0:00:02 > 0:00:03This is Madagascar.
0:00:03 > 0:00:07It's a vast island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11It's home to some of the most unique and rare creatures on the planet.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16Incredibly, 80% of the wildlife here exists nowhere else on Earth.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22But it's a paradise under threat.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32So I've sent eight ordinary kids from the UK to have the deadly
0:00:32 > 0:00:34adventure of their lives.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37They'll face the toughest challenges, and discover
0:00:37 > 0:00:44for themselves how to save this lost world, before it's too late.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Our team have now spent two weeks in Madagascar.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28They've seen what's causing habitat destruction,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31and got up close with lemur conservation.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36They've even found out how wildlife can thrive when protected.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40- But this is only part of their mission.- Go-o-o, tenrec!
0:01:40 > 0:01:45Their next series of challenges will highlight a new set of problems.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49But to face them, they're going to head 250 miles north.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Don't fall down the hole!
0:02:10 > 0:02:13And though they're still in the same country,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16the landscape is completely different.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19A lot of the grass area has a lot of sand in it
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and stuff as well, so it's really dusty.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Hot and dry.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26It's boiling!
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Their destination is Ankarafantsika Wildlife Reserve
0:02:31 > 0:02:34which is a dry and hot forest,
0:02:34 > 0:02:39but also has some remarkable lakes.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44It's home to some of Madagascar's most charismatic animals
0:02:44 > 0:02:48from nocturnal specialists to prehistoric survivors.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00The journey was long but we didn't get that far.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03We only did like 200 miles in about, how many hours have
0:03:03 > 0:03:08we been in there? 10 hours, and that's like nothing.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Once again it's the facilities that are the first thing on their mind.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18- We'll keep clean.- Yeah. Come and have a look at the toilets.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24- Er, grimy.- It's not really really bad, but it's not nice.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27It's very different from the hotel.
0:03:27 > 0:03:32When you go to the loo it's still just a hole, just tiled.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36- There's bugs everywhere.- Oh yeah.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38- Whoa.- Look at that black spot there.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43- Are those bugs? - Yeah. I can't "go" in there.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46There's plenty of toilets - they're all just naff.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Small things seem like big luxuries now.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58But in the morning, all their minor gripes are soon forgotten.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59All sleep well?
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Yeah.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02- All raring to go?- Yeah.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06They find their next challenge is to confront how
0:04:06 > 0:04:08animals are going extinct in Madagascar. Their base is
0:04:08 > 0:04:13the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust with a team working
0:04:13 > 0:04:17hard to prevent the extinction of two of Madagascar's most endangered
0:04:17 > 0:04:24reptiles, and reptile expert Lance is going to get everyone working.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29They divide into teams, Yoran, Gwen, Jamie and Okechukwu enter
0:04:29 > 0:04:34a fenced compound with loads of big concrete water tanks inside.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37This is a captive breeding centre for the rare
0:04:37 > 0:04:42freshwater side-necked turtle and living in each of the 14 ponds are
0:04:42 > 0:04:48turtles of all different ages and sizes, and Yoran's team challenge
0:04:48 > 0:04:54is to clean out the two nursery ponds, home to last year's babies.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56- Ah!- Ah-hah! Ohhh!
0:04:59 > 0:05:01We're getting the plants out
0:05:01 > 0:05:05carefully cos they might have turtles in. We're transferring
0:05:05 > 0:05:09them into that tank so then we can drain the water out and clean it.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Each pond contains 20 baby turtles and they have to get them
0:05:13 > 0:05:17all out first before they can scrub it clean.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19We have caught the first turtle.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23For Jamie finding her first is proving difficult.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24That isn't one.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- They're really cute and they're quite small.- There it is.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Eurgh!
0:05:31 > 0:05:33They're called side-necked.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Put it in the box straightaway, which is the best place for it to be.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41- There you go.- These tiny turtles are only six months old
0:05:41 > 0:05:43but can grow to be as big as half a metre.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Gwen's keen to find out why they're here.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Why is this species of turtle so endangered?
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Well, this is the only turtle that's found just in Madagascar,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55It's the only one endemic to this area.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57When people are fishing, people will eat
0:05:57 > 0:06:00the turtles as well. They need protein.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03This species, though it's found along the coast,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07is just declining really quickly everywhere.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10It's a problem for turtles all over the world.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Caught in fishing nets, they're an easy meal.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16As a consequence the side-necked turtles
0:06:16 > 0:06:19here in Madagascar are severely threatened in the wild.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25Finally Jamie makes contact with her first.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Yeah! It's about time.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30We've got quite a few turtles.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34After finding one, Jamie seems to have the lightness of touch needed.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Oh, yeah, Okechukwu.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Whereas Okechukwu is more reliant on their inbuilt crash helmet.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Careful, you have got to be more careful.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46I'm quite into water animals and stuff
0:06:46 > 0:06:51and it's great to be able to help out with something like this.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59At home Gwen's known for getting stuck in.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02I think I'm extremely competitive.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06I like beating the boys because boys underestimate girls.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08But her real passion is for her animals.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10I got a newt, first time.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13So this is a common newt. There's probably about 10 of them
0:07:13 > 0:07:16in there and loads of baby ones.
0:07:16 > 0:07:17They're quite cute as well.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22This is my musk-snapping turtle, that one's Leonardo.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25My other turtle is up behind the log. That one's Douglas -
0:07:25 > 0:07:27it just came to me.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30It's feeding time. I'm feeding them blood worms.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32They go mental for it.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40But this tank is on an industrial scale.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45What? The rain, it was the rain.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46I hate you, Yoran.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52Yoran absolutely soaked me and I'm going to get him back.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I hate you.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Love you too, Gwen.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01While some are working together well,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03it doesn't take long for Gwen to get revenge.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07The power is in my hands. Put some on your head.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10There we go, that'll do. We're even now.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12If he does it back to me
0:08:12 > 0:08:17then there might have to be some severe charges, but we'll see.
0:08:17 > 0:08:23Next door, the other guys are about to meet a different type of reptile.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27This one lives on land and is facing a completely different problem.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31It's the ploughshare tortoise. These are not eaten
0:08:31 > 0:08:35but are captured in the wild to supply the illegal pet trade.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38They're worth more than a sports car,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41and are close to extinction in the wild.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Being so highly valued, they require tight security.
0:08:45 > 0:08:51Our team have been granted clearance to meet some new arrivals.
0:08:51 > 0:08:57These baby tortoises are the latest to have been confiscated.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59All of these have been confiscated,
0:08:59 > 0:09:03either here in Madagascar or overseas.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Some were confiscated in Malaysia and sent to Madagascar.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09The reason we put them in quarantine is
0:09:09 > 0:09:13they may have been mixing with other animals and picked up diseases.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17The hope is that when they reach maturity, these tortoises will
0:09:17 > 0:09:20enter the main facility.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23We're heading off to the captive breeding facility
0:09:23 > 0:09:26where there's over 300 tortoises.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31You're being very cautious.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34These adults are over 30 years old
0:09:34 > 0:09:38and Eilidh's starting to see why they're sought-after pets.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41I've bonded with this tortoise. It eats right out of my hands.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42None of the others will.
0:09:42 > 0:09:47This one just sort of goes up to me and goes...like that.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53And these are crazily expensive tortoises because they're so rare.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Lance has a found a way to identify adults and make them less desirable.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01This one's good. It's engraved a bit
0:10:01 > 0:10:04so what we have done is we have gone with a tool,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08and gone a little ways into the carapace, more or less
0:10:08 > 0:10:13to disfigure them so that collectors won't want them any more.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17The markings are not deep and do not hurt. Instead it helps
0:10:17 > 0:10:21make them worth less as pets and less attractive to illegal traders.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24People have them as pets for the wrong reasons
0:10:24 > 0:10:27I don't agree, because they are rare
0:10:27 > 0:10:30and should be in the wild, not in someone's home.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32The work they're doing, it's really good.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36They're not with all the poachers and they're safe.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Then we hand them over...
0:10:38 > 0:10:40This captive breeding programme allows Durrell to produce
0:10:40 > 0:10:45baby tortoises in a controlled environment.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47So you can see this first one.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51There you can see that's the baby tortoise inside.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54You can see the fluids and it's on to about the top bit
0:10:54 > 0:10:56there and you can see the dark,
0:10:56 > 0:11:01in the middle there's a darker bit which is obviously the tortoise.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04In here do you keep it a consistent temperature?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Yes, so we can manage the temperature.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09We also manage the humidity so we keep
0:11:09 > 0:11:12the temperature below 29, but we change the humidity
0:11:12 > 0:11:14a little, more like nature.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Yeah, more natural.- Yeah.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20It takes about a year for the baby to hatch, but in here,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24it was quicker, it was about three or four months quicker.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27That's quite a long time then.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Tortoises do everything slow.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Yeah.
0:11:31 > 0:11:38And the good news here is that this next generation is safe.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41And things are looking good for turtles, too.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43The team have been making progress.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48We're putting all the water back. It's nice fresh water.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50We can put all the plants back in and the turtles.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55They've got a nice new clean home.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Just add the plants.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01I think they'll probably be a bit excited.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05How many have you done?
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Thanks.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Congratulations.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Well done.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18After a successful day, it's back to camp to get a good night's rest.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Goodnight, then.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21Night.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Don't let the bed bugs bite.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30In the morning, there's an emotional goodbye as the team split up
0:12:30 > 0:12:33for a few days.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Bye. Ha-ha, see you!
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Are you going to miss Charlie?
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Nah, look at him - how can you miss that!
0:12:44 > 0:12:48I'm only being friends with him cos I feel sorry for him.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53Nah, I'm joking. I will miss Charlie. Of course I'll miss Charlie.
0:12:53 > 0:12:54I'll miss them all.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Bye!
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Charlie's team's challenge is to track another animal
0:13:01 > 0:13:06that could go extinct because people are eating them.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10And to see them, they're to travel five hours off-road.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Such a hot and bumpy journey requires a break to
0:13:14 > 0:13:17take in the sights.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22We've just stopped by this river and it's absolutely gorgeous.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26As we came up, we were going please say we're camping here,
0:13:26 > 0:13:30but it's not, I think it's just a pause for lunch
0:13:30 > 0:13:33and stretching our legs because it's been a long journey.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35I want to get in.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36Oh, do you?
0:13:36 > 0:13:38No, no, no, no, no!
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Oh, told you, he's going in! He's gone!
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Back at the Durrell Centre the turtle team's challenge
0:13:51 > 0:13:53hasn't finished yet.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57The guy is just now going under the water to find the turtles
0:13:57 > 0:14:01and he's already caught two but they're quite big.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Hey!
0:14:04 > 0:14:07This is the adult tank, it's turtles this size
0:14:07 > 0:14:11that are at the greatest risk of being hunted for food.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13With the help of the team, Lance is preparing these
0:14:13 > 0:14:18turtles for the final leg of this captive breeding programme.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22They're being prepared to be released into the wild.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29Un kilo 756.
0:14:30 > 0:14:3124.4.
0:14:32 > 0:14:3424.4. Great.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- TRICKLING - Ha ha! It peed!
0:14:39 > 0:14:41After taking their measurements,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44the turtles are given identification chips.
0:14:44 > 0:14:492-3-1-4-9-0-3.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53So we cleaned them out, we've tagged them and put them back in their
0:14:53 > 0:14:59cage and now, and all that we haven't done is release them, so...cool.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Yoran doesn't know that tomorrow they'll be travelling off-road
0:15:03 > 0:15:06to a secret location.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Durrell hopes to release the turtles into this lake,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13a protected area of unspoilt habitat.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17The problem is, it's virtually impossible to get to.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Over 50 miles away, Charlie and his team have arrived.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29There's a helmet for each of you.
0:15:29 > 0:15:30Shall I take my hat off?
0:15:30 > 0:15:35They're here to meet up with Julie, a local scientist.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39She's studying an animal that's a very surprising food source.
0:15:41 > 0:15:46Entering the cave they get a chance to test out their safety gear.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Oh, wow, that is fun!
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I want a push.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Raina's never going to get off this.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59ALL LAUGH
0:16:02 > 0:16:04That was quite smooth.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06We've been told the camera has
0:16:06 > 0:16:10the night-vision stuff so I'm looking forward to it.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22It's a pretty scary place - who'd venture in here for food?
0:16:22 > 0:16:25It's not your average supermarket.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31So it's starting to get a bit creepy, the cave's getting dark,
0:16:31 > 0:16:36there's no big holes in the roof where sunlight can get through.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40It is a bit spooky, but I like it.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45We've just come in. You can hear already this cacophony
0:16:45 > 0:16:50of screeching, twittering and just noise coming from over there.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53SHRILL SCREECHING
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I have a feeling this is a very large colony of bats.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01So this is going to get very good.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06I reckon if we shine a torch, there's going to be hundreds of 'em.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08It's so noisy.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Obscure screeching,
0:17:10 > 0:17:18thousands and thousands of screeches at the same time, it's weird.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21BATS SCREECH
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Wow.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29That is a lot of bats.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Whoa. That is a lot of bats.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36I've never heard bats like this before,
0:17:36 > 0:17:41and it smells like chlorine here, so I'm choking.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46With over 3,000 bats in this cave, it's no wonder it smells.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Bats play a crucial role in Madagascar - they help scatter
0:17:49 > 0:17:55fruit seeds and also eat insects that can carry malaria.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59- That's so cool. - Look how cool that is.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02This specialist thermal camera is a great way to see
0:18:02 > 0:18:10the bats in the dark, by showing up their body heat.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Seeing such numbers, the bat team want to know
0:18:14 > 0:18:18if they can really be eaten.
0:18:18 > 0:18:25Is bat considered a speciality, or is it just general food?
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I think the fruit bat - the largest one is
0:18:28 > 0:18:32even sold in the restaurants, in some restaurants on the way
0:18:32 > 0:18:36to the West, and also in this, on the way to Mahajanga.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38So it's quite appreciated by people.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41These ones are generally eaten by people
0:18:41 > 0:18:43when they don't have any other food.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Something to fall back on if there's nothing else to eat?
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Yeah.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53It's not just in Madagascar - people all around the world hunt
0:18:53 > 0:18:55and eat bats.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59Sadly, many species are now under threat.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03The bat team are keen to find out how they're caught.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06They're using long sticks like this. If they touch the wings
0:19:06 > 0:19:11the bats will fall down and they just collect them.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14I think the method of catching the bats is a bit cruel,
0:19:14 > 0:19:18because say they don't necessarily collect all the bats, they'll
0:19:18 > 0:19:21have damaged the bats' wings and things.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26- It's for food, so you'd pick them all up, wouldn't you?- Yeah.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28I'd have thought it would be more sophisticated, though.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- Cos just smacking them with a stick.- It is wrong.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36I think it's quite crude, you know, just pick up a big stick,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39smack a bat with it - dinner.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41I think they want food, hitting them
0:19:41 > 0:19:45with a stick works, so they're going to do it.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47It's a shame, really.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- You're not going to get a dart-gun out, are you?- True.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Does that mean the bats are endangered
0:19:53 > 0:19:56because so many people eat them and hunt them?
0:19:56 > 0:19:57The fruit bats are.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01But I was quite surprised to find out that you could hunt them
0:20:01 > 0:20:06like at all, cos I thought the numbers are fairly low and it
0:20:06 > 0:20:12would just be illegal full stop. So that did actually quite surprise me.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Julie's research is to find out what's happening to these bats
0:20:16 > 0:20:18and to do that, she has to get hands on.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24She uses a much gentler method than sticks.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29We've just set up this net and hopefully the bats will soon
0:20:29 > 0:20:32start flying into it and we can catch some.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37It's just a waiting game now.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42- We've got one.- It doesn't take long. - We got one?- Yes!- Crumbs.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48We just caught a bat outside of the net, and then they've got
0:20:48 > 0:20:52another two, so we've got three in the net all at once.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57- What kind of bat is this? - The fruit bat we've seen inside.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Ah.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02That is so cute.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07You can really see why they call it a flying fox.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Would you mind hanging them on the other side.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14I've got a bat in the bag. Yeah, it's caught.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16We're going to wait until they've caught
0:21:16 > 0:21:21the rest of the bats and then we're going to measure them after.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25After an hour, the team can see they might be an easy food option.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29We've only been out here for a short amount of time.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32We've caught a few bats which is quite surprising.
0:21:32 > 0:21:39I have six in my hand right now, and it weighs next to nothing, so light.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45By doing this Julie can determine if this bat population is plummeting.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Keep your hands below its head, on the neck.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52For Raina, it's a great opportunity to get up close.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53D'you want to handle it?
0:21:53 > 0:21:55OK.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58There you go.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04It's really cute and you can feel its little heartbeat
0:22:04 > 0:22:05and it's really fast.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07I don't think they are the most
0:22:07 > 0:22:11attractive of animals, but up close they're really cute
0:22:11 > 0:22:18and they look a little bit like a small mouse and it's really furry.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- Shall I let it fly?- Yep.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23Oh, that's so cool.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28It's another reason that's got the team thinking why many
0:22:28 > 0:22:31animals face extinction in Madagascar.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Another thing I've learnt is the reason for the numbers
0:22:34 > 0:22:36dropping with any animals,
0:22:36 > 0:22:41and this is just another one, cos of us, innit, you know the reason
0:22:41 > 0:22:46all the lemurs' numbers have gone down is cos we've chopped them down.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49With Julie's work hopefully they'll find
0:22:49 > 0:22:54answers to help save these bats before it's too late.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56A smooth journey.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57That one was.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Maybe one of these answers is a captive breeding
0:23:02 > 0:23:06programme like our turtles which are now ready to be released.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09For our team to complete their challenge they'll need to
0:23:09 > 0:23:13venture five hours off-road to the secret lake.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Best car journey ever!
0:23:19 > 0:23:24But for one of them the early start is too much.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29Well, we've just checked to make sure the river is OK to cross.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Here we go. Whoo!
0:23:39 > 0:23:42We made it.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45The roads go from treacherous to nonexistent.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Our road is blocked.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50It was really fun.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- It's really bumpy and... - Yeah, we like it.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Yeah.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I think Okechukwu's the only one that's not really into the journey.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- We've got to keep moving.- OK.- Yeah.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Five gruelling hours later
0:24:08 > 0:24:12our team arrive at a remote village near the secret lake.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16I'm really tired but the journey was absolutely amazing. There
0:24:16 > 0:24:21was so much, it was so bumpy and took a long time, it was amazing.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- What's happening? - Oh, it's very tiring.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27There's little time to be tired. The local village have turned up
0:24:27 > 0:24:34and the team are given a Malagasy welcome.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37These dress things, I don't know what they're called,
0:24:37 > 0:24:42- but we're swapping them! And now she's trying to put mine on.- Cool.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44It feels strange. we're all crowding round -
0:24:44 > 0:24:47we're trying to put on a skirt which I never wear.
0:24:47 > 0:24:54The celebration certainly wakes everyone up.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Oh, my God!
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Okechukwu is their king!
0:25:03 > 0:25:07This bag has some of the turtles that we tagged
0:25:07 > 0:25:09and micro-chipped yesterday.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14So I'm going to be very careful while carrying it because very,
0:25:14 > 0:25:18very precious goods in here.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22And on the way to the lake, Yoran discovers why this lake is
0:25:22 > 0:25:23so important.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27It's their sacred lake. We're entering it to release these turtles.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30We're going to do it their way.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33A release is not guaranteed. The elders of the village need to
0:25:33 > 0:25:37ask their ancestors for permission before it can happen.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41HE SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE
0:26:00 > 0:26:02It's a tense moment.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07This ritual needs to be successful for the turtles to be released.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14This is what they've been waiting for.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17This means a go ahead from the ancestors.
0:26:21 > 0:26:26And Jamie is the first to say goodbye.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31Jamie, don't forget he can bite.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34APPLAUSE
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Because of its protected status no-one hunts them here,
0:26:38 > 0:26:43so these turtles are safe where they belong, back in the wild.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Lance and the whole of the Durrell team are doing really well
0:26:47 > 0:26:50holding the population of these creatures by stopping
0:26:50 > 0:26:53people from eating them. It's just amazing.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59At the end of this challenge, the team have been given a real
0:26:59 > 0:27:02boost that even in the face of extinction, captive breeding
0:27:02 > 0:27:05programmes can bring hope.
0:27:05 > 0:27:11Another way to ensure animals don't go extinct in Madagascar.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13I think the turtles have got a good home here
0:27:13 > 0:27:16cos all the people are in unity with their lake
0:27:16 > 0:27:21so the turtles are really well-protected by the people.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Next time Jamie gets to confront her fears.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34We're right next to the head of a crocodile.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38And the team take on their toughest challenge yet.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39The trap's right there.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42They have to try and track down Madagascar's largest
0:27:42 > 0:27:44and most elusive carnivore.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Pretty frustrating.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49A creature that's seriously under threat.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd