1 00:00:37,490 --> 00:00:43,010 There are only a dozen peaks in the world that rise five miles high. 2 00:00:50,370 --> 00:00:55,010 All of them are here, in the Himalayas. 3 00:01:04,210 --> 00:01:08,849 Lethally cold, scoured by gales and blizzards, 4 00:01:08,850 --> 00:01:13,650 these mountains are among the most hostile places on Earth. 5 00:01:22,810 --> 00:01:27,330 Yet, a few special animals manage to live here. 6 00:01:34,370 --> 00:01:35,770 Snow leopards. 7 00:01:37,970 --> 00:01:40,449 Like all creatures of the high mountains, 8 00:01:40,450 --> 00:01:44,049 they have had to adapt both their body and their behaviour 9 00:01:44,050 --> 00:01:45,810 in order to survive. 10 00:01:53,570 --> 00:01:56,089 Life at extreme altitude 11 00:01:56,090 --> 00:02:00,290 has shaped some of the toughest animals on the planet. 12 00:02:04,690 --> 00:02:07,650 (LEOPARD ROARS) 13 00:02:22,290 --> 00:02:25,690 The sunbaked mountains of the Arabian Peninsula. 14 00:02:30,170 --> 00:02:33,929 They may only be a fraction of the height of the Himalayas, 15 00:02:33,930 --> 00:02:37,849 but they are still so dizzyingly steep 16 00:02:37,850 --> 00:02:42,330 that in many places it's almost impossible to get a foothold. 17 00:02:50,690 --> 00:02:55,050 Yet Nubian ibex have made this their home. 18 00:02:58,770 --> 00:03:00,410 (BIRD CALLS) 19 00:03:06,530 --> 00:03:11,169 The ibex choose the steepest cliffs to raise their young, 20 00:03:11,170 --> 00:03:14,690 in safety, beyond the reach of predators. 21 00:03:24,570 --> 00:03:28,970 But living in this sanctuary comes with a cost. 22 00:03:32,450 --> 00:03:35,249 These nursery slopes are so steep, 23 00:03:35,250 --> 00:03:39,210 there is almost no standing water up here. 24 00:03:46,850 --> 00:03:51,730 So to drink, an ibex family must descend into the valley... 25 00:03:53,770 --> 00:03:56,050 ...1,000 feet below. 26 00:03:58,330 --> 00:04:01,250 The mothers pick out the safest way down. 27 00:04:03,330 --> 00:04:07,529 With soft cloven hooves that grip better than any climbing shoe, 28 00:04:07,530 --> 00:04:10,410 they are the most accomplished mountaineers. 29 00:04:22,130 --> 00:04:26,050 But the newborn kids are still having to find their feet. 30 00:04:33,130 --> 00:04:35,170 This is their first descent. 31 00:04:37,450 --> 00:04:40,290 One mistake could make it their last. 32 00:04:59,290 --> 00:05:03,210 Following the adults, the kids finally reach the valley. 33 00:05:06,930 --> 00:05:10,890 But once on level ground, they're vulnerable. 34 00:05:19,050 --> 00:05:22,090 Red foxes lie in wait. 35 00:05:35,970 --> 00:05:37,609 At the first sign of danger, 36 00:05:37,610 --> 00:05:41,410 the young ibex instinctively run back to steeper ground. 37 00:05:43,050 --> 00:05:45,170 (KID BLEATS) 38 00:05:54,970 --> 00:05:58,810 But heading for this particular rocky outcrop could be a mistake. 39 00:06:00,650 --> 00:06:02,530 It's a 30-foot drop. 40 00:06:05,210 --> 00:06:07,489 The fox has them trapped... 41 00:06:07,490 --> 00:06:09,010 or so it seems. 42 00:06:27,610 --> 00:06:30,370 This is what ibex were born to do. 43 00:06:46,570 --> 00:06:50,410 Scattering makes it hard for the fox to pick a target. 44 00:07:04,970 --> 00:07:08,289 And it certainly can't follow them up here. 45 00:07:08,290 --> 00:07:12,410 All it can do is wait for one to slip and fall. 46 00:07:33,650 --> 00:07:36,089 But these youngsters are fast learners, 47 00:07:36,090 --> 00:07:39,490 and they're now almost as sure-footed as their parents. 48 00:08:14,250 --> 00:08:17,250 The fox will have to find its meal elsewhere. 49 00:08:23,650 --> 00:08:26,090 It's just not been a good day. 50 00:08:34,530 --> 00:08:37,890 Now, at last, the young ibex can drink. 51 00:08:40,850 --> 00:08:44,850 But they'll soon need to return to the safety of the sheer cliffs. 52 00:08:51,010 --> 00:08:54,889 Mastering precipitous terrain is always challenging, 53 00:08:54,890 --> 00:08:58,930 but there are more fundamental problems for life in the mountains. 54 00:09:17,130 --> 00:09:20,090 The Alps. Europe's highest peaks. 55 00:09:21,490 --> 00:09:25,050 It's winter, and food is desperately short. 56 00:09:36,290 --> 00:09:40,089 A golden eagle has to spend every daylight hour 57 00:09:40,090 --> 00:09:44,970 scanning the slopes for something, somewhere, to eat. 58 00:09:54,650 --> 00:09:58,449 Her seven-foot wingspan allows her to glide effortlessly 59 00:09:58,450 --> 00:10:01,450 for 100 miles in a single day. 60 00:10:10,610 --> 00:10:15,290 Her extraordinary eyes enable her to spot prey from two miles away. 61 00:10:24,770 --> 00:10:28,010 But she is not the only one who's looking for food. 62 00:10:29,930 --> 00:10:32,970 When she spots a chance, she must move fast. 63 00:10:37,970 --> 00:10:40,969 She can dive at 200 miles an hour. 64 00:10:40,970 --> 00:10:42,970 Only a peregrine is faster. 65 00:11:16,850 --> 00:11:21,130 During winter, even eagles rely almost entirely on carrion. 66 00:11:22,450 --> 00:11:26,410 It's a dead fox, and it could sustain her for days. 67 00:11:29,970 --> 00:11:31,930 Other scavengers must defer. 68 00:11:35,170 --> 00:11:37,730 The hungry crows soon regain their courage. 69 00:11:40,490 --> 00:11:42,770 They'll try any trick to steal a morsel. 70 00:11:51,250 --> 00:11:53,570 And they are annoyingly persistent. 71 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:18,730 But this mob are the least of her worries. 72 00:12:26,770 --> 00:12:29,170 A bigger eagle takes control. 73 00:12:33,610 --> 00:12:37,050 But this kill is too important to give up. 74 00:12:38,970 --> 00:12:41,010 So she must fight. 75 00:12:56,090 --> 00:12:59,130 For the moment, she's won the carcass back. 76 00:13:00,250 --> 00:13:04,210 But a kill like this will attract every eagle for miles around. 77 00:13:32,050 --> 00:13:35,330 As ever, the strongest wins the lion's share. 78 00:13:38,370 --> 00:13:41,289 Unable to defend the carcass any longer, 79 00:13:41,290 --> 00:13:44,170 the first eagle must now continue its search. 80 00:13:46,130 --> 00:13:48,890 It may be many days before she feeds again. 81 00:13:54,090 --> 00:13:55,609 Only the most competitive 82 00:13:55,610 --> 00:13:58,410 will survive the perils of the mountain winter. 83 00:14:03,530 --> 00:14:06,530 (RUMBLING) 84 00:14:27,610 --> 00:14:29,289 An avalanche. 85 00:14:29,290 --> 00:14:31,209 100,000 tonnes of snow 86 00:14:31,210 --> 00:14:33,889 travelling at 80 miles an hour, 87 00:14:33,890 --> 00:14:37,210 capable of smashing everything in its path. 88 00:15:15,450 --> 00:15:17,569 The mountains of North America 89 00:15:17,570 --> 00:15:21,370 are hit by thousands of avalanches every year. 90 00:15:34,330 --> 00:15:37,889 Yet one animal spends the whole winter 91 00:15:37,890 --> 00:15:42,210 slumbering within the snow on these avalanche-prone slopes. 92 00:15:52,370 --> 00:15:55,610 And when spring comes, they emerge. 93 00:16:08,770 --> 00:16:10,729 All across these mountains, 94 00:16:10,730 --> 00:16:13,849 grizzly bears make their winter dens 95 00:16:13,850 --> 00:16:17,530 10,000 feet up in the deep snow of leeward slopes. 96 00:16:20,130 --> 00:16:22,889 And while they were half-asleep in the depths of winter, 97 00:16:22,890 --> 00:16:24,450 their young were born. 98 00:16:28,890 --> 00:16:33,090 Now these cubs are taking their first steps into the outside world. 99 00:16:57,010 --> 00:16:59,769 This mother is leading her three youngsters 100 00:16:59,770 --> 00:17:02,650 to a place where they can find food. 101 00:17:05,890 --> 00:17:08,049 (RUMBLING) 102 00:17:08,050 --> 00:17:11,250 They need to descend as quickly as possible. 103 00:17:13,810 --> 00:17:15,609 The debris from an avalanche 104 00:17:15,610 --> 00:17:19,690 is clear evidence that this slope is still dangerously unstable. 105 00:17:32,050 --> 00:17:34,450 This is not a place to dawdle. 106 00:17:40,770 --> 00:17:43,050 And they have another reason to keep moving. 107 00:17:44,810 --> 00:17:49,010 After five months in the den, these bears are very hungry. 108 00:17:54,610 --> 00:17:57,729 Bears that have hibernated throughout these peaks 109 00:17:57,730 --> 00:18:01,970 now all descend to the valleys, where spring comes earliest. 110 00:18:10,090 --> 00:18:14,170 In the Rockies, seasonal change is swift and dramatic. 111 00:18:24,770 --> 00:18:30,250 In just a few days, the slopes turn from white to green. 112 00:18:51,770 --> 00:18:56,529 Meadows that only a few weeks ago were buried beneath the snow 113 00:18:56,530 --> 00:18:58,690 are now full of life. 114 00:19:16,650 --> 00:19:20,930 But in these mountains, the good times will not last long. 115 00:19:22,410 --> 00:19:25,130 So the bears must feed as fast as they can. 116 00:19:29,250 --> 00:19:31,009 During the summer months, 117 00:19:31,010 --> 00:19:35,249 an adult can put on 180 kilos gorging on plants 118 00:19:35,250 --> 00:19:37,649 and, if they can catch them... 119 00:19:37,650 --> 00:19:40,690 - (MARMOT CALLS) - ...a marmot or two. 120 00:19:44,770 --> 00:19:48,890 But just now, the bears have something else on their minds. 121 00:19:52,730 --> 00:19:54,369 It's becoming warmer, 122 00:19:54,370 --> 00:19:57,610 and the bears are keen to shed their thick winter coats. 123 00:20:00,810 --> 00:20:04,010 Mothers show the cubs what to do about this. 124 00:20:14,330 --> 00:20:16,490 They'll soon catch on. 125 00:20:18,810 --> 00:20:22,650 Some trees, it seems, are particularly suitable for rubbing. 126 00:20:23,970 --> 00:20:28,570 Bears have their favourites and will travel long distances to visit them. 127 00:20:31,610 --> 00:20:34,450 Some itches just have to be scratched. 128 00:20:55,690 --> 00:20:59,570 There are now around 30 bears in this one valley. 129 00:21:06,050 --> 00:21:11,050 As they rub, each leaves an individual and recognisable scent. 130 00:21:14,930 --> 00:21:19,369 So the tree soon carries a list of who's around, 131 00:21:19,370 --> 00:21:22,050 which might help individuals to avoid a fight. 132 00:21:23,850 --> 00:21:26,249 To best spread their scent, 133 00:21:26,250 --> 00:21:29,130 they really have to put their back into it. 134 00:21:42,690 --> 00:21:44,930 (BEAR GRUNTS) 135 00:22:10,730 --> 00:22:12,969 But summer is short. 136 00:22:12,970 --> 00:22:16,009 Itches satisfactorily scratched, 137 00:22:16,010 --> 00:22:18,090 it's time to eat. 138 00:22:21,450 --> 00:22:23,009 In a couple of months, 139 00:22:23,010 --> 00:22:26,049 they will have to return to their dens to hibernate, 140 00:22:26,050 --> 00:22:28,850 so now they must put on as much weight as they can. 141 00:22:36,170 --> 00:22:40,450 Winter in the mountains returns fast and hits hard. 142 00:22:43,810 --> 00:22:45,530 (WIND HOWLS) 143 00:22:55,010 --> 00:23:00,209 Temperatures in the Rockies will drop to -54 degrees, 144 00:23:00,210 --> 00:23:02,809 so cold that moisture in the air 145 00:23:02,810 --> 00:23:07,370 freezes into tiny crystals called diamond dust. 146 00:23:30,410 --> 00:23:34,450 This bobcat is one of the few hunters to remain active in winter. 147 00:23:38,690 --> 00:23:41,809 Most of his prey is now hidden beneath the snow 148 00:23:41,810 --> 00:23:44,450 that covers his entire territory. 149 00:23:50,170 --> 00:23:54,929 He hunts by listening for the faintest sound of movement. 150 00:23:54,930 --> 00:23:58,889 And to prevent crunching footsteps from revealing his presence, 151 00:23:58,890 --> 00:24:02,050 he uses boulders as stepping stones. 152 00:24:21,130 --> 00:24:22,810 A mouse. 153 00:24:24,370 --> 00:24:26,210 But one is not enough. 154 00:24:42,290 --> 00:24:46,609 The deeper the snow, the harder it is to detect prey, 155 00:24:46,610 --> 00:24:49,570 and the rewards for the effort can be disappointing. 156 00:24:52,690 --> 00:24:54,010 To say the least. 157 00:24:59,730 --> 00:25:01,689 By midwinter, the snow is so deep 158 00:25:01,690 --> 00:25:04,849 that bobcats are forced to leave their territories 159 00:25:04,850 --> 00:25:07,250 to try and find easier hunting. 160 00:25:31,410 --> 00:25:34,210 And this bobcat may be in luck. 161 00:25:35,690 --> 00:25:38,490 For this particular valley is blessed. 162 00:25:43,970 --> 00:25:46,130 A river here never freezes. 163 00:25:49,050 --> 00:25:52,089 It's fed by a volcanic hot spring 164 00:25:52,090 --> 00:25:53,729 that heats these waters 165 00:25:53,730 --> 00:25:56,970 to 50 degrees warmer than the surrounding air. 166 00:26:02,650 --> 00:26:06,170 Hungry animals of all kinds come here to feed. 167 00:26:30,290 --> 00:26:31,849 Throughout the winter, 168 00:26:31,850 --> 00:26:33,329 the river is full of food 169 00:26:33,330 --> 00:26:36,050 for those who know how to catch it. 170 00:26:47,490 --> 00:26:50,490 Here, even the coyotes have become fishermen. 171 00:26:54,650 --> 00:26:58,770 But hunting is hard for a cat that's not used to getting its feet wet. 172 00:27:08,130 --> 00:27:10,650 So he must choose his target with care. 173 00:27:23,210 --> 00:27:24,690 Goldeneye ducks. 174 00:27:26,010 --> 00:27:28,650 But can he get close enough to pounce? 175 00:27:52,370 --> 00:27:54,650 (QUACKING) 176 00:28:00,170 --> 00:28:03,170 Perhaps he'll have more luck on the other side. 177 00:28:19,650 --> 00:28:24,089 Here, steam from the river warms the surrounding trees, 178 00:28:24,090 --> 00:28:27,810 so up in the branches, there could be prey. 179 00:28:29,850 --> 00:28:31,610 (CHIRPING) 180 00:28:33,450 --> 00:28:35,410 If only he could get to it. 181 00:28:37,410 --> 00:28:39,730 It's 20 feet up. 182 00:28:56,010 --> 00:28:57,610 At last... a squirrel. 183 00:29:00,050 --> 00:29:02,930 Not much, but enough to keep him going. 184 00:29:06,130 --> 00:29:11,209 To survive a winter in these mountains takes tenacity, 185 00:29:11,210 --> 00:29:14,290 and bobcats have that in abundance. 186 00:29:31,130 --> 00:29:33,770 Snow on the equator. 187 00:29:35,450 --> 00:29:38,049 Unlike the Rockies, in these mountains 188 00:29:38,050 --> 00:29:40,010 there are no marked seasons. 189 00:29:52,450 --> 00:29:54,770 This is Africa's Mount Kenya. 190 00:29:55,770 --> 00:29:58,609 It's 17,000 feet high, 191 00:29:58,610 --> 00:30:01,409 which makes its summit some 30 degrees colder 192 00:30:01,410 --> 00:30:03,850 than the surrounding savanna. 193 00:30:07,930 --> 00:30:14,409 Giant heathers, lobelias and groundsel grow on its upper slopes. 194 00:30:14,410 --> 00:30:16,810 They all thrive in the tropical sun. 195 00:30:18,090 --> 00:30:20,610 After all, every day is summer. 196 00:30:23,130 --> 00:30:29,410 But once the sun sets, every night becomes as bitterly cold as winter. 197 00:30:37,650 --> 00:30:41,569 The temperature drops to five degrees below freezing, 198 00:30:41,570 --> 00:30:45,489 turning the mountainside into a garden of ice. 199 00:30:45,490 --> 00:30:47,890 (CRACKLING) 200 00:31:05,970 --> 00:31:08,009 Everything freezes, 201 00:31:08,010 --> 00:31:12,930 but the cabbage groundsels have a way of protecting themselves. 202 00:31:18,930 --> 00:31:23,529 They close up their leathery leaves to form an insulating blanket 203 00:31:23,530 --> 00:31:26,450 that shields their vulnerable central bud. 204 00:31:37,810 --> 00:31:39,930 Night comes to an end... 205 00:31:43,970 --> 00:31:45,850 ...and the sunshine returns. 206 00:31:50,690 --> 00:31:53,529 The groundsels spread their leaves wide 207 00:31:53,530 --> 00:31:55,690 to bask in the sunshine once again. 208 00:32:14,490 --> 00:32:17,050 Dawn in the High Andes. 209 00:32:26,010 --> 00:32:29,689 Here too, the rising sun brings rapid relief 210 00:32:29,690 --> 00:32:33,010 to animals living amongst these volcanic peaks. 211 00:32:36,730 --> 00:32:39,729 Mountain viscacha are up early 212 00:32:39,730 --> 00:32:43,730 to claim the best places to catch the sun's first rays. 213 00:33:04,730 --> 00:33:09,130 For others up here, the sunrise is even more welcome. 214 00:33:12,250 --> 00:33:14,249 At over 14,000 feet, 215 00:33:14,250 --> 00:33:17,610 this is the highest flamingo colony in the world. 216 00:33:20,210 --> 00:33:24,890 At night, it gets so cold that even this salty water freezes over. 217 00:33:27,170 --> 00:33:30,209 And now the flamingos are trapped in the ice. 218 00:33:30,210 --> 00:33:32,370 (FLAMINGOS CALL) 219 00:33:35,770 --> 00:33:39,649 Eventually, the sun thins the ice, 220 00:33:39,650 --> 00:33:43,450 but it's still a struggle for the flamingos to break free. 221 00:34:03,730 --> 00:34:06,450 Walking on thin ice is always risky. 222 00:34:17,810 --> 00:34:20,250 And it's hard to retain one's dignity... 223 00:34:21,850 --> 00:34:23,930 ...especially when you're wearing stilts. 224 00:34:37,450 --> 00:34:39,329 At these altitudes, 225 00:34:39,330 --> 00:34:44,530 the sun's power can quickly turn from salvation to threat. 226 00:34:50,850 --> 00:34:53,049 The atmosphere is so thin, 227 00:34:53,050 --> 00:34:56,570 there is very little protection from ultraviolet radiation. 228 00:34:58,210 --> 00:35:02,010 By mid-morning, it's risky to linger out in the open. 229 00:35:05,170 --> 00:35:08,450 The viscacha are forced to head for the shade. 230 00:35:13,410 --> 00:35:16,690 Out on the lake, there is nowhere to hide. 231 00:35:22,970 --> 00:35:25,209 The white crust of the soda lake 232 00:35:25,210 --> 00:35:27,249 reflects the sun's glare 233 00:35:27,250 --> 00:35:30,410 and increases the impact of its ultraviolet rays. 234 00:35:35,650 --> 00:35:39,850 By midday, uncovered human skin will burn in four minutes. 235 00:35:45,890 --> 00:35:48,530 But this doesn't seem to bother the flamingos. 236 00:35:49,730 --> 00:35:51,850 In fact, they are on parade. 237 00:36:22,130 --> 00:36:23,689 During the breeding season, 238 00:36:23,690 --> 00:36:27,249 the flamingos perform these peculiar courtship dances 239 00:36:27,250 --> 00:36:29,930 even through the hottest time of the day. 240 00:36:36,490 --> 00:36:39,770 They are so eager, they don't even pause to feed. 241 00:36:58,410 --> 00:37:00,849 The rules are something of a mystery 242 00:37:00,850 --> 00:37:02,889 but, after a month of dancing, 243 00:37:02,890 --> 00:37:05,209 all the birds will have paired off 244 00:37:05,210 --> 00:37:07,410 and will be getting ready to mate. 245 00:37:13,850 --> 00:37:18,129 Up here, there are few other creatures to bother the flamingos, 246 00:37:18,130 --> 00:37:20,089 but then, few other creatures 247 00:37:20,090 --> 00:37:22,690 could even tolerate these conditions. 248 00:37:25,930 --> 00:37:29,289 So for animals that have the endurance, 249 00:37:29,290 --> 00:37:31,970 mountains can be sanctuaries. 250 00:37:44,290 --> 00:37:47,489 But rocky peaks which to us, perhaps, 251 00:37:47,490 --> 00:37:49,929 seem a symbol of permanence, 252 00:37:49,930 --> 00:37:52,170 are more fragile than they appear. 253 00:37:56,530 --> 00:37:58,569 Today in the Alps, 254 00:37:58,570 --> 00:38:02,970 human encroachment is changing even the highest summits. 255 00:38:16,330 --> 00:38:17,849 In the Rockies, 256 00:38:17,850 --> 00:38:20,969 rising temperatures are shortening winter hibernation 257 00:38:20,970 --> 00:38:23,930 and stifling the growth of valuable food plants. 258 00:38:30,130 --> 00:38:33,489 And in the Andes, some glaciers 259 00:38:33,490 --> 00:38:37,330 have shrunk by 50% in just 30 years. 260 00:38:46,930 --> 00:38:49,730 Even the Himalayas are now vulnerable. 261 00:38:53,530 --> 00:38:55,569 With most of the world's tallest peaks 262 00:38:55,570 --> 00:38:59,089 and covering a third of a million square miles, 263 00:38:59,090 --> 00:39:01,570 this is the greatest mountain range of all. 264 00:39:08,410 --> 00:39:10,769 And here, temperatures are now rising 265 00:39:10,770 --> 00:39:12,810 faster than the global average. 266 00:39:14,290 --> 00:39:18,929 As the snow line retreats further and further up these peaks, 267 00:39:18,930 --> 00:39:22,529 there is less and less space for wildlife, 268 00:39:22,530 --> 00:39:24,289 and that is a challenge 269 00:39:24,290 --> 00:39:28,730 for one of the most majestic of all mountain creatures. 270 00:39:46,890 --> 00:39:48,930 The snow leopard. 271 00:39:52,330 --> 00:39:58,129 Seldom seen, the detail of their lives has long been a mystery, 272 00:39:58,130 --> 00:40:03,249 but now, at last, helped by the latest remote-camera technology, 273 00:40:03,250 --> 00:40:06,210 we are getting closer to them than ever before. 274 00:40:11,530 --> 00:40:15,690 They are very rare... only about four of them in 40 square miles. 275 00:40:17,650 --> 00:40:20,770 There is simply not enough prey to sustain more. 276 00:40:26,530 --> 00:40:29,169 They live solitary lives. 277 00:40:29,170 --> 00:40:32,649 Nonetheless, they are well aware of the presence and the movements of 278 00:40:32,650 --> 00:40:37,730 their neighbours, because they leave messages in a few special places. 279 00:40:40,770 --> 00:40:44,610 They rub particular rocks with their cheeks... 280 00:40:47,330 --> 00:40:49,810 ...and then spray them with urine. 281 00:40:52,370 --> 00:40:55,930 The two perfumes create a unique signature. 282 00:40:56,970 --> 00:40:58,290 (SQUIRTING) 283 00:41:00,290 --> 00:41:05,329 Any other leopard can know which of its neighbours passed this way, 284 00:41:05,330 --> 00:41:07,810 without ever making direct contact. 285 00:41:11,330 --> 00:41:15,409 But there are times when snow leopards must come together, 286 00:41:15,410 --> 00:41:17,810 and the event is often violent. 287 00:41:30,650 --> 00:41:34,010 An adult female and her daughter. 288 00:41:43,450 --> 00:41:47,729 She has devoted the last two years to raising her cub 289 00:41:47,730 --> 00:41:49,930 and very soon, it will be weaned. 290 00:41:53,050 --> 00:41:57,050 For now, the cub is still entirely dependent on its mother. 291 00:42:02,770 --> 00:42:06,770 But staying together as long as this could cause problems. 292 00:42:11,090 --> 00:42:13,009 The female is now in heat again, 293 00:42:13,010 --> 00:42:16,770 and any male that smells her signature will know that. 294 00:42:18,570 --> 00:42:20,170 (SQUIRTING) 295 00:42:27,170 --> 00:42:30,770 From this moment on, her cub's life is at risk. 296 00:42:33,690 --> 00:42:36,410 Males kill cubs that are not their own. 297 00:42:41,890 --> 00:42:45,930 But the mother is now driven by an urge that she cannot control. 298 00:42:49,930 --> 00:42:53,609 She lets the males know exactly where she is. 299 00:42:53,610 --> 00:42:56,690 (LEOPARD CALLS) 300 00:43:06,610 --> 00:43:10,009 From up here, she can be heard for miles around. 301 00:43:10,010 --> 00:43:12,210 (LEOPARD CALLS) 302 00:43:29,130 --> 00:43:32,850 A young male emerges from the wilderness, eager to find her. 303 00:43:36,770 --> 00:43:39,329 Snow leopards meet so infrequently 304 00:43:39,330 --> 00:43:42,210 that there is uncertainty and tension. 305 00:43:50,250 --> 00:43:52,370 And it's about to get worse. 306 00:44:01,210 --> 00:44:03,730 Another, bigger male has arrived. 307 00:44:12,810 --> 00:44:16,369 The mother and cub are trapped between the rivals. 308 00:44:16,370 --> 00:44:18,210 (GROWLING) 309 00:44:21,730 --> 00:44:23,569 The cub is now in danger. 310 00:44:23,570 --> 00:44:25,210 Mother must act fast. 311 00:44:26,730 --> 00:44:29,649 To divert the males' attention from her cub, 312 00:44:29,650 --> 00:44:31,610 she rolls over submissively. 313 00:44:44,610 --> 00:44:48,530 With the males fixed on the female, the cub has a chance to escape. 314 00:44:54,370 --> 00:44:55,769 (GROWLING) 315 00:44:55,770 --> 00:44:58,609 The males close in on the mother from both sides, 316 00:44:58,610 --> 00:45:00,490 keen to claim her for their own. 317 00:45:05,130 --> 00:45:06,970 A fight is inevitable. 318 00:45:28,370 --> 00:45:31,330 The female moves to escape and protect her cub. 319 00:45:32,530 --> 00:45:34,690 But the big male follows her. 320 00:45:46,130 --> 00:45:49,650 He will not let her leave until he has mated with her. 321 00:46:07,090 --> 00:46:12,170 With the males gone, the female is at last reunited with her cub. 322 00:46:15,650 --> 00:46:17,650 But she has been injured. 323 00:46:27,810 --> 00:46:31,770 The cub, however, is alive, thanks to its mother. 324 00:46:41,450 --> 00:46:45,170 Until her injury heals, she won't be able to hunt. 325 00:46:48,290 --> 00:46:51,610 Mountain animals survive on the very edge of existence. 326 00:46:55,330 --> 00:46:58,250 Mother and cub were not seen again. 327 00:47:06,850 --> 00:47:10,529 Until over a month later, high on a ridge, 328 00:47:10,530 --> 00:47:12,410 a remote camera was triggered. 329 00:47:16,890 --> 00:47:18,649 The female cat. 330 00:47:18,650 --> 00:47:21,970 She's no longer limping, but she's now alone. 331 00:47:27,810 --> 00:47:30,609 Then, an hour after the female has left, 332 00:47:30,610 --> 00:47:32,890 the camera is triggered again. 333 00:47:39,530 --> 00:47:41,289 It's her cub, 334 00:47:41,290 --> 00:47:45,730 taking her first steps towards adulthood and independence. 335 00:47:47,730 --> 00:47:51,089 She is unlikely to see her mother again. 336 00:47:51,090 --> 00:47:54,289 But every now and then, they will be reunited 337 00:47:54,290 --> 00:47:58,490 through the messages they leave on the marking rocks. 338 00:48:01,730 --> 00:48:05,329 Her mother has succeeded in raising her, 339 00:48:05,330 --> 00:48:08,449 but life ahead will be challenging, 340 00:48:08,450 --> 00:48:11,290 and she will spend nearly all of it alone. 341 00:48:14,410 --> 00:48:17,489 Only the toughest can survive 342 00:48:17,490 --> 00:48:21,490 among the savage beauty of the world's highest mountains. 343 00:48:36,730 --> 00:48:38,369 Revealing a new perspective 344 00:48:38,370 --> 00:48:41,009 on the lives of golden eagles in the mountains 345 00:48:41,010 --> 00:48:43,250 would take two very different approaches. 346 00:48:50,770 --> 00:48:54,089 A traditional wildlife crew set out to film wild eagles 347 00:48:54,090 --> 00:48:57,010 closer than ever before. 348 00:49:00,650 --> 00:49:04,169 Whilst an aerial team aimed to capture the hunting flights 349 00:49:04,170 --> 00:49:06,370 of eagles high in the mountains. 350 00:49:13,730 --> 00:49:16,849 The helicopter crew soon have success in filming 351 00:49:16,850 --> 00:49:18,689 wild eagles high over the Alps, 352 00:49:18,690 --> 00:49:22,530 but there was one part of the story even they couldn't follow. 353 00:49:26,770 --> 00:49:30,210 Golden eagles can stoop at 200 miles an hour. 354 00:49:32,730 --> 00:49:36,529 To capture an eagle's-eye view of such a dramatic flight 355 00:49:36,530 --> 00:49:39,370 would take a more extreme approach. 356 00:49:46,250 --> 00:49:50,369 I'm Aaron Durogati and I'm a professional paraglider pilot. 357 00:49:50,370 --> 00:49:55,489 Aaron believes that to fly like a bird, he must think like one, too. 358 00:49:55,490 --> 00:49:58,769 It's a very special feeling to fly with eagles 359 00:49:58,770 --> 00:50:01,569 because I'm really looking how they are thermalling 360 00:50:01,570 --> 00:50:03,249 and where they go to soar. 361 00:50:03,250 --> 00:50:05,769 This helps me to become a better pilot, 362 00:50:05,770 --> 00:50:08,449 and I try to take inspiration from the nature. 363 00:50:08,450 --> 00:50:11,689 Wearing a specially designed helmet camera, 364 00:50:11,690 --> 00:50:15,490 Aaron's aim is to film the perspective of a diving eagle. 365 00:50:19,770 --> 00:50:22,289 But before he can jump off a mountain, 366 00:50:22,290 --> 00:50:24,090 first he needs to climb it. 367 00:50:26,610 --> 00:50:31,729 It's a tough 3,000m ascent for Aaron and his wingman, Armin, 368 00:50:31,730 --> 00:50:35,410 as director Emma Brennand waits for news in the valley below. 369 00:50:39,690 --> 00:50:43,050 The ascent is slowed by a series of dangerous crevasses. 370 00:50:47,490 --> 00:50:51,090 After a tricky climb, they finally reach their launch site. 371 00:50:54,970 --> 00:50:57,289 But the weather up here is unpredictable 372 00:50:57,290 --> 00:51:00,450 and a change in wind direction makes it impossible to take off. 373 00:51:05,050 --> 00:51:09,249 Aaron and Armin are forced to overnight in the summit shelter, 374 00:51:09,250 --> 00:51:14,169 and with the cold knocking out their comms, Emma is worrying. 375 00:51:14,170 --> 00:51:16,729 They're well-trained mountain guides, 376 00:51:16,730 --> 00:51:19,529 but it doesn't make it any easier to know that. 377 00:51:19,530 --> 00:51:23,449 I think it's going to be a fairly restless night for me as well. 378 00:51:23,450 --> 00:51:26,570 Whilst the paragliders prepare for a night on the mountain... 379 00:51:28,450 --> 00:51:31,209 ...cameraman Barrie Britton is setting out early 380 00:51:31,210 --> 00:51:35,330 on a more cautious quest to film wild golden eagles from a hide. 381 00:51:41,250 --> 00:51:43,889 I've got to get everything set while it's still dark 382 00:51:43,890 --> 00:51:47,369 and the eagles can't see what we're up to. 383 00:51:47,370 --> 00:51:51,009 Or if they saw any movement around the hide, then they'd fly away 384 00:51:51,010 --> 00:51:53,289 and probably wouldn't come back for a few days. 385 00:51:53,290 --> 00:51:56,410 They're notoriously difficult birds to film. 386 00:51:57,770 --> 00:52:01,130 Even hide work is not entirely without risks. 387 00:52:02,490 --> 00:52:07,049 It's -20 outside. So this is a crucial part of the operation, 388 00:52:07,050 --> 00:52:10,209 making sure the fire works so we don't freeze to death. 389 00:52:10,210 --> 00:52:12,769 Aah! Well, that's all the hairs gone on my hand! 390 00:52:12,770 --> 00:52:14,649 Oh, well! 391 00:52:14,650 --> 00:52:17,689 And we just have to be really quiet now 392 00:52:17,690 --> 00:52:21,289 and hope the eagles come in when first light comes up. 393 00:52:21,290 --> 00:52:24,089 Eight sedentary hours later, 394 00:52:24,090 --> 00:52:27,530 Barry's only reward is a dead leg. 395 00:52:29,610 --> 00:52:31,690 We haven't done a single shot today. 396 00:52:33,330 --> 00:52:34,770 Nothing has come. 397 00:52:36,330 --> 00:52:38,050 Anyway, that's the way it goes. 398 00:52:39,330 --> 00:52:41,849 After a long night on top of the mountain, 399 00:52:41,850 --> 00:52:44,289 the weather is only getting worse. 400 00:52:44,290 --> 00:52:47,609 The team need to get down, but visibility's so poor 401 00:52:47,610 --> 00:52:51,529 that descending on foot past the crevasses is too risky. 402 00:52:51,530 --> 00:52:56,290 Aaron decides it's safer to fly, but it'll be a bumpy ride. 403 00:52:57,690 --> 00:52:59,570 (TRANSLATION:) 404 00:53:13,410 --> 00:53:17,210 Thick cloud makes it hard to avoid the mountains, let alone film them. 405 00:53:19,770 --> 00:53:24,889 Thankfully, they make it down in one piece, much to Emma's relief. 406 00:53:24,890 --> 00:53:27,329 We are very, very glad to see you both. 407 00:53:27,330 --> 00:53:28,810 Yeah, it's a bit hard up there. 408 00:53:29,970 --> 00:53:34,090 The team spend the next two weeks chasing weather windows... 409 00:53:35,890 --> 00:53:38,250 ...until at last, a clear flight. 410 00:53:53,290 --> 00:53:55,569 Trying to mimic a diving eagle, 411 00:53:55,570 --> 00:53:57,649 the flying looks spectacular, 412 00:53:57,650 --> 00:54:00,130 but the helmet-cam shots are less so. 413 00:54:03,010 --> 00:54:04,769 To stay safe at these speeds, 414 00:54:04,770 --> 00:54:08,049 Aaron must turn his head regularly to check his glider, 415 00:54:08,050 --> 00:54:10,450 and that is making the shots unusable. 416 00:54:14,330 --> 00:54:17,610 The team must quickly come up with a new plan. 417 00:54:22,850 --> 00:54:25,369 Back in the hide, all has been quiet 418 00:54:25,370 --> 00:54:28,850 until Barrie spots an eagle scavenging on a fox carcass. 419 00:54:36,810 --> 00:54:39,650 Barrie repositions his hide to keep watch. 420 00:54:47,290 --> 00:54:48,690 Good stuff! 421 00:54:49,730 --> 00:54:52,169 After 100 hours in the hide, 422 00:54:52,170 --> 00:54:54,730 finally, his luck changes. 423 00:54:57,210 --> 00:55:00,009 That's one terrifying bird there. 424 00:55:00,010 --> 00:55:03,530 For me, it's fantastic just to see them so close. 425 00:55:04,650 --> 00:55:06,130 It's just beautiful. 426 00:55:08,930 --> 00:55:13,089 With Barrie's success, it's now down to the paragliding team. 427 00:55:13,090 --> 00:55:16,610 They've come to the Mont Blanc range with a new plan. 428 00:55:18,530 --> 00:55:22,849 Aaron's decided that the best way to keep safe and get stable shots 429 00:55:22,850 --> 00:55:25,250 is to fly tandem with a cameraman. 430 00:55:27,650 --> 00:55:30,489 We've got to try and mimic how an eagle flies, 431 00:55:30,490 --> 00:55:34,209 which is pretty hard because they're basically like the top bird of prey. 432 00:55:34,210 --> 00:55:36,129 John is nervous. 433 00:55:36,130 --> 00:55:38,050 It's his first-ever flight. 434 00:55:39,970 --> 00:55:42,370 Three, two, one, go. 435 00:55:43,730 --> 00:55:45,810 Eee... ahh! 436 00:55:46,890 --> 00:55:50,130 Yes! Woohoo! 437 00:55:52,970 --> 00:55:56,449 - How is it? - Ah, man, that was a shock. 438 00:55:56,450 --> 00:55:59,730 Overcoming his initial fears, John begins filming. 439 00:56:01,410 --> 00:56:04,130 If you can go right of this, that'd be cool. 440 00:56:05,490 --> 00:56:08,449 The tandem wing allows John to get the shots 441 00:56:08,450 --> 00:56:10,770 that Aaron was unable to get flying solo. 442 00:56:12,330 --> 00:56:14,889 Awesome, Aaron, very good. 443 00:56:14,890 --> 00:56:16,970 But it's not all plain sailing. 444 00:56:21,450 --> 00:56:24,369 The feeling of discomfort only gets worse 445 00:56:24,370 --> 00:56:27,330 as Aaron begins the eagle dive. 446 00:56:33,650 --> 00:56:35,449 (JOHN LAUGHS) 447 00:56:35,450 --> 00:56:37,330 I feel sick! 448 00:56:38,850 --> 00:56:41,089 Oh, man! 449 00:56:41,090 --> 00:56:43,369 Flying low and fast like an eagle 450 00:56:43,370 --> 00:56:45,210 leaves little room for error. 451 00:56:55,610 --> 00:57:00,289 - (LAUGHING:) A little bit too much, do you think? - Yeah! 452 00:57:00,290 --> 00:57:03,690 - Sorry, what did you call it, an unplanned landing? - Yeah! 453 00:57:05,770 --> 00:57:09,089 They might not be as majestic as a golden eagle, 454 00:57:09,090 --> 00:57:12,249 but they do capture a unique perspective 455 00:57:12,250 --> 00:57:15,770 that conveys an eagle's life as never before. 456 00:57:20,730 --> 00:57:22,449 Next time... 457 00:57:22,450 --> 00:57:24,570 we explore the world's jungles. 458 00:57:26,890 --> 00:57:31,050 Places of surprise and invention unrivalled on Earth... 459 00:57:32,930 --> 00:57:36,370 ...where the battle for survival is at its most intense.