Baeddod Gwyllt Natur Gudd Cymru

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-I'm looking for

-unusual animals living in Wales.

-Some that have made their way

-back here after a long absence.

-Others that display

-unusual behaviour.

-And timid creatures

-that only venture out nocturnally.

-This is the Wye Valley.

-From this lofty position, you

-can see how wooded this region is.

-The river

-which snakes through the valley...

-..marks the border

-between Wales and England.

-Over recent decades...

-..many creatures have made their way

-across the water to Wales.

-Animals

-like the roe and muntjac deer...

-..as well as the wild boar,

-believe it or not.

-Wild boar disappeared from Wales

-during the Middle Ages...

-..predominantly due to over hunting.

-During the 1980s, some were imported

-from Europe to farms in England.

-It is these boar that have escaped

-and recently fled to Wales.

-I've come to a forest...

-..that you might think was

-on the English side of the border.

-But it's not, it's the other side

-of the River Wye but still in Wales.

-This is the best chance I'll get

-of tracking wild boar.

-I'm here to meet the warden, Barry.

-Hello, Barry.

-Barry Embling manages this woodland

-near Monmouth...

-..for the Woodland Trust.

-He regularly sees wild boar tracks.

-Barry's pointed out something

-interesting. These are boar tracks.

-The way to distinguish them

-from deer tracks...

-..is to look for

-the imprint of the dew claw...

-..the claw

-at the rear of the hoof print.

-It's very obvious

-from these two holes here.

-The print

-is very pronounced in the mud.

-That's the hoof...

-..and this is the dew claw.

-The tracks are relatively fresh.

-They've

-obviously been here recently.

-Barry has gone

-to search for tracks elsewhere.

-On closer inspection,

-at least two animals have been here.

-There are fresh tracks leading down

-to there and down here too.

-I'm very excited now.

-I'm going to set up cameras because

-I'm expecting to see something now.

-Barry will check if there are

-other places to put the cameras...

-..but I'm going to position one

-in this area over here.

-I've a small tripod.

-Although

-there are no obvious trees here...

-..I'll have to

-conceal the tripod in here...

-..and point it in that direction...

-..somewhere across the path.

-Wild boar are large creatures...

-..measuring a metre in height

-to the top of the shoulder.

-I want to capture the animal's

-entire body as it passes by.

-I'm setting up several cameras

-since their tracks are everywhere.

-What's great about this...

-..is that I'm trying to capture

-some footage of an animal...

-..that roamed in the wild

-here in Wales...

-..around seven

-or eight centuries ago.

-It was native to the area and

-was hunted by the Princes of Wales.

-Ancient tales and legends

-allude to this.

-It's great knowing it's back.

-It's only fractionally

-on the Welsh border...

-..but it's great

-dealing with something...

-..that's part of our history.

-It's a little like

-a wildlife journey back in time.

-Once you're there,

-you catch a glimpse...

-..of creatures in an ancient forest.

-It's an exciting adventure.

-I'm just checking

-the footage on the cameras.

-Here we go.

-There goes a field mouse

-with its big eyes.

-The infrared light...

-..bounces off its eyes and you can

-tell it's a nocturnal creature...

-..because the eyes are so big - they

-pick up light to see where to hunt.

-We know

-there are mice in the woods.

-What's this?

-It's a badger.

-He was sniffing around the camera.

-Look at him using his nose

-to burrow. He must be eating worms.

-Yes, worms, beetles, maggots

-and all kinds of insects.

-So we've seen a badger.

-At least

-there's wildlife in these parts.

-A badger again.

-From the footage, I'd say it's a

-male because its forehead is wider.

-It's a stocky creature.

-Look at its short legs.

-When you

-come across badger tracks...

-..because the legs are so short...

-..the stomach sweeps the leaves,

-leaving a definite imprint.

-There are two files left...

-..from the camera near the brook.

-There's a rabbit. We've captured

-lots of nocturnal creatures.

-It's pricked up its ears

-straightaway.

-It knows there are predatory

-foxes and badgers on the prowl.

-But a badger

-would be lucky to catch one.

-Foxes definitely roam at night.

-He's off.

-Barry positioned a camera

-at the far end of the forest...

-..where he said

-he'd seen boar tracks.

-These files are from that camera.

-Let's see what we have.

-I'd be thrilled to see wild boar.

-Another badger.

-It's burrowing in the leaves.

-What's this?

-It's a fox. There he is.

-We've seen a mouse and a rabbit...

-..which are foxes' prey,

-so no wonder he makes an appearance.

-He's coming right into view.

-He's being very cautious

-with his nose in the air.

-He's making sure

-the coast is clear and off he goes.

-All kinds of woodland creatures

-have passed our cameras.

-Apart from wild boar, that is.

-We've been very unlucky.

-I took a camera from

-where it was positioned up here...

-..and we missed wild boar activity

-from a day or two ago.

-How unlucky is that?

-They've been burrowing

-and digging up the ground...

-..looking for the bulbs

-of the cuckoo flower.

-They love these

-and there are hundreds of them here.

-They must've burrowed this area

-and eaten dozens of them.

-They've made quite a lot of mess.

-They come from over there...

-..from the High Meadow Wood...

-..which is right on the border -

-it straddles both sides.

-The Forest of Dean

-has a high wild boar population.

-Or at least it did

-until they started shooting them.

-They pass through here to feed.

-If they were left alone, no doubt

-they'd cross the River Wye...

-..and venture further into Wales.

-But at the moment, they're

-on the move to avoid being hunted.

-I think I'll place some cameras

-in High Meadow Wood.

-I'll go and look for tracks...

-..and if they're prominent

-in a specific place...

-..I'll set up cameras there.

-Crikey, I've hit the jackpot.

-I've found boar tracks

-everywhere here.

-They've almost ploughed this land.

-It looks as though

-they've turned over the soil.

-That's typical of wild boar.

-That's what you'd expect from them.

-They burrow

-with their strong noses...

-..and turn over the soil.

-There are so many tracks...

-..I'm going to set up

-all the cameras in this spot.

-I feel like

-I'm getting closer to them...

-..but I'm always

-a day or two behind them.

-I'm determined

-to catch up with them.

-These are very fresh tracks,

-so I'll put a camera here.

-I'd say this is either from

-last night or early this morning.

-It's a great place for cameras.

-I don't know

-if wild boar like monkey nuts...

-..but I'm going to scatter a few

-to keep them in view...

-..in case

-they pass by without stopping.

-There are wild boar

-hiding in here somewhere.

-They say wild boar

-can smell food from afar.

-I only hope the monkey nuts

-emit a strong enough aroma.

-Let's see what we have.

-Daylight.

-Wild boars come out in daylight too.

-Not very often, but usually

-first thing in the morning.

-There's a jay there

-and I think it's been attracted...

-..by the nuts I scattered.

-He's picking up

-the monkey nuts and eating them.

-Sometimes

-when you're in certain places...

-..you can sense

-that you're in a great spot.

-I know I've only seen a jay

-and a grey squirrel so far...

-..but I've a feeling

-about this place.

-There are tracks here.

-It's just a grey squirrel.

-I'll close this one.

-Oh, hello. This is night vision.

-Listen. I can hear something.

-LEAVES RUSTLE

-The sound of something walking.

-Crikey, it's a wild boar!

-Wow! Two.

-Well, well, well!

-Fantastic!

-There are three of them. Hallelujah!

-We have audio and everything.

-I knew I'd find something here.

-Fantastic.

-There's lots more footage.

-Come on. It's too slow.

-It's right in shot.

-He did his business then.

-He lifted his tail, did his business

-and off he went. Look at this.

-He's burrowing

-right in front of the camera.

-You get an idea

-of just how big they are.

-Look at the size of his shoulders.

-He's looking straight into the lens.

-Goodness me!

-I didn't expect

-something as good as this.

-I'd have been happy with

-just a glimpse of one passing by.

-There are more.

-I can see their eyes.

-Brilliant.

-I think I'm right in saying,

-I'm almost sure I'm right...

-..that this is the first time wild

-boar have been filmed in Wales.

-This is certainly the first time...

-..for me to see footage

-of the boar in Wales.

-It's the first time they've

-been in Wales for eight centuries.

-Goodness me!

-Look at that incredibly long snout.

-He's opening his mouth.

-Did you see that big tooth?

-They have huge teeth.

-It's raining. You can see

-the animal's fur is wet.

-Fantastic. That was brilliant.

-Much, much better

-than what I expected to see.

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-I'm searching

-for wild boar in Gwent.

-I've seen footage

-taken with hidden cameras...

-..but I want to see them

-with my own eyes.

-I'm going back to the woodland

-in search of them.

-The fact it's been snowing

-adds to the ambience.

-I've come here at night...

-..with very special gadgets.

-These binoculars I'm using...

-..pick up heat from

-any animal present in the forest.

-They will allow me

-to see the animal's shape and form.

-The camera

-uses the available light...

-..and magnifies it...

-..so that it's almost like daylight.

-You'll get a view from that camera

-and I'll use these binoculars.

-Something's moving in the trees.

-I can't see anything

-through the binoculars.

-There are lots of branches

-and a covering of snow.

-But something's moving.

-It's very exciting

-being out at night like this.

-I've walked around in a circle,

-almost.

-I'm back where I started.

-It's very silent here tonight.

-I've heard a few noises from afar...

-..but I've seen nothing with these.

-They're obviously here somewhere...

-..but they've adapted better to

-this environment at night than me.

-The snowfall comes with benefits.

-It's perfect for tracking animals.

-If any creatures have passed by,

-you can follow their tracks easily.

-There are

-very fresh tacks over there.

-It stopped snowing two hours ago...

-..so those tracks have been made

-within the past hour.

-The tracks of one animal

-lead down that way...

-..and the others come down this way.

-You can see

-the dew claw imprint here.

-The tracks lead to

-an exposed area of the woods.

-The patch has been felled

-but it's full of tiny shrubs.

-It provides the perfect habitat

-for wild boar to hide.

-There's a wild boar over there.

-There's a wild boar

-40 yards away from me.

-Look at him go.

-I knew there was something there.

-I heard a noise.

-There goes another.

-And another.

-Three of them.

-Fantastic.

-My dream was to see wild boar

-in Wales in daylight hours.

-I haven't seen them up close,

-but crikey, my heart is pounding.

-I was just about to walk up there

-because I knew I'd heard something.

-They're hiding in the undergrowth.

-They're somewhere around here.

-They know we're here.

-When the first one appeared,

-his tail was in the air.

-He was angry.

-It's impossible to see the boar...

-..since my view from the path

-is obscured.

-I have no choice...

-..but to climb uphill towards them.

-Their tracks are here.

-They've made tunnels everywhere

-from the vegetation.

-I wouldn't be surprised

-if the three I saw earlier...

-..made their way into the trees

-without me noticing.

-There are plenty of places

-for them to hide.

-John, John, John, John!

-There's one there.

-Keep filming.

-It's a family of them.

-We'll try and get closer, if we can.

-Come a bit closer with me.

-Look, there they go.

-Wow! Look at them.

-One, two, three, four...

-..five, six, seven.

-At least eight of them.

-They're heading up there.

-Wow!

-I thought they'd gone. I only came

-up because they'd burrowed here.

-Wow!

-They're running up to the top.

-One, two, three, four...

-..five...

-..seven, eight, nine.

-Nine in total.

-Nine wild boar.

-I was within 15 metres of them.

-Incredible. I wasn't expecting that.

-I really wasn't expecting that.

-For those who say, "We don't want

-them because they're dangerous"...

-..I only came up here

-because I thought they'd gone.

-But they weren't at all threatening.

-They bolted right away.

-They're afraid of humans.

-It's a privilege

-to do something like this...

-..because they haven't been in Wales

-since the days of the Welsh princes.

-We're the first people

-to see them in this country...

-..since Llywelyn the Last...

-..and Owain Glyndwr.

-We should welcome the beloved wild

-boar back to Wales with open arms.

-I'm thrilled. That's not only

-made my week, it's made my year.

-Incredible.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.