All language subtitles for Inside.the.Enchanted.Forests.S01E05.Boreal.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

In the largest forest
on Earth...

life can be brutal...

and bone-chilling.

Here, animals have evolved
superpowers...

...and trees talk to each other
beneath the soil!

This forest holds a magic so
potent, it can tame wild beasts,

join forces with predators,

and ultimately determine
the future of our entire planet.

This is the story
of our Boreal Forests.

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.

[enchanting music]

[majestic music]

In the far Northernmost reaches
of our planet,

on the edges
of the Arctic circle...

...a swathe of evergreen forest

wraps around the Earth
like an emerald crown.

This is the 'taiga',
or Boreal forest.

named after Boreas, the Greek
god of the harshest of winds.

This wild and brutal realm
is home to the reindeer,

an icon of the boreal snowscape.

[reindeer puffs]

This is no ordinary herbivore.

These arctic specialists

are equipped with seemingly
supernatural abilities,

enabling them to conquer
their frozen world.

[birds tweet]

The reindeer have spent the
winter months among the trees.

Soon, this heavily pregnant herd

must leave the forest's
protective embrace,

and embark on an epic migration.

They have three weeks to reach
their birthing grounds,

Hundreds of kilometres away
in the mountains.

But before they leave
their wooded sanctuary,

they must build up
their reserves.

Beyond the forest,

the reindeers' passage
across the tundra

lies under an expanse of white.

There will be little to eat here
during wintertime.

[wind blows]

But within the trees,

the conditions are just right
to grow a precious superfood.

An all you can eat buffet
of lichen.

This exquisite combination
of fungi and algae

creates the perfect blend of
nutrients and carbohydrates,

to fuel the reindeer
on their journey.

[enchanting music]

The trees act as willing hosts
to the lichen,

in return for a powerful,
life-giving substance

captured from thin air.

Lichen spins nitrogen
from the atmosphere

into a form that the trees
can absorb.

A rare treat
in this frozen landscape.

Much of the lichen
lies shrouded in snow,

but that's not a problem
for the reindeer...

They have evolved
a special kind of vision.

Their eyes see
a spectrum of light

that few other mammals can see.

Anything that absorbs
ultraviolet light from the sun,

appears black
to the eyes of the reindeer.

All they need to do
is uncover this hidden bounty.

With reserves replenished,

the herd begin their exodus
to their summer pastures.

[reindeers grunt]

Without the protection
of the forest,

the pregnant reindeer are now
exposed and vulnerable...

And predators know it.

Now that the reindeer
are out in the open,

the forest's allegiance
has shifted.

The trees that once offered
the herd protection,

now provide cover for the enemy.

This pack of wolves
is poised for an ambush.

But their pale fur,

their secret to blending in
against the snow,

is rendered useless when it
comes to outsmarting reindeer.

Their coats absorb UV
just like the lichen.

In reindeer vision,

a wolf stands out as a black
shape against the white snow...

Eliminating any chance
of a surprise attack.

The reindeer's
superpowered vision

gives them the edge
in this wintery realm,

and sets them apart from
every other species of deer.

It feeds them and ensures
a safe passage for the herd

and the unborn calves
they're carrying.

[soft music]

Finally, after a perilous
240 kilometres,

these reindeer have arrived,
exhausted but safe.

A nutritious banquet of herbs,

grasses and sedges
now awaits the hungry herd.

[reindeers grunt]

This marks the start
of new beginnings.

The newborn calves
will fatten up on the tundra,

their summer paradise.

Within a few months
they'll have gained the strength

to accompany their mothers
on the return journey home.

Back to that same boreal forest

that has sheltered the herd
for generations.

They'll need
its shielding embrace

if they're to survive
their first winter

in the frigid North.

These evergreen trees,
draped in their winter finery,

are as far north as trees get.

Their ability to survive here
is nothing short of miraculous.

Their classic look and graceful
shape belies their true grit.

Each trademark characteristic...

each minuscule detail...

has evolved to take on
the Arctic's icy powers.

For some of these evergreens,

100 years might bring only
20 centimetres of growth.

Height isn't the goal
for these trees.

Instead, it's shape and
substance that really matter.

The trees' leaves, or 'needles',
are dark and narrow,

designed to absorb as much

of the weak winter sunlight as
possible.

Their waxy texture

helps retain what little
liquid water there is.

Inside, special proteins
work as an antifreeze,

keeping the trees' internal
mechanisms functioning

when temperatures drop
well below zero.

And that classic Christmas tree
shape we know and love

is there for a reason.

Their flexible branches
slope downward,

so any heavy bouts of snow...
simply slide off.

Unfrozen,

unbroken

and unrelenting,

these trees are the hardcore
tough guys of our boreal forest.

For most, winter is
the toughest period of all

in a boreal forest.

But for one tiny resident,
it can't last long enough.

During the long, cold season,

a blanket of thick snow
carpets the entire forest floor.

For this deer mouse,
it's his favorite time of year.

He is at the bottom of
the food chain in this forest,

and lives his life in hiding.

But in winter, the forest
gives him a helping hand.

Beneath the hardened snow,

undulating tree roots and shrubs
form air pockets,

creating a labyrinth
of mouse-sized tunnels.

Down here it's much warmer,

and any sound he makes
is muffled by his icy walls.

He has plenty of roots
and stems to feed on

and can happily stay
stashed away all season.

The only thing his bunker lacks
is fresh air,

so he must make sure
his home is well ventilated.

But in this forest, an open door
is seen as an invitation.

This pine marten uses
his keen sense of smell

to locate the mouse's burrow.

But the mouse
has prepared for this.

[ominous music]

The mouse uses the tangle of
tunnels to outwit his pursuer.

All it takes is one wrong turn

for the marten to come out
empty handed.

Safe... for now.

But, when spring arrives...

everything changes.

The forest's cloak of protection
melts with the snow.

Now a mouse's every move,

every sound,

is music to the ears
of nearby predators.

[dramatic music]

And there is no longer
anywhere for them to hide.

[squeaking]

For the great grey owl,
this reversal of fortune

couldn't have come
at a better time.

Their newly hatched chicks
will be raised on a diet

of the now exposed
mice and voles.

[chicks tweeting]

The change in season

has drastically altered
the playing field.

Now, these aerial predators
hold the power.

But maybe not for long.

As the days warm up,

ground plants will begin
their short growing period,

and the forest will
once again be able to provide

just enough cover
for all their ground scurriers.

As long as they keep quiet...

There's more than one
hidden labyrinth in this forest.

Beneath the soil

lies an even greater
network of connections.

A secret place
where trees talk, share.

and sometimes even
try to poison each other.

Trees may appear as silent,
impassive sentinels,

but underground
lies a very different story.

The trees' roots

are plugged into a vast web
of fungal strands,

stretching out
below the entire forest.

The fungi provide the trees

with nutrients
absorbed from the soil,

and in return
the trees feed them sugars.

But the trees are using
this 'wood wide web',

for a far greater purpose...

To talk to each other.

Using their own social network,

older, more robust trees
can send food and water

to those in need of a boost.

They even use
this underground matrix

to protect each other from harm.

Distress signals are dispatched
through their roots

to warn surrounding trees
of impending dangers,

triggering them to launch
their own internal defences.

These seemingly selfless
exchanges are life-sustaining.

But like our own internet...

the forest has a Dark Web,

where users exploit the system
for their own selfish gains.

Bilberry plants
maliciously spread toxins,

sabotaging their rivals in a
quest for more light and space.

And others, like this orchid,

use these connections to steal
food from their neighbors,

offering nothing in return.

But, for the majority of trees,

this vital partnership turns
a group of individuals into

a thriving woodland community.

Even the quietest forest
is as bustling as a city -

just under the surface!

[enchanting music]

At the southerly edge
of the boreal forest,

the dominance of the pine tree
starts to wane.

Here, species such as
Birch and Aspen

are welcomed into
the boreal family,

and could even be responsible
for turning a top predator...

into a teddy bear.

[bear growling]

Just south of
the Canadian border,

some wide-eyed residents
are out exploring

for the very first time.

The lives of these playful cubs
will be shaped

by their forest environment...

[cubs barking]

...just like the lives
of their parents!

Their whole character has been
shaped by it too.

Could it be that a black bear's
tree-dwelling lifestyle

has made them less aggressive
than their brown bear cousins?

Caring for vulnerable cubs

is the ultimate test
of a bear's personality.

Over the next few years,

this bear mum will devote her
life to raising her little ones.

There are two pressing life
skills that she must teach them.

The first is to find food
wherever you can.

Like all forest dwellers,

bears know that the best food
is seasonal.

In this mix of broadleaf
and pine forest,

they couldn't be better
provisioned for.

Non-native dandelions
are a particular favorite -

highly nutritious, succulent,

and easy for a young bear
to digest.

But their picnic is
about to be interrupted.

This lone male has picked up
the family's scent.

[bear growling]

At this time of year,

he is only concerned
with two things...

food... and mating.

He wouldn't hesitate
to kill the cubs

if it meant he could breed
with their mum.

So mum distracts
the determined suitor,

giving her cubs the time

to implement their second
life skill:

climbing!

Within seconds, the cubs are
out of immediate danger.

And mum can calmly deflect
any unwanted attention

without a fight.

Black bears are
incredibly adept climbers.

Their curved claws,

strong forelimbs and
comparatively small size

mean they can find sanctuary
or a playground

amongst the trees.

Unlike their larger
brown bear relatives,

who prefer to keep their feet
firmly on the ground.

Their temperaments
are very different too.

Brown bears prefer
the richer food sources

of the open prairies
and meadows.

So, when a brown bear faces
a threat, with nowhere to hide,

their only option is to
stand their ground and fight.

[bears growling]

Whereas the black bears
stick to the forest,

where cubs can flee to safety

and mama bear can afford to be
a little more relaxed.

Each species of bear has
developed a different approach

to protecting their family,
based on their chosen habitat.

By sticking to the forest
with its easy escape routes,

black bears don't have to be
as aggressive

in the face of danger.

Here amongst the trees,

the best mothers prove to be
the climbers, not the fighters.

[enchanting music]

If the boreal forest wields
enough power to placate a bear,

what could it do for us?

When you wander through
a pine forest,

you can be forgiven for thinking
there's magic in the air.

The scent of pine
not only smells great,

but it can also
influence the weather,

and improve our own physical
and mental wellbeing.

That distinctive pine fragrance
is made from special compounds

known as terpenes,
in the tree's resin.

But that heady aroma
is merely a by-product.

On hot sunny days,

these terpenes are released
into the atmosphere.

The tiny floating particles
refract

and scatter the sun's rays
in all directions.

Ensuring the sun hits

as many of the trees' needles
as possible...

doubling their chance
of capturing its energy.

And if it gets too hot,

the particles can also react
with rising water vapor,

conjuring up clouds...

...and providing the forest
with its own bit of shade.

Collectively, the trees are
changing the Earth's atmosphere

to suit themselves.

But it can benefit
us humans too.

Stretching out into the breeze,

pine needles dramatically
increase a tree's surface area.

Thousands of needles

act like a giant air
conditioning unit for the north,

trapping pollen and pollutants
on their surfaces,

and absorbing dangerous gases
through their pores.

Filtering the atmosphere
in the process.

It's so effective,
that every year,

one square
mile of forest

can remove up to 20 tons
of particulate matter.

As we inhale that clean air,

we are also receiving a dose
of complementary medicine

straight into our lungs.

The terpenes produced
by coniferous trees

are proven to reduce
inflammation,

increase antibodies
to fight off disease

and ease stress and anxiety.

So take a deep breath...

a walk in these woods
has never felt so good.

One of the boreal's largest

is on his yearly mission
to bulk up,

and build a set of antlers,
forged from salt.

After a lean winter,
the forest springs back to life.

For this bull moose,
it's all about getting in shape,

as this year he's keen
to find himself a mate.

He uses the forest
like a living kitchen pharmacy,

purposefully seeking out
the nutritious meals,

supplements and remedies

that will help him
to reach peak condition.

First, he spends his days
building body mass...

devouring tender young saplings,

tearing off
newly sprouted foliage,

and freshly grown stems.

But beefing up
is only a part of the job.

To really impress the females
it's all about his antlers.

The bigger, the better.

Antlers are made
from fast-growing bone.

They expand at the rate
of an inch a day,

and are fueled by
large quantities of salt.

To find this vital mineral,

he leaves the trees
and heads to the ponds.

[splashing]

As aquatic plants contain more
sodium

than any land plants.

And to give him an extra edge
over his rivals,

he ventures out on the highway.

He's learned that the roadside
vegetation here

has been sprayed with salt
by the gritter trucks

throughout the winter,

providing a sneaky boost
for his growing rack.

By the height of summer,

his fur coat
covering his now muscular frame,

makes this an uncomfortable
time of year.

Moose do not sweat,

so he splits his time

between chilling in the
meltwater pools...

and looking for plants
rich in calcium,

which he now needs to strengthen
his new antler growth.

By the time autumn arrives,

the benefits of his carefully
balanced diet have paid off.

He and his antlers
are in tip top condition.

Ready to warn off rivals
and impress potential mates.

Well, they would be...

if he could find a female
interested enough

to fight over...

[moose vocalising]

After all that effort,

his mating season...

has been woefully uneventful.

There's always next year.

He discards his precious antlers

to save energy
over the leaner winter

and heads into the hills.

Up here, he targets
sapling bark and needles,

as they're far sweeter
than the old growth pines.

But once denuded of their
protective outer layer,

the young trees are unable
to recover in the cold.

To fuel their seasonal demands,

moose are gradually transforming
the face of this forest.

Every sapling eaten,
means one less tree.

And a forest needs
to regenerate to survive.

It's an age-old balancing act

between healthy growth,
and hungry residents.

To help maintain that balance,
the forest needs an ally...

There is a special group
of animals

that can counteract
a moose's voracious appetite,

and in doing so,
can revive the forest

and even the planet!

In the dead of winter...

herbivores will consume
every last bit of sustenance

a tree has on offer.

But too many mouths
browsing in one place

can devastate a tree
beyond repair.

The forest needs the herd
to move on.

[wildlife sounds]

And there is one thing...

that never fails
to get them moving.

[ominous music]

Predators.

Their presence casts a spell
over the forest,

creating a landscape of fear.

Herbivores are forced to
live their lives on the run.

This fear of getting caught
helps the forest.

A fleeing herd spreads
its grazing further afield,

giving plants and trees the
respite they need to recover.

And the predator's own
need to feed

means fewer mouths
for the forest to support.

This predator-prey relationship

could even be part of
the solution

to some of our man-made
problems.

In North America,
a boreal forest with wolves

can capture more harmful
carbon from the atmosphere,

than one without.

Their presence can be likened
to removing the emissions

of 71 million cars
from the roads, every year!

Simply by chasing their prey.

[majestic music]

Far from being the bad guys,

these predators contribute a
great deal more to life on Earth

than they take.

The boreal ecosystem in perfect
harmony is a powerful force.

As a healthy,
flourishing forest,

it can offer sanctuary,

sustenance,

a wealth of opportunities,

and a brighter future
for our planet.

[music]