Mountain Babies Animal Babies


Mountain Babies

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The first months of any animal's life are the most crucial.

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Every day brings new challenges.

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And new drama.

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In this series, we will reveal how animal babies survive,

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and even thrive,

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in three of the most beautiful, yet demanding, landscapes on the planet.

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On the vast savannas of Africa...

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..youngsters face the world's top predators

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and intense competition.

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Water babies must deal with treacherous coasts

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and dangerous currents.

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And in the rocky world of the mountains,

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food is scarce and the weather extreme.

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These brave little animals do have some great tactics

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to overcome the odds, but they face a steep learning curve,

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in what can be a cruel world.

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If they pay attention to those around them

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and fight against adversity, they might just make it.

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This is the story of some amazing animal babies.

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Mountains cover almost a quarter

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of the earth's land surface.

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And they're some of the most

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challenging places on the planet to survive.

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It's hard enough living on sheer cliffs and rocky precipices,

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even if you are an experienced adult.

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But for a baby animal...

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..growing up here is incredibly difficult.

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Food is hard to come by.

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The weather is extreme...

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..and can change in an instant.

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Thick snow...

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..and ice can make the slopes truly treacherous.

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A daunting test for small legs.

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So, the first challenge mountain babies face...

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..is simply getting around this hazardous environment.

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A baby guanaco.

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Wild ancestor of the llama.

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Just minutes old.

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Yet, on the exposed slopes of Patagonia, there is no time to rest.

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Already, it faces a test...

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..getting to its feet.

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And with legs almost a metre long...

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..this is far from straightforward.

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There is a good reason to do this as quickly as possible.

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Up here, there are formidable predators.

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And there are few good places to be born.

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So, the mums congregate in the same areas

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during the short, warmer months.

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And the pumas know it.

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Only one in three guanacos

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make it to their first birthday.

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A calf's best chance of escape is to run with the herd.

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But if it can't keep up...

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..it won't survive long.

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It may seem a wobbly start...

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..but it's still a start.

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All around, the newborns are taking their first steps.

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In just a few days, they are making incredible progress.

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A game of chase helps develop coordination and speed.

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Already, these babies are learning how to tear about

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their mountainous environment.

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An amazing transformation.

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And a great start to life on these demanding mountainsides.

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In these hostile conditions...

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..it is vital mountain babies learn to master their environment quickly.

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Even when thrown in at the deep end.

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A wild mountain goat kid in the Rocky Mountains of North America.

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Reaching as high as 3,000 metres,

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with high winds and freezing temperatures,

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it is a tough place for a baby to be born.

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But it is safe here.

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Few predators will risk these formidable, precipitous rock faces.

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But they can't stay up here forever.

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After a winter with little food,

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the females are lacking in nutrients.

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They need mineral-laden rocks, to stock up on vital salts.

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The kids will have to follow their mums...

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..descending from their safe haven, on a gruelling trek.

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It's the first major challenge of their lives.

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The cliffs are terrifyingly steep.

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No-one wants to go first.

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One plucky young goat takes the plunge.

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With hooves divided in two and rough pads on the bottom, for grip,

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the kids scramble to safety.

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Their first test - successfully passed.

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Although it might be too early to celebrate.

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They are unaware of what's round the corner.

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Soon, they're going to have to jump across a freezing,

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fast-flowing river.

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As difficult as it seems, mountain goat kids are at least

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adapted for this mountainous terrain.

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But what if you need to scale the heights

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and you aren't capable of climbing on your own?

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In Brazil, a troop of tufted capuchins

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cling to rocky cliff faces.

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It's a big day in the life of one of their youngest members,

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although he doesn't know it yet.

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Up until now, the baby's barely had to lift a finger.

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And getting around hasn't been a problem...

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..because Mum carries him everywhere.

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But that's about to change...

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..with an unexpected lesson in independence.

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The troop has found a bees' nest, right at the top of the canyon.

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Honey is a sweet treat the capuchins can't resist.

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It's full of precious calories.

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It's impossible to get up there with a baby on board.

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And he still isn't old enough to be left on his own.

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There's only one thing for it.

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A baby-sitter.

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Mum's off after the honey.

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But the inexperienced baby-sitter also has a sweet tooth.

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She can't resist and sets off, with the little monkey

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precariously clinging to her back.

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He'd better hold on tight.

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Mum's made it.

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But the young capuchin is in real danger.

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The baby-sitter simply can't go any further...

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..and unceremoniously abandons him.

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Now he's stuck...and vulnerable.

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BUZZING

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But there's one thing all babies can do.

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He calls for Mum.

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WHISTLING

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HE WHISTLES

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WHISTLING

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She's heard him and she comes to the rescue.

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HE WHISTLES

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WHISTLING

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Reunited and out of danger.

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But soon, he will have to learn to become far more independent.

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His journey is just beginning.

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In the mountains, it's not just the terrain that can cause

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perilous problems for the babies.

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FOr every 200 metres an animal climbs...

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..the temperature drops by one degree Celsius.

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At these altitudes, the weather can change, out of nowhere,

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catching the inexperienced unawares and putting them in grave danger.

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In North America,

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Yellowstone National Park is nearly 2,500 metres above sea level.

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One minute, it's warm and sunny.

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THUNDER RUMBLES

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The next, it's snowing and everything becomes hidden

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in a hazardous white-out.

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For these two grizzly bear cubs, the sudden snowstorm spells trouble.

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With near zero visibility,

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it's easy to get separated from Mum.

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And that could be a big problem.

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Grizzly bear cubs depend on their mother for food and protection

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until they are three years old and almost fully grown.

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And other animals up here will certainly harm them.

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An enormous male grizzly.

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They will kill unrelated cubs, if they find them unprotected.

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Mum keeps look-out, whilst the cubs run for it.

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But they can't go far...

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..or they might get lost.

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Once the threat has passed, they settle down, to ride out the storm.

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It's a valuable early lesson

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in the dangers of these unpredictable mountains.

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For the mountain goat kids in the Rockies,

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the journey to the mineral and salt rocks is well underway.

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They've negotiated the slopes...

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..but now, a far greater trial lies ahead.

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All the major rivers of the world originate in the mountains.

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The streams here are fast, powerful and freezing cold.

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The crucial salts are on the far bank.

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It's a frightening prospect for a baby goat.

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Not an ideal place for a first swimming lesson.

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Mum's done this before, so she knows the best points to cross.

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The kid panics and picks a different route.

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KID BLEATS

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Those hooves, so good for climbing, aren't much use here.

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KID BLEATS

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Mum can only watch.

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Finally, the end of the road.

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They'll stay here for a few days

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whilst the mum licks the mineral rocks,

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stocking up on essential nutrients.

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It's been a tough test for the kids.

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Time to recover before heading back to the safety of the peaks.

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Whilst the mountain babies might have got over their first hurdles...

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..there are new challenges ahead.

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Although these peaks and sheer cliffs seem bleak and empty,

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there are predators all around.

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In a world where food is difficult to find...

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..the young are often targeted.

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So, mountain babies need to use all their skills and ingenuity

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if they are to avoid being eaten.

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WIND HOWLS LOUDLY

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In the high Arctic, musk ox roam the slopes in search of food.

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These calves have been on the move ever since they were born.

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But even with all that practise,

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it's not going to be enough for them now.

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The local wolves are on the prowl.

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Even an adult musk ox can't outrun them.

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Whilst the adults have size and impressive horns on their side..

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..this youngster is small...

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..and defenceless.

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In this barren landscape...

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..a young musk ox would make a decent meal.

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Wolves push the herd to move.

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On the run, they can pick out the old, the weak,

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and the young.

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Working together, they separate the small musk ox from the herd.

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But this one is a fighter.

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It stays on its feet...

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..buying enough time...

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..for the herd to come charging back.

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They might not be as fast as the wolves,

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but at around 300 kilos each,

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a herd of musk ox is not to be messed with.

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The plucky little calf knows where he's safest.

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The adults form an impenetrable wall of horn and muscle around it.

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Never giving up has certainly paid off for this young musk ox.

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In a place as tough as the mountains,

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youngsters need all the support they

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can get when it comes to facing their enemies.

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But even though they're young,

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they have an important role to play in their group.

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In Brazil, the little capuchin is becoming more independent.

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And now he's facing a major challenge.

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A stealthy snake has slithered into their territory.

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But the young monkey has spotted it and he knows just what to do.

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HE WHISTLES

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Call in the big boys.

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The troop makes as much noise as possible,

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banging whatever they can find.

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And he isn't one to be left out.

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It's a clever tactic

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and it shows just how important even

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the youngest member of the group can be.

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But when it comes to the planet's top predators,

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some mountain babies rely on more than simply safety in numbers.

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The Karakoram mountains of Pakistan.

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Here, there are more peaks over 8km than anywhere else on earth.

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A markhor, a rare type of wild goat kid, wanders the desolate slopes,

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searching for food for up to 14 hours a day.

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It's a particularly demanding place to grow up.

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The slopes are near vertical

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and even the adults can get into trouble.

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But danger comes from elsewhere too.

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Eagles and wolves hunt here.

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EAGLE SQUAWKS

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So, for protection, markhor live in herds.

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With extremely good eyesight and a strong sense of smell,

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it means there are more of them to spot any predators.

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Essential, especially when they're

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up against the most dangerous of them all.

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The ghost of the mountains.

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The elusive snow leopard.

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Brilliantly well camouflaged against the rocky outcrops,

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it's hard for the markhor to see.

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With huge, well padded feet, it's hard for them to hear, too.

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So, sometimes, even the alert,

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ever watchful markhor don't notice the threat.

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To survive, markhor kids have to be excellent mountaineers...

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..and rely on their instincts.

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BLEATING

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BLEATING

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Having a watery exit strategy undoubtedly played a part.

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But it's their skill in escaping on vertical rock faces that helps them

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stay alive in the most menacing of mountain ranges.

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It's crucial to master the mountainous environment early on.

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It means young animals have

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a fighting chance against stronger and more experienced opponents.

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But for some, far from being an obstacle to overcome,

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it's the mountains themselves that are the key to survival.

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CHATTERING

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In Ethiopia, a group of geladas

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graze on their favourite food -

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grass.

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The little ones have a long way to go...

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..before they look like the impressive adults.

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Whilst these meadows might seem like they're on the savanna...

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..looks can be deceiving.

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They're over two miles up...

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..and 2.5 times the height of Britain's tallest mountain.

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Whilst these monkeys spend most of their time on the plateau,

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it's the rock faces that can get them out of trouble.

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They aren't for the faint-hearted.

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But that doesn't stop these cheeky

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little geladas from using them as a playground.

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SQUEAKING

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SQUEALING

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It makes for some nail-biting moments,

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but there's good reason behind this daredevil behaviour.

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The more they play, the better they get

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at running and climbing on these cliffs.

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They never know when these skills will be put to the test.

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Geladas are hunted by several predators...

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..including leopards.

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An adult gelada seems to have spotted something.

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On the plateau, there's nowhere to hide.

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HOOTING AND SCREECHING

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To stay safe, there's only one place to go.

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ALARMED HOOTING

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All that perilous play has paid off.

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The youngsters keep up with the adults

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and make it to the safety of the cliffs.

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With the threat gone, it's back to business as usual.

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Hundreds of miles further south, across Africa...

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..another mountain baby is spending quality time with his family.

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This little one spends much of his day close to Mum...

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..watching his older siblings.

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He is a mountain gorilla...

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..one of only about 900 left in the world.

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His forest home is well over 1,000 metres up.

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Like many primates, it will be many years before he is an adult.

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So, his family are a key support during his long childhood.

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Gorillas are highly social animals.

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This group is led by his father, the dominant male silverback...

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..his own personal bodyguard.

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With such good protection,

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he doesn't need to worry about predators.

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Just stick close to Dad.

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Or at least, try to!

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But there's still a danger here.

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A threat that's very close to home.

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A rival silverback is threatening his family.

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GORILLA GROWLS

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HOOTING

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Silverbacks can try to take over entire groups.

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If successful, the baby's chances of surviving are pretty slim.

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New silverbacks will kill all infants,

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so they can mate with the mother and have young of their own.

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It's up to Dad to protect the family...

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..while this little one keeps out of harm's way.

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With the rival seen off...

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..the small mountain gorilla is safe.

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Being part of such a supportive family group is a huge advantage.

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It teaches him all the skills he needs to grasp...

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..so that one day he might follow in his dad's footsteps.

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But he has plenty more lessons to learn.

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Mountain babies can be ingenious when it comes to making their way

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in a challenging environment.

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And avoiding those...

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..who want to harm them.

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But there's still a long way to go to make it to adulthood.

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WOLF CUBS HOWL

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Mountains are difficult places to live

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and there are fundamental skills to master...

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..if they are to become independent.

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These grizzly bear cubs in British Columbia

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have travelled miles around the mountains in search of food.

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Mum has led them to a river where thousands of salmon are heading

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for their spawning ground.

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She hasn't eaten much for months, so all she can think about

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is catching fish.

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The cubs have had Mum's rich milk to drink

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and all they want to do is play.

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They will need her milk for two or three years.

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But catching fish is a real skill...

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..and it's never too early to start learning.

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They need to start paying a bit more attention.

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The adults show them how to do it.

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And our cubs decide to give it a go.

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How hard can it be? There's fish everywhere.

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But catching this slippery prey is harder than it seems.

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Not bad for a beginner.

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Maybe this isn't so difficult after all.

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And maybe it is.

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The cubs need to get a lot better at catching AND keeping their food.

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For now, they've still got Mum to help them out, but one day,

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they will have to do it without her.

0:43:230:43:25

Being able to find food is a sure sign that independence

0:43:320:43:36

isn't too far away.

0:43:360:43:38

But it's rare that the mountains

0:43:410:43:43

are quite so generous in offering things up to eat.

0:43:430:43:47

So, the youngsters here have to be creative

0:43:480:43:52

and resourceful.

0:43:520:43:54

In Brazil, the little capuchin is growing up fast.

0:44:070:44:10

He's finally given up his free ride...

0:44:170:44:19

..and it's high time he stopped expecting free hand-outs as well.

0:44:200:44:24

But on these cliffs, finding food is hard work.

0:44:330:44:37

Every mouthful has to be earned.

0:44:420:44:45

Fortunately, capuchins are some of the cleverest monkeys on the planet.

0:44:510:44:57

The adults are foraging for palm nuts.

0:45:010:45:04

They use a strong stone like a hammer to get to the food inside.

0:45:100:45:15

But it's complicated stuff...

0:45:290:45:31

..needing extraordinary coordination and intelligence.

0:45:340:45:38

Not any old tool will do.

0:45:390:45:41

It's got to be just the right type of stone...

0:45:430:45:46

..so the youngest capuchins certainly have their work cut out.

0:45:500:45:55

It will be a while before they can use rocks in this way.

0:46:040:46:07

But sticks could be a little easier.

0:46:110:46:14

Capuchins use them to dig out delicious delicacies from the trees.

0:46:170:46:21

The little monkey is paying close attention.

0:46:230:46:27

But it's a little confusing.

0:46:310:46:33

What kind of stick to use?

0:46:370:46:39

And remember to keep hold of the long bit.

0:46:510:46:54

He is getting the hang of it and soon he will refine the technique.

0:47:020:47:05

Once he can feed himself, he will be well on the way to independence.

0:47:120:47:16

Making mistakes is all part of getting older.

0:47:270:47:31

And for mountain babies, it can be a painful lesson.

0:47:320:47:35

Even the simplest of tasks are tricky for a newbie.

0:47:390:47:43

GORILLA RETCHES

0:47:430:47:46

Growing up is a difficult business at the best of times.

0:47:460:47:49

RETCHING CONTINUES

0:47:520:47:55

And in the mountains, getting it wrong can have serious consequences.

0:47:590:48:04

In Central Africa,

0:48:100:48:11

this three-year-old mountain gorilla

0:48:110:48:14

has still got a long way to go if she's to become a successful adult.

0:48:140:48:18

At these altitudes,

0:48:220:48:24

the temperature can fall below freezing at night-time.

0:48:240:48:27

So, to keep safe and warm while they sleep...

0:48:280:48:31

..mountain gorillas build nests in the trees above the cold ground.

0:48:320:48:36

Most young mountain gorillas are taught this essential skill

0:48:430:48:46

by their mums.

0:48:460:48:47

But this one's mum left to join another group...

0:48:530:48:57

..leaving Dad in charge.

0:48:580:49:00

He simply can't help her with nest-building.

0:49:040:49:07

He is too heavy to sleep in the trees

0:49:080:49:11

and just beds down on the ground.

0:49:110:49:13

Without Mum to show her the ropes,

0:49:160:49:18

she's in serious danger as the night draws in.

0:49:180:49:21

Whilst the other little ones snuggle up to their mums

0:49:280:49:31

in cosy, warm beds...

0:49:310:49:33

..she's struggling to make a nest on her own.

0:49:360:49:39

It's going to be a long and very cold night.

0:49:420:49:45

WIND HOWLS, THUNDER RUMBLES

0:49:470:49:51

The next morning, all the other mums, with their babies,

0:50:040:50:07

are waking up.

0:50:070:50:08

But the three-year-old is nowhere to be seen.

0:50:110:50:14

The silverback stirs.

0:50:190:50:20

And snug, right next to him, is the little gorilla.

0:50:280:50:32

She has made a good decision.

0:50:390:50:41

With Dad to look after her, she is in safe hands...

0:50:460:50:49

..and her path to independence...

0:50:530:50:54

..is looking good.

0:50:560:50:57

Learning to make your own bed without any help is a tough ask.

0:51:020:51:06

But having to grasp vital skills by yourself

0:51:090:51:12

is part and parcel of growing up in the mountains.

0:51:120:51:15

And certain talents can't be taught.

0:51:180:51:21

So, some youngsters have to take a leap of faith

0:51:230:51:27

if they are going to reach adulthood.

0:51:270:51:29

On a rocky ledge in the high Arctic...

0:51:350:51:37

..three gyrfalcon chicks are safe in the nest.

0:51:390:51:42

Gyrs are the largest falcons in the world...

0:51:460:51:49

..so these young birds, a female and her two brothers,

0:51:510:51:56

need a lot of food.

0:51:560:51:57

So far, they have had it pretty easy.

0:52:020:52:05

Covered in heavy down to protect against the cold...

0:52:060:52:09

..they just wait in the nest for their hard-working parents

0:52:100:52:14

to bring them nice things to eat.

0:52:140:52:16

And Mum and Dad have done well.

0:52:200:52:23

CHICKS SCREECH

0:52:230:52:26

Just a few weeks later, all three are almost as big as the adults.

0:52:340:52:40

Now they look like grown-ups,

0:52:420:52:44

it's high time to start acting like them...

0:52:440:52:47

..beginning with a crucial life skill - learning to fly.

0:52:480:52:52

GYRFALCON SQUAWKS

0:52:590:53:00

The female's the largest and the most adventurous.

0:53:000:53:05

Flapping her wings to strengthen them,

0:53:080:53:11

she approaches the edge.

0:53:110:53:12

But even she is thinking twice.

0:53:170:53:19

It's a steep drop to the ground below.

0:53:280:53:31

A crash landing.

0:53:550:53:57

THAT wasn't in the flight plan.

0:53:590:54:00

She could have broken her wing or flight feathers.

0:54:050:54:08

Not quite the encouragement

0:54:100:54:12

her two less confident brothers were looking for.

0:54:120:54:15

But she has more immediate concerns.

0:54:180:54:20

Wolves are on the prowl.

0:54:260:54:27

Lacking the strength to take off vertically...

0:54:390:54:41

..she climbs back up the rocks to gain height for another attempt.

0:54:440:54:47

And she's ready to try again.

0:54:550:54:57

Success!

0:55:120:55:13

Spurred on by their sister's achievement,

0:55:180:55:20

the others seem a little braver.

0:55:200:55:22

Now they have successfully fledged...

0:55:500:55:52

..it won't be long until all three leave their parents for good.

0:55:540:55:58

Fully grown adults in their own right.

0:56:020:56:05

The mountain babies have overcome the many difficulties

0:56:140:56:18

a life up high has thrown at them.

0:56:180:56:20

After spending another winter in the Rockies,

0:56:220:56:25

the mountain goat kids will head back down to the mineral rocks.

0:56:250:56:29

Only this time, they will do it without Mum to show them the way.

0:56:300:56:34

The grizzly bear cubs have another two years or so with Mum,

0:56:380:56:43

and then they will head off on their own,

0:56:430:56:45

strong, skilled and powerful enough to make it here alone.

0:56:450:56:51

The little capuchin is finally beginning to look after himself.

0:56:550:57:00

With new friends to play with...

0:57:020:57:04

..he is finding his place in the pecking order.

0:57:060:57:08

And he needs to.

0:57:100:57:12

He is not the baby any more.

0:57:130:57:14

These youngsters have made it through

0:57:180:57:20

the toughest time of their lives...

0:57:200:57:22

..and some day, they will have babies of their own

0:57:240:57:29

who'll grow up in the challenging, yet magical world

0:57:290:57:34

of the mountains.

0:57:340:57:35

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