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Narrator:
IN RUSSIA'S SOUTHWEST CORNER
IS A LAND WHERE EVERY ANIMAL
LIVES ON THE EDGE
AND DANGER IS NEVER FAR BEHIND.
THIS IS THE CAUCASUS.
ONCE A SANCTUARY
FOR COUNTLESS ANIMALS,
IT IS NOW A PLACE OF EXILE.
AS HUMANS TRANSFORM THE LAND,
ANIMALS FLEE TO THE VERY BRINK
OF EXISTENCE.
THE ANIMALS OF THE CAUCASUS ARE
WAGING THE WAR OF THEIR LIVES.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
RUSSIA'S GREAT WILDERNESS
IS A WORLD UNTO ITSELF.
SO VAST, IT APPEARS INFINITE.
FEW GET THE PRIVILEGE
OF TRAVELING TO RUSSIA'S
MOST REMOTE REGIONS.
BUT THOSE WHO DO, ENCOUNTER
NEERLDSS ON AN EPIC SCALE --
A LAND WITH FIERY VOLCANOES,
GLITTERING EXPANSES OF ICE,
MILLIONS OF SQUARE MILES
OF PRISTINE FOREST,
AND DAZZLING UNDERWATER WORLDS.
AND WITH THE PLANET'S WILDERNESS
DISAPPEARING
AT AN EVER-INCREASING RATE,
THIS MAY BE OUR LAST CHANCE
TO WITNESS WILD RUSSIA.
IN RUSSIA'S SOUTHWESTERN CORNER,
BORDERED BY THE BLACK
AND CASPIAN SEAS,
LIES THE CAUCASUS,
A REGION DOMINATED BY
THE TOWERING CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS.
THE CAUCASUS, WITH THOUSANDS OF
SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS,
IS ONE OF THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY
RICH REGIONS ON EARTH.
IT IS RECOGNIZED
AS A BIOLOGICAL HOT SPOT.
BUT IT'S ALSO LOSING ITS LAND
AND ITS ANIMALS
AT AN ALARMING RATE.
BEYOND THE REACH
OF CIVILIZATION, 6,000 FEET UP,
THE HIGH SLOPES OF THE CAUCASUS
ARE HOME TO THE GOATLIKE
CAUCASIAN CHAMOIS.
THEY'RE MASTERS
OF THIS PERILOUS LANDSCAPE,
RUNNING AT SPEEDS
OF 30 MILES PER HOUR
UP NEAR-VERTICAL CLIFFS.
OVERSIZED LUNGS HELP THEM GLEAN
OXYGEN FROM THE THIN AIR.
IN RUSSIA,
THE CHAMOIS POPULATION
HAS PLUMMETED IN RECENT YEARS,
VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARING
OUTSIDE OF PROTECTED AREAS.
THE REMAINING FEW HAVE RETREATED
TO THE MOST INACCESSIBLE REGIONS
WHERE FEW HUMANS DARE TO TREAD.
BUT IN THE CAUCASUS,
THERE ARE HEIGHTS
THAT EVEN THE AGILE CHAMOIS
CAN'T ESCAPE TO.
SNOWFIELDS, SOME 23 FEET DEEP,
ARE FAR MORE FRAGILE
THAN THEY SEEM AT FIRST SIGHT.
[ RUMBLING ]
MILLIONS OF TONS OF ICE AND SNOW
CRASH DOWN AT SPEEDS
OF OVER 150 MILES AN HOUR.
LAND UNTOUCHED BY MAN
IS STILL FAIR GAME
FOR NATURE'S POWERFUL HAND.
FOR 20 MILLION YEARS,
THESE ANCIENT MOUNTAINS
HAVE BEEN WORN AWAY.
EVIDENCE OF THE RAVAGES
OF EROSION
LIES AT THE BASE
OF THE MOUNTAINS --
A SAND DUNE, SOME 850 FEET HIGH.
THIS IS SARYKUM --
IT'S ALL THAT'S LEF OF AN ANCIENT DESER FORMED BY PARTICLES
FROM THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS.
IN THE 90-DEGREE HEAT,
TWO TOAD-HEADED AGAMA LIZARDS
ARE AT A STANDOFF.
THEY'RE FAMOUSLY BELLIGERENT.
WHEN THINGS HEAT UP,
HE SINKS INTO THE LOOSE SAND.
THE LONG-EARED HEDGEHOG IS
EQUALLY ADEPT AT DESERT LIVING.
HIS SUPERSIZED EARS, MUCH LONGER
THAN ANY OTHER HEDGEHOG'S,
RADIATE HEAT, COOLING HIM DOWN.
THEY'RE PARTIAL TO CRICKETS,
BUT, INCREDIBLY, IT'S POSSIBLE
FOR THESE HEDGEHOGS
TO SURVIVE UP TO 10 WEEKS
WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER.
LIFE IN THE SARYKUM DUNES
IS UNPREDICTABLE AT BEST.
[ CHIRPING ]
WHEN SUMMER WINDS BLAST IN
FROM THE SOUTHEAST,
THE DUNES CAN BE TREACHEROUS.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO HIDE
FOR ANIMALS CAUGHT IN THE OPEN.
WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING,
BLAST THE SAND PARTICLES
INTO A SOLID WALL
THOUSANDS OF FEET TALL.
[ BLEATING ]
THEN, AS SUDDENLY AS IT ARRIVED,
THE STORM DIES.
A LIZARD CONTINUES ON ITS WAY.
NEARBY, ON THE ROCKY CRAGS,
GRIFFON VULTURES
BUILD THEIR NESTS.
THESE VULTURES ARE FOUND
IN SOUTHERN EUROPE,
NORTH AFRICA, AND ASIA.
FEMALES RARELY LEAVE
THEIR OFFSPRING.
SO IT'S UP TO THE MALE
TO BRING HOME CARRION.
ADULT GRIFFON VULTURES CAN SOAR
FOR EIGHT HOURS ON THERMALS,
HUNTING BY SIGHT, NOT SMELL.
ON THE DUNE EDGES,
A STEPPE EAGLE
HAS DISCOVERED A GOA KILLED IN THE SANDSTORM.
THE EAGLE IS STRONG,
BUT IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME
TO OPEN THE CARCASS.
[ INSECTS BUZZING ]
THE BODY WILL LAST SEVERAL DAYS,
ASSUMING HE CAN KEEP I TO HIMSELF.
ALREADY PUSHY MAGPIES
ATTEMPT TO MOVE IN.
BUT AS MORE EAGLES CIRCLE,
THE MAGPIES LOSE COURAGE,
LEAVING THE LARGER BIRDS
TO FEAST.
LIKE IT OR NOT, THE FIRST STEPPE
EAGLE WON'T BE DINING ALONE.
[ SQUAWKING ]
VULTURES SPOT THE COMMOTION
AND DROP IN TO JOIN THE PARTY.
THEY CAN DIVE OUT OF THE SKY
AT OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR.
WITH AN EMPTY STOMACH,
THE MALE VULTURE
HITCHES A RIDE ON THERMALS
BACK TO HIS FAMILY.
THE CHICK, EAGER FOR A MEAL,
WILL GO HUNGRY TODAY.
Narrator: THE CAUCASUS
IN RUSSIA'S SOUTHWES IS A WILDERNESS UNDER SIEGE,
AND YET THE FORESTS HERE
SEEM UTTERLY PRISTINE,
AS IF FROM ANOTHER TIME.
THE TRANQUILITY IS DECEPTIVE.
BENEATH THE GREEN CANOPY,
A FIERCE BATTLE IS UNDER WAY.
PERFECTED THE ART OF WARFARE.
[ SQUEALING ]
THICKENED SKIN
ON THEIR SHOULDERS AND BELLIES
PROTECT LIKE A COAT OF ARMOR
AGAINST RAZOR-SHARP TUSKS.
IF THE COMBATANTS
ARE EQUALLY MATCHED,
THEY'LL FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
BUT THESE TWO ARE LUCKY.
A WINNER PREVAILS.
HIS PRIZE -- THE RIGHT TO MATE.
THE RUT, OR MATING SEASON,
IS THE MOST VIOLENT TIME OF YEAR
FOR WILD BOARS.
FOR TWO SOLID MONTHS, MALES
ARE IN FIGHTING AND MATING MODE.
AND A PHEROMONE-LACED FROTH
SEEMS TO SEAL THE DEAL.
WHEN THE MATING IS OVER,
THE MALES RETURN
TO THEIR SOLITARY EXISTENCE.
THOUSANDS OF FEET ABOVE
THE FOREST-DWELLING BOARS,
MATING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING
FOR AN ANIMAL ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE
TO THIS REGION.
THESE 200-POUND MOUNTAIN GOATS,
CALLED TURS,
ARE ONLY FOUND IN THE CAUCASUS.
COMPETITION FOR FEMALES IS
AS EXTREME AS THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
FOOTAGE OF TURS IN THE WILD
IS EXTRAORDINARILY RARE.
AND IT'S NO WONDER.
THERE ARE LESS THAN 6,000 TURS
LEFT ON EARTH,
AND ALL MAKE THEIR HOME
ALONG THESE STEEP SLOPES
THE MALES LIVE IN BACHELOR HERDS
OF A FEW DOZEN
FOR SEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
THE FEMALES LIVE FAR BELOW.
MALE TURS ONLY DESCEND
IN NOVEMBER
WHEN THEY'RE READY TO MATE.
BUT FIRST THEY'LL NEED TO DECIDE
WHO DOMINATES THE HERD.
THE YOUNG TURS LEARN
BATTLE SKILLS FROM THEIR ELDERS,
AND THEY PRACTICE THEIR ROUTINE.
IMPOSING HORNS GAIN
TWO OR THREE RIDGES IN A YEAR,
WITH THE LONGEST REACHING
NEARLY 3 FEET IN LENGTH.
THE TURS' VEGETARIAN DIE LACKS ESSENTIAL MINERALS,
SO THEY EAT THE EARTH
IN SPECIAL PLACES
WHERE THE SOIL PROVIDES
WHAT THEY NEED.
CLOUDS FORMED IN THE WES OVER THE BLACK SEA
GET FORCED UPWARDS.
ABOVE THE ROCK BARRIER,
THEY RELEASE THEIR MOISTURE,
SPILLING ALMOST 15 FEET OF RAIN
EACH YEAR.
MORE THAN 6,500 PLANT SPECIES
FLOURISH HERE.
A QUARTER OF THESE ARE FOUND
ONLY IN THE CAUCASUS.
ON THE LOWER SLOPES, THE RAIN
HAS CULTIVATED A BURST OF COLOR,
PROVIDING A MUCH-NEEDED MEAL
FOR THESE CASPIAN RED DEER.
SEVERAL THOUSAND
ROAM THESE FORESTS.
GOOD NEWS
FOR A SECRETIVE PREDATOR
THE EURASIAN LYNX.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 30,000
OF THESE SOLITARY CATS
PROWLING
THE RUSSIAN COUNTRYSIDE.
DEER IS THEIR MAIN PREY.
EURASIAN LYNX ARE STEALTHY
AND ROAM ACROSS VAST AREAS.
SO IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICUL TO CATCH THEM ON FILM.
TODAY SHE'S TAKING
HER 6-WEEK-OLD KITTENS
ON ONE OF
THEIR FIRST EXCURSIONS.
BEFORE NOW,
IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
FOR THEM TO LEAVE THE HIDDEN
ROCK DEN WHERE THEY WERE BORN.
BUT NOW THEY'RE EAGER EXPLORERS.
AT THIS AGE, THEY'RE HARMLESS,
BUT SOON THEY'LL BECOME
ACCOMPLISHED KILLERS,
AND DINNER WILL LOOK
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THEIR HEARING IS PHENOMENAL.
THEY CAN PICK UP TINY MOVEMENTS
OVER 200 FEET AWAY.
DESPITE THEIR SIZE,
LYNX CAN EASILY TAKE DOWN
A LARGE MALE DEER.
BUT WITH SO MANY EYES AND EARS
ON THE LOOKOUT,
IT'S DIFFICULT TO ATTACK.
SHE CAN'T GET CLOSE ENOUGH.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
WITHOUT FOOD,
HER KITTENS WILL DIE.
Narrator: IN THE CAUCASUS REGION
OF RUSSIA,
THE LANDSCAPE IS AS DIVERSE
AS THE WILDLIFE
THAT MAKE IT THEIR HOME.
REGAL MOUNTAINS
TOWER OVER THE LANDSCAPE,
CONTROLLING THE LIFE
THAT TAKES PLACE
ON THEIR SLOPES AND BEYOND.
AT THE EASTERN EDGE
OF THE CAUCASUS
LIES THE CASPIAN DEPRESSION.
THIS IS THE LOWEST POIN IN ALL OF RUSSIA'S
IT'S NOT QUITE DEATH VALLEY,
BUT IT'S THE 15th-LOWEST AREA
ON THE ENTIRE PLANET.
WATER HOLES DOT THE LANDSCAPE
AND PROVIDE A MUCH-NEED LIFELINE
TO THE WILDLIFE HERE.
WALKING THESE ARID PLAINS
IS AN ODD-LOOKING ANTELOPE
CALLED THE SAIGA.
THEIR DISTINCT *** NOSE
IS A UNIQUE ADAPTATION
TO NOMADIC LIFE.
IT FILTERS THE DUST KICKED UP
AS THEY MIGRATE
ACROSS THE DRY PLAINS.
THIS MAY BE ONE OF
THE LAST OPPORTUNITIES
TO FILM THESE NOMADIC CREATURES.
IN A SINGLE DECADE, THEIR
NUMBERS PLUMMETED BY 90% --
ONE OF THE LARGEST DECLINES
OF A SPECIES EVER.
TODAY ONLY 50,000 REMAIN.
THE CULPRIT -- POACHING FUELED
BY CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE.
HORNS FETCH UP TO $50 A POUND.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY HUMANS
THAT THE SAIGA HAVE TO FEAR.
THEIR RUMBLING HOOVES
RILE VENOMOUS SNAKES
SENSITIVE TO GROUND VIBRATIONS.
[ HISSING ]
THE DEADLY LEVANTINE VIPER
CAN STRIKE QUICKLY,
AND IT HAS BEEN KNOWN
TO KILL HUMANS
IN ADDITION TO ANIMALS
AS LARGE AS CAMELS.
WHILE BUSY DUNG BEETLES CLEAN UP
AFTER THE SAIGA ANTELOPE,
RAIN CAUSED BY THE MOUNTAINS
HAS TRANSFORMED
THE CASPIAN DEPRESSION
INTO A SEA OF PINK BLOSSOMS.
A PRAYING MANTIS MAKES ITS WAY
TO A NEW HUNTING SPOT.
PERFECTLY CAMOUFLAGED,
IT LIES IN WAIT FOR INSECTS
ATTRACTED BY THE FLOWERS.
ROAMING THE HEATHER
IS ANOTHER CAUCASIAN NATIVE --
THE LONG-EARED HEDGEHOG,
ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HAMSTER.
AND IT'S BEING WATCHED CLOSELY
BY AN AGAMA LIZARD.
THE STAGE IS SE ON THIS LITTLE PIECE OF GROUND
FOR A TREMENDOUS DRAMA
THAT'S ABOUT TO OCCUR.
THE GRASSHOPPER
FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE
BUT DOESN'T STAND MUCH CHANCE.
HIS REMAINING JUMPING LEG
IS AMPUTATED,
MAKING HIM EASY PREY
FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
SUDDENLY THE HUNTER
HAS BECOME THE HUNTED.
THE BEETLE'S TOUGH
KERATIN COVERING SAVES HIM,
BUT HIS QUARRY
IS LOST TO THE AGAMA.
THE HEDGEHOG
IS AFTER LARGER PREY,
GUIDED BY HIS SENSITIVE EARS.
A FOUR-INCH-LONG CENTIPEDE,
ARMED WITH TWO POWERFUL
POISONED CLAWS,
MEETS A CAREFUL AMBUSH.
DESPITE THE INSECT'S VENOMOUS
DEATH THROES,
THE TINY FIGHTER
KEEPS HIS BREAKFAST.
IS EVEN MORE ARID AND DRY.
THE LAKES HERE
ARE COVERED WITH SAL AND TALL, CONCEALING GRASSES.
AT ONLY THREE FEET TALL
AND WEIGHING SEVEN POUNDS
AT ITS HEAVIEST,
THE DEMOISELLE CRANE
IS THE SMALLES OF ITS LONG-LEGGED FAMILY.
THIS CRANE WAS NAMED
BY QUEEN MARIE ANTOINETTE
FOR ITS DELICATE APPEARANCE.
THEY HEAD FOR THE WATERFRONT,
WHICH, IN THIS REGION,
MEANS A SALT LAKE.
THE AIR HERE IS HOT AND DRY.
WHAT LITTLE WATER EXISTS
EVAPORATES,
LEAVING ONLY SALT BEHIND.
IT'S A DESOLATE LANDSCAPE.
UNDER A PUNISHING SUN, THE
PARENTS SIFT FOR BRINE SHRIMP.
THEY MUST LEAVE THE CHICKS
ON THE BAKING SHORELINE
TO ENDURE
THE SWELTERING HEAT ALONE.
Narrator:
IN RUSSIA'S SOUTHWEST,
THE CAUCASUS IS A LAND
DOMINATED BY MOUNTAINS.
NEAR ITS SOUTHERN BORDER,
THE MOUNTAINS FADE INTO
THE NORTH CAUCASIAN STEPPES.
RIVERS FLOWING DOWNHILL
TO THE BLACK SEA
CREATE A VERDANT LANDSCAPE
WHERE LOCAL HERDERS
GRAZE THEIR SHEEP AND GOATS.
[ BLEATING ]
PLANTS ABOUND,
EVEN IN THIS ARID ZONE.
HERE, SPUR-THIGHED TORTOISES
COME OUT TO ENJOY THE WARMTH
AND FLOWERS.
THEY MAY TAKE LIFE SLOWLY,
BUT THEY LIVE LONG --
UP TO 50 YEARS IN THE WILD.
THESE TORTOISES
HAVE JUST EMERGED
FROM A SIX-MONTH HIBERNATION,
AND THEY'RE READY TO MATE.
COURTSHIP HAPPENS IN STAGES.
FIRST, PURSUIT
AND THEN
PERSUASIVE KNOCKING
USUALLY FOLLOWED BY MORE
SURPRISINGLY QUICK PURSUIT
AND SOME HARDER KNOCKING.
EVENTUALLY, THE ROUGH COURTSHIP
ENDS, AND HE GETS HIS CHANCE.
ONE MATING WILL FERTILIZE
SEVERAL CLUTCHES OF EGGS,
WHICH SHE'LL LAY
THREE OR FOUR AT A TIME.
EVEN SO, SHE'S NOT ABOU TO SAY THANKS GRACIOUSLY.
FARTHER UP, ABOVE THE TREE LINE
IN THE FOOTHILLS
OF KAVKAZSKY NATIONAL PARK,
A GOLIATH LUMBERS
ACROSS THE GRASSY SLOPES.
THIS IS THE EXTREMELY RARE
HIGHLAND BISON,
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY
PLACES ON EARTH IT'S FOUND.
IT'S A GHOSTLY REFLECTION
OF THE CAUCASIAN BISON,
A SPECIES THAT WAS HUNTED
INTO EXTINCTION BY 1927,
WHEN THE LAST ONE
WAS KILLED IN THE WILD.
IN AN ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE
WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE SPECIES,
CAUCASIAN BISON IN ZOOS
WERE CROSSBRED
WITH ANOTHER SPECIES OF BISON
AND THEN RELEASED
BACK INTO THE WILD.
THESE ARE THEIR DESCENDANTS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES
HIGHLAND BISON
HAVE BEEN FILMED IN THE WILD.
LESS THAN 1,800 ROAM THESE HILLS
TODAY.
DESPITE PROTECTION,
THEY'RE STILL A VALUABLE TARGE FOR POACHERS.
THEY'VE SURVIVED CENTURIES
OF PERSECUTION,
BUT THIS MIGHT BE
THE BISON'S LAST STAND.
Narrator: THE CAUCASUS
SPANS DENSE FOREST,
DESERT DUNES,
AND SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAINS.
IT'S HOME TO RUSSIA'S
HIGHEST PEAK AND LOWEST POINT.
AND ON ITS EASTERN BORDER IS
THE WORLD'S LARGEST INLAND SEA.
AT 149,000 SQUARE MILES,
IT'S THE SIZE
OF THE STATE OF MONTANA.
BUT IT'S NOT JUS ITS EXCEPTIONAL SIZE
THAT MAKES THE CASPIAN SEA
UNIQUE.
ALONG ITS WESTERN BANKS,
THE GROUND SEETHES, BUBBLES,
AND BOILS,
AS HEAT FROM DEEP
WITHIN THE EARTH SURGES UPWARDS.
AND LIKE SOMETHING
OUT OF A SCIENCE-FICTION FILM,
THESE MUD POOLS CAN BE LETHAL.
WITH LITTLE WARNING, TOXIC GASES
ERUPT FROM THESE MINI VOLCANOES
AND SUFFOCATE
ANY CREATURE LINGERING NEARBY.
IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE CASPIAN SEA,
DENSE REEDBEDS RUSTLE
AND SWAY IN THE BREEZE,
CONCEALING THE EXTREMELY SHY
AND STEALTHY JUNGLE CAT.
DESPITE THE NAME,
JUNGLE CATS PREFER WETLANDS.
IN RUSSIA, IT'S ESTIMATED
BARELY 500 SURVIVE IN THE WILD.
THIS ONE HAS ITS EYE ON QUAIL.
THE JUNGLE CAT'S BEEN AROUND
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
BUT THIS IS ONE OF
THE RARE TIMES
IT HAS BEEN FILMED
IN THIS REGION.
[ CHIRPS ]
AS ONE BIRD FLIES OUT OF REACH,
THE OTHER TAKES TO THE WATER,
LEAVING THE CAT TO SCOU THE RUSHES AGAIN.
THIS JUNGLE CA WON'T BE SHORT OF PREY.
MILLIONS OF BIRDS STOP OFF
AT THE CASPIAN SEA
AS PART OF
THEIR GREAT MIGRATION NORTH.
THEY'VE COME THOUSANDS OF MILES
TO THIS CROSSROADS
BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA.
THIS IS AN ANCIENT HIGHWAY
FOR TRAVELERS OF ALL SORTS.
FOR MILLENNIA, NOMADIC HERDSMEN
HAVE TRAVERSED THIS REGION,
CALLED DAGESTAN.
BUT OTHER NOMADS ARRIVE BY AIR.
THESE COLORFUL BIRDS,
CALLED BEE-EATERS,
HAVE FLOWN UP FROM AFRICA
FOR THE SUMMER.
THEY DIG FIVE-FOOT-LONG
NEST HOLES IN THE SANDY CLIFFS.
[ CHIRPING ]
THEY'VE ARRIVED
FOR THE NESTING SEASON,
AND THE BUSHES ARE ALIVE
WITH FLIRTATIOUS CHATTER.
THE SOCIAL BIRDS FORM
LARGE COLONIES OF ABOUT 400,
BUT MALES DON'T TAKE KINDLY
TO COMPETITORS.
THEY'RE FAMOUS FOR THEIR SKILL
AT CAPTURING BEES AND WASPS
IN FLIGHT.
THIS REMARKABLE FOOTAGE
SHOWS THE BIRD KNOCKING
THE STINGER OUT OF THE BEE
AND THEN SQUEEZING THE BODY
TO GET RID OF THE VENOM.
A PROPERLY SQUEEZED BUG
IS THE PERFECT GIF FOR A POTENTIAL MATE.
A SINGLE BIRD CAN CATCH
OVER 200 BEES OR WASPS A DAY,
ALL IN MIDAIR.
WHEN SHE'S HAD HER FILL,
SHE'LL BOW TO TELL HER PARTNER
SHE'S READY.
MATING COULD PRODUCE
UP TO 10 EGGS.
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY RAISES
THE CHICKS COMMUNALLY --
A BEHAVIOR EXTRAORDINARILY RARE
FOR BIRDS.
JUST BEYOND THE SANDY CLIFFS
LURKS ONE OF THE BEE-EATERS'
STRANGEST NEIGHBORS --
THE THREE-FOOT-LONG
GLASS LIZARD.
ITS NAME COMES
FROM ITS REMARKABLE ABILITY
TO SNAP OFF ITS TAIL
IF THREATENED.
THE TAIL SHATTERS LIKE GLASS,
BUT THE PIECES STILL WIGGLE,
CONFUSING ENEMIES.
THIS REPTILE RESEMBLES A SNAKE,
BUT IT'S ALL LIZARD.
GLASS LIZARDS LIKE OPEN COUNTRY,
T THEY'RE ALSO FOUND
IN DAMP FORESTS,
HOME TO CAUCASUS' WILD BOARS.
THE GROUP OF BOARS, OR SOUNDER,
HAS WELCOMED A NEW GENERATION.
[ GRUNTING ]
JUST A FEW WEEKS OLD,
THE YOUNGSTERS ALREADY SHOW
SOME OF THE MANIC ENERGY
THAT WILL MAKE THEM AGGRESSIVE,
LL-GROWN BOARS.
EACH MOTHER GIVES BIRTH
TO AS MANY AS 12 PIGLETS,
BUT MANY NEVER REACH ADULTHOOD
DUE TO PREDATION AND STARVATION.
[ SQUEALING ]
MOTHERS RECOGNIZE THEIR PIGLETS
BY THE SOUND OF THEIR SQUEALS.
BUT IF A LITTLE ONE
CAN'T FIND ITS OWN MOM,
THEY'LL LATCH ONTO
ANY BREEDING FEMALE.
WHEN THE HYPERACTIVE PIGLETS
FINALLY SETTLE DOWN,
THEY'LL CLUSTER TOGETHER
TO KEEP WARM.
FOR NOW, THEY FIND COMFOR IN EACH OTHER,
BLISSFULLY IGNORAN TO THE PREDATORS
THAT LURK
IN THE FOREST'S SHADOWS.
Narrator:
HIGH UP IN THE CAUCASUS,
THE FORESTS ARE VAS AND PRISTINE.
BENEATH THE SHELTER
OF THE TREES,
A LYNX MOTHER STRUGGLES TO FEED
HER FAMILY.
TWO DAYS AGO, SHE KILLED A DEER.
THE CARCASS HAS PROVIDED
SEVERAL MEALS ALREADY,
AND NOW SHE DRAGS I FROM ITS HIDING PLACE
SO THE KITTENS CAN EA THE REMAINING MEAT.
SHE'LL HEAR NO COMPLAINTS.
NOW 5 MONTHS OLD,
THESE APPRENTICE HUNTERS
RARELY GET MOTHER'S MILK.
THEY'VE BEEN TAILING HER
ON HUNTING MISSIONS
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.
A FULLY GROWN LYNX GORGES
ON UP TO 5 1/2 POUNDS OF MEA IN A SINGLE MEAL.
THE KITTENS WILL STAY
WITH THEIR MOTHER UNTIL SPRING.
THEN, AT ABOUT ONE YEAR OLD,
THEY'LL HEAD OU TO FIND THEIR OWN TERRITORIES.
WHEN THEY'VE ALL HAD THEIR FILL,
THE MOTHER COVERS THE CARCASS
UNTIL IT'S MEALTIME AGAIN.
SHE TAKES TIME TO HIDE
THE REMAINS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
TO PREVENT OTHER HUNGRY FORES DWELLERS STEALING HER CACHE.
THE LUSH FIELDS AND FORESTS
OF THE WESTERN CAUCASUS
STAND IN SHARP CONTRAS TO THE STARK DRAMA
OF ITS OTHER REGIONS.
THE TOWERING, JAGGED TOPOGRAPHY
OF EASTERN CAUCASUS
SEEMS AS HOSTILE AND FORBIDDING
AS THE MOON.
AT HEIGHTS OF OVER 10,000 FEET,
EVEN PLANTS
BARELY CLING TO LIFE HERE.
BUT ONE ANIMAL THRIVES.
WITH A SUREFOOTEDNESS
THAT DEFIES GRAVITY,
THE BEZOAR IBEX
IS PERFECTLY ADAPTED
TO LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
THEIR HOOVES
ARE LIKE SUCTION CUPS,
ALLOWING THE IBEX
TO CLIMB NEAR-VERTICAL CLIFFS.
AS MATING SEASON APPROACHES,
THE MALES SET OFF
IN SEARCH OF FEMALE HERDS.
FOUR-FOOT-LONG HORNS
BECOME ESSENTIAL WEAPONRY
IN THE FIGHT FOR FEMALES.
BUT THEY'LL NEED MORE THAN HORNS
TO ATTRACT MEMBERS
OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.
THIS MALE ATTEMPTS
TO WOO A FEMALE
WITH A VARIETY OF FANCY MOVES,
INCLUDING HEAD BOBS
HEAD RUBS
AND LEG POINTING.
BUT THERE'S PLENTY
OF COMPETITION.
CHALLENGERS WAIT IN THE WINGS,
READY TO JUMP IN.
SUDDENLY,
IT BECOMES A FREE-FOR-ALL,
WITH MALES FAR OUTNUMBERING
THE SOUGHT-AFTER FEMALES.
IN THE END,
THE MOST PERSISTENT IBEX
LEAVES HIS COMPETITORS
IN THE DUST.
IF HE'S LUCKY, THIS FEMALE WILL
BEAR TWO TO THREE KIDS COME MAY.
THIS HIGH-STAKES GAME GOES ON
FOR TWO SOLID MONTHS
ACROSS THE PERILOUS
MOUNTAIN RIDGES.
SPRING WILL SEE A NEW BAND
OF NIMBLE BEZOAR IBEX
SCRAMBLING OVER THE ROCKS
AT JUST ONE DAY OLD.
FROM THESE PEAKS,
THEY'LL SURVEY THE VAS WILDERNESS OF THE CAUCASUS
FROM ITS TOWERING MOUNTAINS
TO ITS UNTOUCHED FORESTS
TO ITS ANCIENT SAND DUNES
AND DOWN TO THE CASPIAN SEA.
THERE ARE FEW PLACES ON EARTH
WITH SUCH EXTRAORDINARY RANGE
AND ABUNDANCE OF LIFE,
AND THE BREATHTAKING BEAUTY
OF ITS WILDERNESS
IS BEYOND COMPARE.
THIS IS THE CAUCASUS
THE VERY ESSENCE
OF WILD RUSSIA.