All language subtitles for Inside.the.Enchanted.Forests.S01E04.Mountains.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

[narrator] Our most
extraordinary forests...

stand on the shoulders...

of giants!

♪ ♪

In these exposed worlds,
where the air is thin

and the conditions hostile,

only the strongest
and most resilient

can make a mountain home.

From extreme altitude monkeys
battling for a winter stash,

to canopies that catch
the clouds.

[monkey whooping]

A love song that sustains
a forest

and fire-loving trees.

Together, they build
a Kingdom in the Clouds.

Take a journey

through our planet's
kaleidoscope of forests realms.

From the frozen boreal
in the north,

to the tropical jungles
that hug our equator.

From mountain peaks...

to the ocean depths.

Marvel at the magic...

and drama...

that unfolds...

as we reveal...

the Secrets of
the Enchanted Forests.

♪ ♪

Amongst the snowy peaks
of South West China,

a high altitude forest kingdom

is raided for its secret source
of winter food.

♪ ♪

An icy grip takes hold

in some of the country's
last native forests.

In ancient lore, these mountains
were considered sacred.

A gateway, between
heaven and earth.

In this extreme habitat,

only gods can thrive.

Golden gods.

Snub nosed monkeys
with their gold fleece,

blue face and curious nose,

This is their kingdom.

Their unique appearance, is
the secret to their survival.

Their thick fleece
keeps them insulated

and an almost non-existent nose
helps avoid frostbite.

They even have in-built
fluffy gloves!

[monkey squeaking]

These monkeys, live at an
altitude of over 13,000 feet.

In the depths of winter,

meals of fruit or soft leaves
are long gone.

Most other species have fled
down the mountain, to find food

and escape the freeze.

But not the monkeys.

The females and their babies
are led by this male,

the head of the family.

The forest has a secret stash
of food on offer,

and he must lead his family
to it.

The trees here help filter the
air, making it clean and pure.

The perfect conditions for
one reliable food source.

Lichen.

A mix of both fungi and algae

growing on tall,
well established trees.

And luckily for these monkeys,
it grows all year round.

It's hardly fulfilling.

But every bite is precious.

[monkey munching]

♪ ♪

An intruder...

with his own family to feed...

on a lone scouting mission,
in search of lichen.

[monkey squawking]

The head of the family
must fight alone.

♪ ♪

[monkeys growling]

If he loses this battle,

he will be forced to surrender
his territory.

And the food within it.

[monkeys growling]

Finally, the intruder retreats.

[monkey squeaking]

The king, has held on
to his prize lichen patch.

At night, temperatures drop,
and it's time to huddle.

The little ones, are cocooned
in furry "sleep clusters"...

a cozy cradle.

The family's survival,
in these high altitude worlds,

depends on a deep
knowledge of the forest.

To find its hidden stash
of food.

And with a determined monkey
king to defend it,

this family will make it
through another winter.

Further down the mountain,

one lone forest guardian
uses ancient wisdom,

passed down through generations,

to keep the balance of yin
and yang in his forest home.

The Red Panda.

For aeons, his ancestors have
lived in these Chinese forests.

And now, this firecat,
as they are known,

is the guardian of his very own

two and a half kilometre
square patch.

It can be hard to throw off
a fluffy tail blanket

on a chilly morning,

but this panda has
a very important job to do.

First things first...

forest patrol.

As he checks
his territory boundaries

he marks out
an invisible cordon,

using scent glands
between his foot pads.

This aromatic trail,
is packed with information

about its owner,

letting the other
forest residents know

whose territory they dare enter.

And in return, he can use
his own keen sense of smell,

to keep track of what's been
going on inside his patch.

A clouded leopard passed through
here yesterday...

This tree is preparing
to fruit...

A lady fire cat slept here
last week,

but alas she has not returned.

And, no trace of
any male trespassers.

But in this forest,
lives another menace.

[narrator] Bamboo is the fastest
growing plant in the world,

growing up to three feet a day!

Like the giant panda,
the red panda also eats bamboo.

But he prefers the very tips
of the leaves

to the fibrous stalks.

He eats a lot -
around 10,000 leaves a day.

Red pandas need a unique
mixture, of tall canopy trees

as a refuge from predators

and an understory of bamboo
to feed on.

Slow and steady,

he maintains the harmony between
the bamboo and the tall trees.

But, his world is changing.

Despite his daily efforts,
his forest range is shrinking.

He is confined to a section
of mountain

currently perfectly suited
to his needs.

But as human activity increases,

the bamboo and tall trees
he depends on are disappearing.

He is unable to adapt to any
future changes to his forest.

But with space and protection,

this forest guardian
will be able to care

for what he has left...

A diverse mountain forest home.

In just a few special places
on earth,

a tropical rainforest
combines with high altitude,

giving rise to
a truly enchanted realm.

This, is a cloud forest.

♪ ♪

The real alchemy, lies in
its ability to conjure water

"out of thin air".

These trees are the host
to unique lodgers...

Epiphytes.

With almost 100% humidity,

everything these plants need

can be extracted
from the air around them,

so they never need
to touch the ground.

Every nook or cranny
can be filled.

Creating "hanging gardens"
in the canopy.

In return, these plants provide
pockets of shelter,

creating tiny eco-systems
in the canopy,

home to many creatures found
nowhere else on the planet.

By overcoming the need
to be anchored to the ground,

these plants have found
their perfect spot,

up here in this enigmatic world
within the clouds.

Epiphytes aren't the only plants
rooted in unconventional places.

The trees of Northern
Madagascar,

have formed an alliance
with a barefoot brigade,

allowing them to grow
where none should.

This is Ankarana.

What began as a limestone
plateau 150 million years ago,

has been sculpted
by monsoonal rains

into jagged teeth

and scar-like fissures.

With bare rock and no soil,

this is an unlikely place
for a forest to grow.

And yet, there are trees!

But, they didn't grow here
by chance.

They were planted.

These rock formations
are called "tsingi",

meaning "where one cannot
walk barefoot."

True for most,
but for not all.

For these crowned lemurs,

navigating the tsingi
is a way of life.

They tiptoe across the spines
with padded hands and feet,

undeterred by the needle like
points and perilous drops.

Despite its rugged appearance,

the lemurs come to
this special place

to forage from
the fruiting trees

that make the rocks their home.

As they move around the tsingi,

they deposit seeds
in the nooks.

Where they germinate

and begin to grow.

Over many years,
their roots erode the limestone,

breaking through the rocks

and into caves below.

Eventually finding,
a hidden treasure.

But a tree needs more
than just water to grow.

Without soil, it needs another
source of nutrients.

[narrator] Thousands of bats
that roost in the caves,

leave piles of their droppings,
known as guano,

a fertilizing gift
for the trees.

As the rocks become weaker,
the cave ceilings collapse.

Bringing the final ingredient -
a kiss of sunlight -

to supercharge
the saplings below.

♪ ♪

Generations later,

the forest the Lemurs helped
plant, now sustains them.

As long as these groundbreaking
trees keep producing fruit,

the crowned lemurs
will continue planting a forest

within the rocks.

Every tree needs help,
to spread its seeds.

Some use the natural elements

to send their offspring
to conquer new lands.

Others jettison their cargo
into the world.

But in a mountain forest,
many of the plant species here

rely on wildlife
to do the job for them.

And to attract the best
seed dispersers,

the trees have to sweeten
the deal.

So they package their seeds
within a tasty fruit.

Like brightly colored beacons,

they stand out
amongst the foliage.

And its succulent flesh keeps
customers coming back for more.

Some seeds are designed to pass
through the gut unharmed,

while others even need
digestive fluids

to kickstart their germination.

And as these creatures
traverse the forest,

they eventually deposit
the seeds

in a ready made package
of fertilizer.

For a tree that is anchored
to one spot,

it is a clever
and necessary way

to give their progeny the
best possible start in life.

As far away from their parent,
as possible.

But on the side of a mountain
where nourishment is scarce,

it takes a huge amount of effort
for the tree to produce a fruit.

So the forest here,
must go the extra mile,

to provide the perfect home
for their seed spreaders.

In one mountain forest,
the trees work together,

pulling out all the stops
to create the ideal backdrop

for a love story that will
secure their future.

In the mountains of Laos,
lies a goldilocks realm,

where there is just the right
amount of soil, rain, sunlight

and nutrients
for these trees to fruit.

But up here,

the fruit is smaller than
it would be at sea level.

So the forest needs
to find a way

to keep its resident
dispersers happy.

[gibbons calling]

A family of Lar Gibbons.

The trees here, have created
a perfect world for them

in the canopy.

♪ ♪

What might just look like
a branch, is a perfect bed.

[gibbons squeaking]

And these aren't just treetops,

they are a playground
for energetic youngsters

learning the ropes.

♪ ♪

And for the grown ups, too.

Gibbon means "forest walker",

but their preferred way
of moving about

is far more impressive.

With arms longer than their legs
and double jointed shoulders,

the gibbon is the true
King of the Swingers.

The trees grow their fruit right
at the end of the branches

to soak up every ray of sunshine

so they need expert
contortionists to reach them.

Gibbons, are the most effective
seed dispersers

for their body size.

To keep the forest healthy,
and even expanding,

the trees need as many gibbons
as the troop can provide.

And so the trees set the stage
for the finale -

a rather public display
of affection.

Everyday around noon,

this couple moves
to adjacent trees

[gibbon singing]

and sing to one another.

[gibbon singing]

As if in celebration
of the forest

that constantly provides
for them,

the gibbons' songs
also strengthen their bond.

[gibbons singing]

This pair will stay together
for life,

raising a family in the canopy.

[gibbons singing]

Serenading complete,

it's time to find more fruit.

A mountain forest that uses
every ounce of energy

to produce their fruit,

wants the highest success rate
for their seeds possible.

It's a tale of evolution
at its finest.

The gibbons have discovered ways
to exploit the trees

and in turn,

they have found the
best ways to serve them!

Spreading more fruit,

they are ensuring
a lasting legacy for both

the forest and their family.

When surrounded by some of
the most impressive trees

in the world,

one species is forced to raise
a stink in order to get noticed.

[narrator] This, is
the land of titans.

♪ ♪

In the cool and temperate
rainforests of Australia,

lives the Mountain Ash.

In this place, where there is
plenty of sunlight and water,

these trees have grown
into giants.

Growing up to 3 feet a year,

they are the tallest flowering
tree in the world.

♪ ♪

At nearly 330 feet tall,

these attention grabbers
have a tendency

to leave smaller trees
in the shadows.

So some trees have had to come
up with a different strategy

to get noticed.

Banksia trees are tiny compared
to the Mountain Ash

and even with their show of
flowers,

they struggle to attract
the best pollinators.

But as the sun sets
and the giants sleep,

the banksia tree
switches tactics.

Time to lure in the pollinating
big guns.

A sugar glider.

It's after dark, that
the family come out to forage.

The possum's huge eyes help them
spot insects in the dark.

A perfect meal.

But this possum
wants to skip dinner

and go straight to dessert.

Their love of sugary treats

is what the banksia tree
is banking on.

At night, the banksia
goes into overdrive,

flooding its flowers with a
higher concentration of nectar.

And the aroma of this
extra sweet midnight snack

draws the possum in.

Just out of reach.

But the sugar gliders have found
an ingenious way to navigate.

They parachute up to 150 feet
using a fluffy wingsuit,

helping them reach
the furthest branches.

But, he's been beaten to it...

by another sweet toothed possum.

With their pointed snouts
and long tongues,

it appears
both blossom and possum

may have co-evolved
to meet each other's needs.

More banksia pollen gets spread
at these nocturnal forays

than any other time of day.

These tiny night foraging
marsupials,

and their love of sugary treats,

are helping to maintain
the diversity

of this ancient forest.

The Great Dividing range

is the mountain home to the most
prolific tree in Australia.

The eucalyptus.

The perfect spot for another
iconic Australian resident.

The koala and eucalyptus
co-evolved

over hundreds of
thousands of years.

These trees contain
everything the koalas need.

Shelter,

safety and food.

They even offer a cooling trunk
to hug in the hottest weather.

But, they are far from
nurturing.

♪ ♪

In fact, they want to stop the
koala from eating their leaves,

by trying to kill them.

[narrator] These
leaves are toxic.

Just a tablespoon of eucalyptus
oil can kill a human.

But Koalas, eat over 2 pounds of
eucalyptus leaves, every day.

Living in the mountains

dominated by this one species
of tree,

the koala has had to physically
adapt in order to survive

and foil the eucalypts' plan.

They have evolved
special liver enzymes

and gut bacteria
to digest the toxins.

But all this has taken its toll
on their body.

With a complex digestive system
to run,

compromises had to be made.

This poor diet
made the koala sleepy -

conserving energy by dozing
for up to 20 hours a day.

He is all "gut feelings".

So when an intruder
enters his territory,

there is only one way he
can think of to deal with it.

[koala growling]

The tree top tussle
starts out heated

but, with energy levels
quickly depleting,

neither has the stomach
for a long fight.

[koalas shrieking]

The koala is not a case of
evolution working backwards -

quite the opposite.

It shows an animal efficiently
adapting to the forest.

In a relationship
that is literally toxic,

a tough gut is important.

A forest can cloak a mountain
in swathes of green,

but that is not the only color
in its palette.

♪ ♪

This ancient mountain range
in South East Australia,

is ten times older
than the grand canyon.

And is populated almost
entirely, by eucalypt trees.

But life under the relentless
southern sun, is tough.

Hard leathery foliage
filled with oil

keeps the leaves
from drying out.

Tiny droplets of this oil
disperse,

catching the sunlight
and tinting the air blue.

Giving the famous Blue Mountains
their name.

Eucalyptus oil can paint the air

But its real purpose is part of
a radical strategy for success:

eliminating their competition

All it takes is a spark.

[fire crackling]

Eucalypts are pyromaniacs.

They love fire.

The oil in the leaves
is flammable

and by timing leaf drops
with the fire season,

the trees add more tinder
to the furnace.

♪ ♪

Strips of bark invite
the fire into the canopy.

Carried by the wind,

the embers can ignite more fires
up to 25 miles away,

Open crowns generate updraft,
driving the inferno further.

Until everything green is gone.

But for some, this baptism
of fire... brings life!

With the ground now clear,
the banksias' seed pod,

sealed with resin, melts,

releasing seeds
into a fertile bed of ash.

The eucalypts' trunks,
protected from the fire,

now regenerate
with a surge of new growth.

With most of their competitors
reduced to ash,

they can once again
ensure their rule.

It will take time
for the forest to recuperate

and restore itself
to its former glory.

And it's all hands on deck.

Emerging from his
underground shelter,

this echidna slept as
the inferno raged above him.

Now the soil is cool enough,

he has awoken
from his state of torpor

to start work as part of
the forest regeneration team.

As he looks for food,
he tills the ground,

spreading nutrient rich ash,

burying newly released seeds
and shifting burnt leaves.

In the aftermath, he and his
fellow "spiny anteaters"

go about their business,

helping kickstart the recovery
of the forest.

This fire warden, is more in the
fire prevention line of work.

The superb lyrebird

is best known for her impressive
mimicry skills,

impersonating anything from
a kookaburra...

[Impersonated kookaburra
chirping]

to a chainsaw.

[Impersonated chainsaw buzzing]

With feet like garden rakes,

she sifts through the leaf
litter looking for food.

Shredding leaves and clearing
the ground,

she speeds up
the decomposition process

and creates natural firebreaks.

The Lyrebird, reduces
the amount of dead leaves

that act as fuel by
a massive 25% each year.

Fire, is part of the
eucalypts master plan

for gaining the upper hand.

But Australia's climate
is becoming hotter and drier,

and the wildfires
more frequent and intense.

This fragile ecosystem
needs time to recover

between the burns,

so the trees
and their inhabitants

can continue to thrive.

Life at the top of the world
is extreme,

But with a toolkit of
adaptations,

a touch of magic,

and a little help
from some friends,

forests, and the animals that
call them home,

can conquer the mountains.