and water rushes downhill,
602
00:42:45,660 --> 00:42:48,843
causing devastating avalanches and mudslides.
603
00:42:50,183 --> 00:42:54,516
(rousing ominous orchestral music)
604
00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:29,820
The canyons that scar, the volcano slopes,
605
00:43:29,820 --> 00:43:31,830
and the broader valley below,
606
00:43:31,830 --> 00:43:36,412
bear witness to the powers of the water, mud, and ice.
607
00:43:36,412 --> 00:43:39,671
(birds chirping)
608
00:43:39,671 --> 00:43:41,430
(stream trickles)
609
00:43:41,430 --> 00:43:45,540
The base of the volcano is classified as a natural park,
610
00:43:45,540 --> 00:43:48,003
a peaceful sanctuary for wildlife.
611
00:43:56,850 --> 00:44:00,150
The culpeo fox is an opportunistic predator.
612
00:44:00,150 --> 00:44:03,450
Able to adapt to vastly different environments,
613
00:44:03,450 --> 00:44:05,490
very much at ease in the high grasses
614
00:44:05,490 --> 00:44:09,420
where he can go unseen, this fox spends hours and hours
615
00:44:09,420 --> 00:44:11,340
pacing the sides of the volcano
616
00:44:11,340 --> 00:44:14,079
in search of carrion or prey.
617
00:44:14,079 --> 00:44:19,079
(wind whistling)
(birds chirping)
618
00:44:28,620 --> 00:44:32,160
And when he rests in the sun, can we imagine he dreams
619
00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:34,953
of the rabbits that form the mainstay of his diet?
620
00:44:46,890 --> 00:44:48,390
Driven by hunger,
621
00:44:48,390 --> 00:44:51,570
the fox will hunt over considerable distances,
622
00:44:51,570 --> 00:44:52,680
but the swirling wind
623
00:44:52,680 --> 00:44:56,190
makes it hard to follow the scent or sound of a prey,
624
00:44:56,190 --> 00:45:00,562
so he searches, guided by instinct and experience.
625
00:45:00,562 --> 00:45:05,562
(wind whistling)
(birds chirping)
626
00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:16,530
He can track a bird over several kilometers
627
00:45:16,530 --> 00:45:20,070
up to nearly 4,800 meters above sea level,
628
00:45:20,070 --> 00:45:22,650
but then the fox is on open terrain,
629
00:45:22,650 --> 00:45:25,200
and if the bird finally flies away,
630
00:45:25,200 --> 00:45:28,023
then the culpeo's efforts were all in vain.
631
00:45:29,381 --> 00:45:32,131
(wind whooshing)
632
00:45:33,870 --> 00:45:36,030
All he can do is catch his breath
633
00:45:36,030 --> 00:45:38,280
and try to warm his body in sunlight,
634
00:45:38,280 --> 00:45:39,873
while the sunlight lasts.
635
00:45:46,650 --> 00:45:50,310
These high-altitude valleys of the Andes are formidable,
636
00:45:50,310 --> 00:45:52,770
with their rugged relief, harsh climate,
637
00:45:52,770 --> 00:45:54,093
and frequent storms.
638
00:45:55,200 --> 00:45:58,500
There are moments of sunshine, but they cannot last,
639
00:45:58,500 --> 00:46:01,200
as clouds from the Pacific contend with the fogs
640
00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:03,699
and mist from the Amazon rainforest.
641
00:46:03,699 --> 00:46:06,532
(wind whistling)
642
00:46:11,760 --> 00:46:13,830
The paramo nevertheless fulfills
643
00:46:13,830 --> 00:46:15,900
an important ecological function
644
00:46:15,900 --> 00:46:18,690
by storing both carbon and moisture.
645
00:46:18,690 --> 00:46:20,760
Global warming could affect the plant life
646
00:46:20,760 --> 00:46:23,880
that has taken millions of years to adapt to the cold,
647
00:46:23,880 --> 00:46:27,300
and that could not withstand a sudden rise in temperature.
648
00:46:27,300 --> 00:46:28,800
The plant species living here
649
00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:31,410
help to maintain the moisture balance.
650
00:46:31,410 --> 00:46:32,460
Loss of these plants
651
00:46:32,460 --> 00:46:35,700
could create a vicious circle of desertification
652
00:46:35,700 --> 00:46:38,340
as moss is replaced by only dust,
653
00:46:38,340 --> 00:46:42,813
and animal life, so fragile already, is doomed to disappear.
654
00:46:47,490 --> 00:46:50,040
There are indeed a number of unexpected species
655
00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:51,810
in these remote places.
656
00:46:51,810 --> 00:46:53,880
Several small herds of wild horses
657
00:46:53,880 --> 00:46:56,700
thrive at the foot of Cotopaxi.
658
00:46:56,700 --> 00:46:58,950
These horses descend from ancestors
659
00:46:58,950 --> 00:47:01,470
imported during the Spanish colonization
660
00:47:01,470 --> 00:47:03,033
in the 17th century.
661
00:47:04,470 --> 00:47:06,510
Horses that escaped from the haciendas
662
00:47:06,510 --> 00:47:08,820
where they were used to herd cattle.
663
00:47:08,820 --> 00:47:10,800
Horses that fled to these high plateaus,
664
00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:12,900
protected by the volcano.
665
00:47:12,900 --> 00:47:16,023
Over the generations, they have acclimatized,
666
00:47:16,920 --> 00:47:19,953
and now they are free to roam these wide open spaces.
667
00:47:21,066 --> 00:47:25,316
(light majestic orchestral music)
668
00:47:48,704 --> 00:47:51,810
(stream burbles)
669
00:47:51,810 --> 00:47:54,630
Even more amazing is a hummingbird species
670
00:47:54,630 --> 00:47:56,760
that lives only between 3,500
671
00:47:56,760 --> 00:47:59,880
and 5,200 meters above sea level.
672
00:47:59,880 --> 00:48:02,700
To resist the sub-zero temperatures at night,
673
00:48:02,700 --> 00:48:06,390
the Ecuadorian hillstar enters into a torpor,
674
00:48:06,390 --> 00:48:07,950
close to a state of hibernation,
675
00:48:07,950 --> 00:48:10,838
before slowly reemerging each morning.
676
00:48:10,838 --> 00:48:12,960
(wind whistling)
677
00:48:12,960 --> 00:48:15,870
Other birds can endure the freezing cold.
678
00:48:15,870 --> 00:48:18,960
Rufous-bellied seedsnipe feed on seeds
679
00:48:18,960 --> 00:48:22,023
and succulent plants that they peck at on the ground.
680
00:48:25,890 --> 00:48:27,990
Vicunas can survive the cold
681
00:48:27,990 --> 00:48:30,090
with their excellent wool coats,
682
00:48:30,090 --> 00:48:34,110
with fibers as fine and warm as its domesticated cousin,
683
00:48:34,110 --> 00:48:35,103
the alpaca.
684
00:48:36,960 --> 00:48:39,330
While native to Peru and Bolivia,
685
00:48:39,330 --> 00:48:43,440
the vicuna was introduced to Ecuador in the late 1970s.
686
00:48:43,440 --> 00:48:47,250
Since then, the population has gradually multiplied,
687
00:48:47,250 --> 00:48:50,280
as its only predators are cougars, which are rare,
688
00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:51,998
and foxes.
689
00:48:51,998 --> 00:48:54,360
Vicunas live in small family groups
690
00:48:54,360 --> 00:48:57,540
consisting of an adult male, a number of females,
691
00:48:57,540 --> 00:49:00,243
and their offspring under a year and a half old.
692
00:49:01,094 --> 00:49:03,844
(wind whistling)
693
00:49:09,120 --> 00:49:13,350
Mid afternoons, the clouds suddenly rise from the valley.
694
00:49:13,350 --> 00:49:16,260
In a matter of minutes, the humidity rises,
695
00:49:16,260 --> 00:49:17,730
the temperature drops,
696
00:49:17,730 --> 00:49:20,886
and visibility is reduced to just a few meters.
697
00:49:20,886 --> 00:49:23,636
(wind whooshing)
698
00:49:25,440 --> 00:49:27,810
The vicunas are used to this
699
00:49:27,810 --> 00:49:31,470
and take advantage to graze on plants covered with dew.
700
00:49:31,470 --> 00:49:34,950
The newer shoots are softer, sweeter, juicier,
701
00:49:34,950 --> 00:49:36,852
and easier to digest.
702
00:49:36,852 --> 00:49:39,685
(wind whistling)
703
00:49:50,640 --> 00:49:54,060
The persistent wind finally drives away the cloud cover,
704
00:49:54,060 --> 00:49:56,910
revealing the summit of Chimborazo,
705
00:49:56,910 --> 00:49:59,560
the highest volcano in Ecuador.
706
00:49:59,560 --> 00:50:03,310
(majestic orchestral music)
707
00:50:20,580 --> 00:50:25,580
The ice cap volcano rises to 6,263 meters above sea level.
708
00:50:26,670 --> 00:50:30,510
Like everywhere else, alas, the glacier is receding
709
00:50:30,510 --> 00:50:32,550
and shrinking dramatically.
710
00:50:32,550 --> 00:50:34,320
While climate change has already had
711
00:50:34,320 --> 00:50:36,690
a drastic effect on the polar regions,
712
00:50:36,690 --> 00:50:38,700
there were hopes that the equatorial zones
713
00:50:38,700 --> 00:50:40,920
would be spared to some extent,
714
00:50:40,920 --> 00:50:45,420
but process of melting snow and ice simply started later.
715
00:50:45,420 --> 00:50:46,860
By the end of the century,
716
00:50:46,860 --> 00:50:49,530
even this giant mountain will lose its ice,
717
00:50:49,530 --> 00:50:52,140
depriving biotopes at lower altitudes
718
00:50:52,140 --> 00:50:54,633
of the water reserves they need for survival.
719
00:50:56,457 --> 00:50:58,770
(birds chirping)
720
00:50:58,770 --> 00:51:02,940
The western slopes of the Andes on the Pacific Ocean side
721
00:51:02,940 --> 00:51:05,460
are also covered by a cloud forest,
722
00:51:05,460 --> 00:51:08,482
but an entirely different forest with different species.
723
00:51:08,482 --> 00:51:11,315
(monkey groaning)
724
00:51:12,220 --> 00:51:15,053
(waves crashing)
725
00:51:16,530 --> 00:51:19,140
And there are even greater differences in species
726
00:51:19,140 --> 00:51:21,823
in the westernmost region of Ecuador,
727
00:51:21,823 --> 00:51:24,570
1,000 kilometers off the coast:
728
00:51:24,570 --> 00:51:26,917
The fabulous Galapagos Islands.
729
00:51:26,917 --> 00:51:28,876
(water bubbles)
730
00:51:28,876 --> 00:51:33,543
(majestic thoughtful orchestral music) 57328
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