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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 (sparse mysterious music) (wind whistling) 2 00:00:06,270 --> 00:00:07,980 In South America, 3 00:00:07,980 --> 00:00:10,140 there's one country where the tallest peak 4 00:00:10,140 --> 00:00:14,070 is 6,263 meters above sea level, 5 00:00:14,070 --> 00:00:17,433 where the cold winds contend with snow and ice. 6 00:00:23,220 --> 00:00:27,900 And far below, rising from the mist, lush forest, 7 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:32,615 seemingly endless, home to innumerable animal species. 8 00:00:32,615 --> 00:00:35,520 (light orchestral music) 9 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,510 And off the coast, an ocean sanctuary, 10 00:00:39,510 --> 00:00:41,370 an archipelago of islands 11 00:00:41,370 --> 00:00:44,493 celebrated for its exceptional wildlife. 12 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:50,370 The country is Ecuador, ideally situated on the equator. 13 00:00:50,370 --> 00:00:53,550 From the Amazon rainforest to the Galapagos Islands, 14 00:00:53,550 --> 00:00:56,220 with the snow-capped Andes in between, 15 00:00:56,220 --> 00:00:58,530 these enormously varied ecosystems 16 00:00:58,530 --> 00:01:02,844 make Ecuador a nation of mega biodiversity. 17 00:01:02,844 --> 00:01:06,511 (rousing orchestral music) 18 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,313 (wind whistling) 19 00:01:45,188 --> 00:01:48,105 (insects chirping) 20 00:01:49,770 --> 00:01:51,630 In the eastern part of the country, 21 00:01:51,630 --> 00:01:54,540 there's an unending symphony of sounds. 22 00:01:54,540 --> 00:01:58,530 The Amazon rainforest is everywhere vibrant with life. 23 00:01:58,530 --> 00:02:01,710 This region of the enormous Amazon River basin 24 00:02:01,710 --> 00:02:04,830 is considered the planet's richest reserve of plant 25 00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:06,660 and animal life. 26 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:11,340 During the great ice ages, untold species took refuge here, 27 00:02:11,340 --> 00:02:13,113 some of them still survive. 28 00:02:14,370 --> 00:02:17,550 The Yasuni National Park has the greatest diversity 29 00:02:17,550 --> 00:02:20,163 of tree species found anywhere in the world. 30 00:02:21,750 --> 00:02:23,490 This lush vegetation 31 00:02:23,490 --> 00:02:26,280 is explained largely by the high humidity. 32 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,460 The heavy rainfall stagnates over the clay soil, 33 00:02:29,460 --> 00:02:31,413 which is relatively impermeable. 34 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,180 The scarlet macaw, like other wildlife, 35 00:02:36,180 --> 00:02:38,340 can drink just about anywhere, 36 00:02:38,340 --> 00:02:41,553 yet they seem to congregate around this small pool of water. 37 00:02:43,260 --> 00:02:46,320 This one seems reluctant to fly down to the ground, 38 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,150 where it would be vulnerable, 39 00:02:48,150 --> 00:02:50,340 especially because many mammal species 40 00:02:50,340 --> 00:02:52,440 also drink at this spot. 41 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,570 A cat could be lying in wait, 42 00:02:54,570 --> 00:02:57,920 hidden in the dense vegetation, ready to spring, 43 00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:02,907 (water trickling) (insects chirping) 44 00:03:02,907 --> 00:03:05,130 (bird caws) so the scarlet macaws 45 00:03:05,130 --> 00:03:07,023 remain on the lookout and hesitate. 46 00:03:13,530 --> 00:03:16,260 But why do they come here to this tiny clearing 47 00:03:16,260 --> 00:03:18,333 when there's ample water everywhere? 48 00:03:23,850 --> 00:03:25,770 One of them goes first, 49 00:03:25,770 --> 00:03:29,757 possibly bolder than the rest or thirstier. 50 00:03:29,757 --> 00:03:34,757 (water trickling) (insects chirping) 51 00:03:40,807 --> 00:03:43,474 (birds cawing) 52 00:03:45,630 --> 00:03:49,383 Seeing there's no immediate danger, the others follow. 53 00:03:50,570 --> 00:03:53,153 (birds cawing) 54 00:04:01,470 --> 00:04:04,800 This patch of water is actually a freshwater spring 55 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,890 emerging from under the hill above the clearing. 56 00:04:07,890 --> 00:04:10,170 As the rainwater seeps through the soil, 57 00:04:10,170 --> 00:04:13,320 it takes on minerals that are essential for health, 58 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,200 and because there are few such springs in the forest, 59 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,422 the birds gather in the same places. 60 00:04:18,422 --> 00:04:21,005 (birds cawing) 61 00:04:22,230 --> 00:04:24,960 There's a further benefit for the macaws. 62 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,780 They can ingest clay to protect their digestive system 63 00:04:27,780 --> 00:04:30,660 from the acidity in the fruits they feed on. 64 00:04:30,660 --> 00:04:33,630 In the rainforest, many fruits are acidic, 65 00:04:33,630 --> 00:04:36,060 a defensive mechanism that plants have evolved 66 00:04:36,060 --> 00:04:38,640 to deter animals from eating them. 67 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,680 This gives the fruit time to ripen 68 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,530 and a better chance to germinate when it's on the ground. 69 00:04:45,750 --> 00:04:48,450 But the macaws have overcome that problem. 70 00:04:48,450 --> 00:04:50,850 Centuries of experience have taught them macaws 71 00:04:50,850 --> 00:04:53,610 the value of clay as a gastric dressing 72 00:04:53,610 --> 00:04:57,291 and a way to reduce the effects of the acids in fruits. 73 00:04:57,291 --> 00:05:00,989 (water trickling) (insects chirping) 74 00:05:00,989 --> 00:05:03,739 (birds flapping) 75 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,410 Thus, in the equatorial forest, 76 00:05:07,410 --> 00:05:09,060 each plant or animal species 77 00:05:09,060 --> 00:05:11,430 has found a way to adapt to the constraints 78 00:05:11,430 --> 00:05:13,383 and advantages of its environment. 79 00:05:14,910 --> 00:05:18,840 The entire ecosystem hinges on a very complex balance 80 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,270 where each plant, each creature, 81 00:05:21,270 --> 00:05:23,700 has its place and plays a role. 82 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:26,700 That's why the loss of any species is tragic, 83 00:05:26,700 --> 00:05:29,880 as it removes a vital part from a complex mechanism 84 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,690 involving other species, which may, each in its turn, 85 00:05:33,690 --> 00:05:35,130 be threatened, 86 00:05:35,130 --> 00:05:37,683 and this could lead to a catastrophic collapse. 87 00:05:39,030 --> 00:05:43,230 Yes, fortunately, nature can adapt to changes, 88 00:05:43,230 --> 00:05:46,290 but nature does things at its own slow pace, 89 00:05:46,290 --> 00:05:48,721 which requires enormous amounts of time. 90 00:05:48,721 --> 00:05:53,721 (birds chirping) (tense thoughtful music) 91 00:05:55,410 --> 00:05:59,220 One witness of the exceptionally slow pace of evolution 92 00:05:59,220 --> 00:06:00,780 is the hoatzin. 93 00:06:00,780 --> 00:06:04,980 This amazing bird has hardly changed in 18 million years, 94 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:08,190 probably because it had no need to do so. 95 00:06:08,190 --> 00:06:11,826 Hoatzins are the oldest bird species still alive today. 96 00:06:11,826 --> 00:06:14,659 (birds chirping) 97 00:06:21,030 --> 00:06:25,020 One original feature of the hoatzin is its digestive system, 98 00:06:25,020 --> 00:06:28,740 which resembles that of ruminants in certain ways. 99 00:06:28,740 --> 00:06:32,430 Indeed, it eats practically nothing but leaves 100 00:06:32,430 --> 00:06:36,840 and in huge amounts because the diet is nutritionally poor. 101 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:39,420 It spends lots of time moving through the trees 102 00:06:39,420 --> 00:06:41,163 in search of the best shoots. 103 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,380 This diet has the advantage of making the hoatzin's flesh 104 00:06:46,380 --> 00:06:48,600 indigestible to predators. 105 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,600 That's why eagles, small cats, and monkeys 106 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,453 will hunt young chicks, but not the adults. 107 00:06:56,637 --> 00:06:57,810 (foliage rustling) 108 00:06:57,810 --> 00:07:01,200 Not far away, this white-fronted capuchin 109 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,263 has stolen eggs from the nest of a Spix's guan. 110 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,390 These monkeys are highly evolved and quite intelligent. 111 00:07:09,390 --> 00:07:12,390 In fact, they're the only American monkey species 112 00:07:12,390 --> 00:07:13,593 that uses tools. 113 00:07:15,510 --> 00:07:19,050 It's easy for them to distract birds and steal their eggs. 114 00:07:19,050 --> 00:07:20,880 The hardest part is eating the eggs 115 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,583 without being bothered by young members of the group. 116 00:07:25,473 --> 00:07:30,473 (foliage rustling) (insects chirping) 117 00:07:44,370 --> 00:07:48,150 Capuchins live in groups of a dozen or more members. 118 00:07:48,150 --> 00:07:49,740 There's an alpha couple 119 00:07:49,740 --> 00:07:52,473 and a little else in the way of a social hierarchy. 120 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,280 Food is abundant, so there's enough for everyone. 121 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,830 Capuchins are active during the daytime, 122 00:08:01,830 --> 00:08:04,350 moving in search of fruit trees and other foods, 123 00:08:04,350 --> 00:08:07,053 such as insects and small invertebrates. 124 00:08:08,212 --> 00:08:11,212 (foliage rustling) 125 00:08:21,090 --> 00:08:24,660 Capuchins often form a very noisy group 126 00:08:24,660 --> 00:08:27,693 and the racket they make in the forest doesn't go unnoticed. 127 00:08:29,100 --> 00:08:31,650 These common squirrel monkeys are smaller. 128 00:08:31,650 --> 00:08:33,690 They have no trouble finding the capuchins 129 00:08:33,690 --> 00:08:35,850 and are eager to follow them. 130 00:08:35,850 --> 00:08:39,450 Not only do the capuchins alert them to any dangers, 131 00:08:39,450 --> 00:08:42,660 but they also lead them to the best fruit trees, 132 00:08:42,660 --> 00:08:45,480 and the squirrel monkeys take advantage of any scraps 133 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,569 that capuchins happen to drop. 134 00:08:47,569 --> 00:08:52,569 (foliage rustling) (sparse tense music) 135 00:08:57,536 --> 00:09:00,453 (thunder crashing) 136 00:09:02,733 --> 00:09:04,860 (rain lashing) 137 00:09:04,860 --> 00:09:07,140 Thunderstorms breaking throughout the day 138 00:09:07,140 --> 00:09:10,650 don't often affect the busy common squirrel monkeys. 139 00:09:10,650 --> 00:09:13,932 They communicate with high-pitched calls and cries. 140 00:09:13,932 --> 00:09:17,015 (monkeys chattering) 141 00:09:18,343 --> 00:09:20,790 (thunder crashing) 142 00:09:20,790 --> 00:09:22,950 Unlike many other tree monkeys, 143 00:09:22,950 --> 00:09:26,220 squirrel monkeys don't have a prehensile tail, 144 00:09:26,220 --> 00:09:28,170 but they're still very agile. 145 00:09:28,170 --> 00:09:30,150 The squirrel monkey travels repeatedly 146 00:09:30,150 --> 00:09:31,800 over the same branches, 147 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,560 marking them with scent so they can find the path 148 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:36,543 to their favorite fruits and berries. 149 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:42,560 (monkeys chattering) (rain pattering) 150 00:09:50,580 --> 00:09:53,940 Squirrel monkeys are naturally curious and playful, 151 00:09:53,940 --> 00:09:56,880 and they're sometimes captured for the pet trade, 152 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,810 but the greatest danger they and so many other species face 153 00:10:00,810 --> 00:10:04,410 is the loss of habitat due to deforestation. 154 00:10:04,410 --> 00:10:07,080 The primary threat in this part of the Amazon 155 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,601 is accelerating petroleum exploration and production. 156 00:10:10,601 --> 00:10:15,601 (monkeys chattering) (birds chirping) 157 00:10:20,850 --> 00:10:24,390 Whether it rains for an hour or for days on end, 158 00:10:24,390 --> 00:10:27,450 the rainfall always stops. 159 00:10:27,450 --> 00:10:31,641 An evaporation immediately begins, replenishing the clouds. 160 00:10:31,641 --> 00:10:34,846 (wildlife chatters) 161 00:10:34,846 --> 00:10:37,140 (birds chirping) 162 00:10:37,140 --> 00:10:38,970 For the white-throated toucan, 163 00:10:38,970 --> 00:10:43,260 the rain itself is not a problem, but mosquitoes, gnats, 164 00:10:43,260 --> 00:10:46,503 and other insects take refuge under its plumage. 165 00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:50,640 The toucan removes them with its beak. 166 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,920 Toucans are primarily fruit eaters, 167 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,073 so these insect parasites are just an annoyance. 168 00:10:57,001 --> 00:11:02,001 (wildlife chatters) (birds chirping) 169 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:14,670 Insects thrive in the varzea, the seasonal floodplain forest 170 00:11:14,670 --> 00:11:17,013 that is inundated several months a year. 171 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,390 Here, the acidic black water flows slowly, 172 00:11:21,390 --> 00:11:24,900 tracing channels through a labyrinth of vegetation. 173 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:28,290 Plants climb skyward as they contend for light. 174 00:11:28,290 --> 00:11:30,180 The foliage is so thick 175 00:11:30,180 --> 00:11:33,810 that visibility is limited to one meter or two. 176 00:11:33,810 --> 00:11:37,293 The ground is a tangle of roots and rotting branches. 177 00:11:39,540 --> 00:11:44,220 Yet the forest rings out with innumerable chirping sounds, 178 00:11:44,220 --> 00:11:47,130 evidence of mysterious life. 179 00:11:47,130 --> 00:11:50,533 But what animals live here, in the varzea forest? 180 00:11:50,533 --> 00:11:53,850 (sparse mysterious music) 181 00:11:53,850 --> 00:11:55,470 The South American coati 182 00:11:55,470 --> 00:11:59,640 is perfectly adapted to this equatorial forest biome. 183 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,570 Its long fur coat provides protection from insects. 184 00:12:03,570 --> 00:12:07,230 Its acute sense of smell, coupled with a long snout, 185 00:12:07,230 --> 00:12:09,660 means it can detect and capture prey 186 00:12:09,660 --> 00:12:11,832 or fruits from a distance. 187 00:12:11,832 --> 00:12:14,749 (insects chirping) 188 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,613 The coati's claws make it an excellent climber. 189 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,110 Coatis usually live in families of five or six members, 190 00:12:37,110 --> 00:12:39,900 but this one, who's about four months old, 191 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:42,123 is possibly lost or an orphan. 192 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:50,340 Still, it seems capable of finding food on its own, 193 00:12:50,340 --> 00:12:52,020 and its omnivore diet 194 00:12:52,020 --> 00:12:55,077 means there should be no trouble doing so. 195 00:12:55,077 --> 00:12:57,994 (insects chirping) 196 00:13:05,584 --> 00:13:08,584 (wildlife chatters) 197 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:29,220 But for the time being, 198 00:13:29,220 --> 00:13:33,060 it looks like this little coati wants a quiet place to nap 199 00:13:33,060 --> 00:13:35,523 where it will be comfortable without falling. 200 00:13:36,606 --> 00:13:41,606 (insects chirping) (wildlife chattering) 201 00:13:54,330 --> 00:13:57,163 (birds chirping) 202 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,420 All the mammals that inhabit this dense forest 203 00:14:12,420 --> 00:14:14,910 are more or less capable of climbing trees 204 00:14:14,910 --> 00:14:16,353 for food and shelter. 205 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,520 These monkeys, Spix's night monkey, 206 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,850 show only the tips of their snouts at the end of the day 207 00:14:26,850 --> 00:14:28,350 when they begin to go hunting. 208 00:14:29,190 --> 00:14:32,220 These nocturnal primates wait for the sun to set 209 00:14:32,220 --> 00:14:34,923 as their large eyes cannot stand strong light. 210 00:14:36,136 --> 00:14:41,136 (insects chirping) (wildlife chattering) 211 00:14:47,820 --> 00:14:50,373 Night falls suddenly here at the equator. 212 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,990 In an hour's time, the active wildlife changes completely, 213 00:15:00,990 --> 00:15:03,033 as nocturnal species emerge. 214 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,440 Some, because it's the best time to hunt, 215 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,690 and others, on the contrary, 216 00:15:09,690 --> 00:15:11,883 because they're protected by the darkness. 217 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,200 The Amblypygi, or whip spider, 218 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,110 may look like a frightening cross between a scorpion 219 00:15:19,110 --> 00:15:24,110 and a spider, yet it produces no venom and spins no web. 220 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:29,360 Instead, it waits in ambush to catch insects with pedipalps, 221 00:15:29,430 --> 00:15:31,323 which look like feet with claws. 222 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,230 Thus, whether predators or prey, 223 00:15:37,230 --> 00:15:40,320 the creatures of the night are always on the alert. 224 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,333 The least mistake could be fatal. 225 00:15:45,983 --> 00:15:47,640 (light thoughtful music) (wildlife chattering) 226 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,173 The glacier on Mount Antisana, 227 00:15:50,173 --> 00:15:55,020 a volcano that reaches 5,750 meters above sea level, 228 00:15:55,020 --> 00:15:57,723 is the closest glacier to the Amazon rainforest. 229 00:15:57,723 --> 00:16:00,390 (river rushing) 230 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,620 The water from rain and melting ice 231 00:16:07,620 --> 00:16:09,840 rushes to the foothills of the Andes 232 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,123 before flowing into the Napo River. 233 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,920 The water then flows slowly eastward into the Amazon 234 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,140 and then the Atlantic Ocean. 235 00:16:19,140 --> 00:16:22,290 This is a journey of over 5,000 kilometers, 236 00:16:22,290 --> 00:16:25,863 with some 20 cycles of evaporation and rainfall. 237 00:16:28,110 --> 00:16:30,480 Thus, the Andes Mountain Range, 238 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,510 which extends across Ecuador from north to south, 239 00:16:33,510 --> 00:16:35,853 is the divide between two watersheds. 240 00:16:37,980 --> 00:16:40,560 The rivers that originate on the western slopes 241 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,963 flow more swiftly into the Pacific Ocean. 242 00:16:44,430 --> 00:16:47,520 The Andes include many active volcanoes, 243 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,370 yet the relief is due primarily to mountain building 244 00:16:50,370 --> 00:16:54,210 by plate tectonics over the past 70 million years. 245 00:16:54,210 --> 00:16:56,280 This has resulted in a stratification 246 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,050 of different forest types, 247 00:16:58,050 --> 00:17:01,020 ranging from the rainforest in the Amazon basin 248 00:17:01,020 --> 00:17:04,975 to other forests as high as 3,500 meters above sea level. 249 00:17:04,975 --> 00:17:07,080 (birds chirping) 250 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:08,760 Plants have had millions of years 251 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:10,980 to adapt to these changing geological 252 00:17:10,980 --> 00:17:12,810 and climate conditions. 253 00:17:12,810 --> 00:17:15,300 Many epiphytes have emerged. 254 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:19,230 These plants grow well above ground level, on branches, 255 00:17:19,230 --> 00:17:22,023 where they benefit from the constantly humid air. 256 00:17:23,130 --> 00:17:26,010 Species that grow in a cloud forest 257 00:17:26,010 --> 00:17:28,740 at altitudes over 1,000 meters 258 00:17:28,740 --> 00:17:32,010 are very different from species found at lower altitudes 259 00:17:32,010 --> 00:17:34,380 that cannot withstand temperature variations 260 00:17:34,380 --> 00:17:35,453 or the lack of light. 261 00:17:35,453 --> 00:17:39,810 (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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