0:00:12 > 0:00:16It's an animal you can't help but look up to...
0:00:16 > 0:00:19but what do we really know about giraffes?
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Somehow, these gentle giants have been overlooked...
0:00:25 > 0:00:27..but not by one man.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Having dedicated the last 20 years of his life to them,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Dr Julian Fennessy knows giraffes better than anyone...
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Do I get sick of giraffe? Never.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45..and what Julian has recently discovered is truly alarming.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47I'm absolutely amazed that no-one has a clue -
0:00:47 > 0:00:49this silent extinction,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53some populations less than 400 individuals in the wild.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56That is more endangered than any gorilla,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59than almost any large mammal in the world.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00In an urgent effort to help,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Julian will travel across Africa,
0:01:03 > 0:01:09from Namibia to the unsettled border of Ethiopia and South Sudan,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12and on into Uganda to launch a daring rescue mission
0:01:12 > 0:01:14with a determined team.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Giraffe is very beautiful. It has to be protected forever.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24There is hope, but Julian and his wife, Steph, know they must act now.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29It's a very critical time and we have to do something now.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32If we don't, in a few years, it might really be too late.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Together, they're standing tall for a remarkable beast -
0:01:36 > 0:01:39a true icon of African wildlife.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Giraffe have gone extinct in at least seven countries in Africa.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45It's not going to happen again.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48There is no giraffe going to go extinct on my watch.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Weighing up to two tonnes,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06the giraffe is a colossal animal,
0:02:06 > 0:02:07and unlike any other.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16You have to love something so big and weird
0:02:16 > 0:02:17and sort of, you know, out there.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24They're so funky-looking, they don't make sense.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25They've got amazing eyelashes
0:02:25 > 0:02:30and, you know, a lot of women love giraffe for their eyelashes.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Everybody loves giraffe.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35I mean, they're a symbol for so many things around the world.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40In a remote valley, Dr Julian Fenessey has found
0:02:40 > 0:02:44the intact skeleton of an old bull giraffe.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52So, you can see this old bull. He's huge, huge ossicones.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59The massive bumps on a giraffe's head aren't horns or antlers -
0:02:59 > 0:03:02they're different, and they're called ossicones.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08They actually are like cartilage, like in your ear,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and when they're born, they're flat, and then they fold out
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and they become bone and fuse to the skull.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18The males' ossicones are much larger
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and grow increasingly massive over their lives.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26This is a couple of vertebrae, here, of the giraffe -
0:03:26 > 0:03:29but there's only seven vertebrae in the neck,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32just like all humans and all other mammals.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38This is the lower leg bone. They kick out at lions
0:03:38 > 0:03:42and other predators, they just knock 'em for six, they're dead.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46It's about the same size as my daughter.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Julian's kids, Molly and Luca, are seven and ten
0:03:52 > 0:03:55and, just like their dad, they love giraffes.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58A giraffe is very tall.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00It's got lots of dots.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Long legs and ossicones.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06And long arms and a long neck.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10And a tongue as long as her arm.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Julian and his wife Steph run the Giraffe Conservation Foundation,
0:04:14 > 0:04:20or GCF, from their home here in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23It's the first giraffe charity in the world.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27We spend so much time thinking, talking, looking at giraffe.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32From here, they work with men and women across the continent
0:04:32 > 0:04:34to save the giraffe.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38There is a fine line between brave and stupid,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42and there's been a bit of a risk, put a lot of money on the line.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45A lot of our life savings, really, has gone into this, at the moment.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51It's no coincidence that Julian and his family
0:04:51 > 0:04:53live in the middle of Namibia.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56It's giraffe central.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00The giraffe found here are called Angolan giraffes.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04They're one of nine different subspecies of giraffe
0:05:04 > 0:05:05spread across Africa.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10It's just two days' drive from Julian's home
0:05:10 > 0:05:14to a very special place called the Hoanib River.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Julian has been studying the giraffes that live here
0:05:19 > 0:05:20for almost 20 years.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24I mean, I remember coming out here for the first time.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I had no clue, as a young lad who'd come out from Australia,
0:05:27 > 0:05:31and I ended up sort of in one of the most harshest deserts in the world.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Giraffe thrive here.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39To me, this place is home.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44This is where I love to come. This is my own personal space.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51I feel like I've grown up with these guys, you know, they're my mates.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56Year after year, Julian and Steph have been coming here,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59recording every detail of these animals' lives.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05This pioneering work is crucial to our understanding of giraffes today.
0:06:07 > 0:06:08And look, there's giraffe over there.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Got a couple of females over there. And now we can try and ID them.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15'At some stage we decided, let's give it a go.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17'There's just no-one else who's looking after giraffe,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20'there's no-one, really, doing that job.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21'And they're pretty amazing animals.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24'I mean, if you just see them out in the wild,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26'I don't think there's any animal like them.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28'They're so unique and iconic.'
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Steph and Julian have gathered tens of thousands of photographs
0:06:33 > 0:06:38and meticulous notes in a system they've invented
0:06:38 > 0:06:40to tell each giraffe apart.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Every single giraffe has a unique pattern,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44just like the fingerprint of a human.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I see a butterfly or I see a sailing boat
0:06:46 > 0:06:48in one of the spots, Julian won't see that at all.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50I'll see a beer or something like that.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Being Australian, you know, I've got a bit of a focus there.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54But there's lots of markers how to identify them.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57So, we don't only look at the patterns -
0:06:57 > 0:06:59we look at the shape of the ossicones
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and if they have hair on them or not.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04- Old boys, like me.- Yeah, bald.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Because they know every giraffe as an individual,
0:07:10 > 0:07:12they can do what no-one else can,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and follow them over their entire lives -
0:07:15 > 0:07:18and today they've found a very old friend.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- See the black spot on its neck? - Yeah.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27- And on here.- Look at that.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30So we saw this giraffe many, many years before you guys
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- were even born. How cool is that? - Very cool!
0:07:35 > 0:07:38This old bull giraffe was first seen
0:07:38 > 0:07:41at the very beginning of their studies.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Back then, he was already an adult,
0:07:44 > 0:07:49which means that he's over 20 years old, and, as of this moment,
0:07:49 > 0:07:53the world's oldest recorded wild giraffe.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55We don't know any giraffe that is as old as these in the world.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59There just hasn't been the studies available to date.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Until Julian and the GCF's work,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05many of the really basic facts about giraffes were missing -
0:08:05 > 0:08:07how long can they can live?
0:08:07 > 0:08:12How many are there? And even, how far do they roam?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15We're seeing giraffe move in distances that we never thought.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20Some of them in Namibia are going more than 11,000 square kilometres.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22It's absolutely amazing.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27Julian has also discovered many of the secrets of their survival -
0:08:27 > 0:08:30that they get enough water just from browsing.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34The trees, to defend themselves, have developed giant spikes,
0:08:34 > 0:08:40poisonous leaves, and have recruited ants to fight the giraffe off.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43In response, the giraffe's skin has become tough.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47They also have a giant black sun-proof tongue,
0:08:47 > 0:08:52and Julian has recorded that they can sniff out the poisonous leaves
0:08:52 > 0:08:54and pluck the moister ones.
0:08:55 > 0:09:01Most importantly, he has discovered that giraffes are vital pollinators
0:09:01 > 0:09:06and seed spreaders. Without the giraffe's landscape gardening,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Africa would change for the worst.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Each year brings new discoveries for Julian.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Technology is now helping him
0:09:23 > 0:09:27see the giraffe as he's never seen it before.
0:09:27 > 0:09:33- Wow!- It's so dark, he can't see his own hand in front of his face,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36but his camera can peel back the night.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41This is like Christmas all at once! It's absolutely brilliant.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Julian can now see that giraffe are surprisingly active at night.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Then he sees something he's never seen before,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57just on the limit of what the camera can distinguish.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00There is one sitting down, right in front here.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I didn't even see that. I thought it was a tree.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Wow! This guy has just put his neck...
0:10:06 > 0:10:09he's just turned it around and he's resting it on his bum.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14In the middle of the desert, where lions prowl,
0:10:14 > 0:10:18the giraffe has curled up on the ground and gone to sleep.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22In zoos, they study it. Basically, when their neck is down,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26it's REM sleep, so maybe these giraffe are dreaming.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29I've never seen that in the wild.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33If they are dreaming, who knows what wild giraffe dream about?
0:10:35 > 0:10:37All this is new for Julian.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41So, this female has just turned.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43That one's just stuck its neck up straight away.
0:10:45 > 0:10:46It's sat down.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50It went down straight away
0:10:50 > 0:10:55and stuck its neck back, started to sleep.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I think they're talking to each other.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00There's got to be some communication.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03It's like they're taking turns to sleep.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07That we don't know for certain
0:11:07 > 0:11:09if these massive animals can communicate
0:11:09 > 0:11:13or how they sleep in the wild shows how neglected
0:11:13 > 0:11:16they've been. So much is new.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21WAILING SOUND
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Giraffe were thought to be mute until this year,
0:11:27 > 0:11:32when these noises were recorded from giraffes in a zoo at night.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35WAILING SOUND
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Animals which communicate often rely on being in social groups
0:11:40 > 0:11:42for their survival.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46For the giraffe, discoveries like these, about how they live together,
0:11:46 > 0:11:50give Julian vital information that may help him save them.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53I don't know anyone who's observed giraffe at night.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56And this is the first time it's ever been done, you know?
0:11:56 > 0:11:59I know a little bit about giraffe but I've never seen this.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18But Julian's most jaw-dropping giraffe discovery is,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20alarmingly, the simplest.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28He's found that, in just 20 years, the numbers of all giraffe
0:12:28 > 0:12:31across Africa have dropped by almost 40%.
0:12:35 > 0:12:36I don't know how else to explain it,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39but, you know, everyone just thinks they're everywhere
0:12:39 > 0:12:41and they're lovely, and they're beautiful, so...
0:12:41 > 0:12:44of course they can't be dwindling, the numbers can't be going.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Numbers are plummeting.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48We have lost many animals before,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52and I just think it would be a really sad world without giraffe.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56To put this into perspective,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00it's well known that African elephants are in trouble.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Their numbers are falling rapidly,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and there are just almost half a million left...
0:13:06 > 0:13:11..but what no-one realised is that there are far fewer giraffes.
0:13:11 > 0:13:12There are just 90,000.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Giraffe have already become extinct
0:13:17 > 0:13:19in at least seven countries.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Easy targets for poachers,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24they are killed for their meat,
0:13:24 > 0:13:26and their habitats are being destroyed.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30It's frightening, and I think, if we lost them,
0:13:30 > 0:13:31I don't know where I would be at.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34I really think...I've lost.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Me and so many people around us
0:13:36 > 0:13:39have just not done the job we set out to do.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Time is running out
0:13:44 > 0:13:46and Julian knows we urgently need
0:13:46 > 0:13:50to take our understanding of giraffes to a new level.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53He has a revolutionary theory -
0:13:53 > 0:13:55that there's not just one species of giraffe,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58divided into slightly different sub species,
0:13:58 > 0:14:03but there are instead many unique species.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04BIRDS CAW
0:14:04 > 0:14:07If Julian knows how many species there are,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10he can see which are most in trouble
0:14:10 > 0:14:12and take immediate action to save them...
0:14:15 > 0:14:18..but only by analysing the genes inside the giraffe
0:14:18 > 0:14:21can Julian prove how different they are.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27To do this, he's been taking samples of their skin and testing their DNA.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34The information inside
0:14:34 > 0:14:37tiny plugs of skin like this
0:14:37 > 0:14:39could give Julian the power to save whole species
0:14:39 > 0:14:41we didn't even know existed.
0:14:51 > 0:14:52Julian has got the DNA
0:14:52 > 0:14:55from almost every wild giraffe population in Africa.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Before he can run a species analysis,
0:15:00 > 0:15:06he needs a final sample from a population called Nubian giraffes.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10There are perhaps just 650 left in the wild.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14This group live far from Namibia, in Ethiopia,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17right on the war-torn border with South Sudan.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21BIRDS CHEEP
0:15:21 > 0:15:22ROOSTER CROWS
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Julian has never been here before.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Being away from the family all the time is not easy.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30They are my life, but so is giraffe and giraffe conservation,
0:15:30 > 0:15:31and it's tough work.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36From the capital, Addis Ababa,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38it's two days' travel west...
0:15:39 > 0:15:43..to one of Africa's most remote national parks, Gambela.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Years ago, flying across Gambela,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53spotters recorded a wealth of wildlife
0:15:53 > 0:15:56somehow flourishing on the edge of a warzone...
0:15:56 > 0:15:59ELEPHANTS TRUMPET
0:16:00 > 0:16:04..but, since then, the situation has changed.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06All Julian has seen so far is fires and cows.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- This place is mad. - COW MOOS
0:16:13 > 0:16:17The population in Ethiopia is going up by two million a year.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20There's refugees pouring across the border.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22To get his sample, Julian must find
0:16:22 > 0:16:26the last surviving giraffes in the park.
0:16:26 > 0:16:27I'm hoping to find...
0:16:27 > 0:16:29hundreds of giraffe, let's be honest.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32But there is no hope of that, sadly.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34You know, if we can find 10, 20 giraffe
0:16:34 > 0:16:36that would be a great start, you know?
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Get a sample count, a sample number, of what's out there.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42But the signs aren't good
0:16:42 > 0:16:44when he sees his first wild animals
0:16:44 > 0:16:47on the backs of eight heavily armed poachers.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51THEY SPEAK IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:16:58 > 0:17:00They're all sitting here with AK-47s -
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and it looks like there's been
0:17:02 > 0:17:04at least six kob that have been poached.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Yeah, it's a little bit of a heated discussion.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08So, let's hope they can move on,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11take his names and we go from there.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13With one gun against eight,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17there's little Julian's scout can do but send them on their way.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19If this is what's happened to the kob,
0:17:19 > 0:17:21no wonder there's literally a handful of giraffe
0:17:21 > 0:17:23probably left in this place.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26The last surviving giraffe are thought to have moved
0:17:26 > 0:17:28deeper into the park,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32an area engulfed in conflict and even harder to control.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36It's another two days before Julian
0:17:36 > 0:17:39reaches the international team he'll be working with.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47They've assembled to find and satellite-tag
0:17:47 > 0:17:50many different animals in the park.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56Julian has brought with him four giraffe GPS collars.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59These will allow him to follow the giraffe,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01tracking their movements from space.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05We want to be able to monitor them,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08get some DNA, because we really have no clue what giraffe they are.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Almost nothing about this vast park is known.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18With no roads or fences, it only exists on paper.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23To even find the giraffe is going to be a huge challenge.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29The only solution is to use a helicopter.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Now, they have a rare opportunity to shed light on the animals
0:18:37 > 0:18:42that live in this remote land and begin to try to protect them.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49With Julian is vet Andre Uys.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54This is... This is a once in a lifetime job, really.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57We know very little about these animals.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00It's actually quite exciting, and valuable data will come out.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02They all know the stakes are high.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04TRANQUILLISER SHOT
0:19:04 > 0:19:05ELEPHANTS TRUMPET
0:19:06 > 0:19:08ELEPHANT GROWLS
0:19:08 > 0:19:11OK, we've got her. She's in front of us. Thanks, Nick.
0:19:11 > 0:19:12The team set to work,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15satellite-collaring a range of animals.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- That's perfect, huh?- 27, 27.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21'Generally, they don't give you much warning before they wake up.'
0:19:21 > 0:19:23She's starting to come out of the anaesthetic.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Come on, guys. Get back to the helicopter.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33But the days tick by.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37And, in all their flights, they have seen no giraffe.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Now Julian has just two more days.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46To go home not even having found a single giraffe would be devastating.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48The team focuses on wooded areas,
0:19:48 > 0:19:53because giraffe can spend three quarters of their time browsing.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Then, in a patch of trees right on the Sudanese border,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Julian sees what he's come for -
0:20:00 > 0:20:03a herd of 30 giraffe.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Andre takes the shot.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07TRANQUILLISER SHOT
0:20:07 > 0:20:09'We have to give them massively high doses to get them down,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11'so it's critical for me
0:20:11 > 0:20:14'to get to the giraffe as soon as possible
0:20:14 > 0:20:16'after it's gone down,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19'to administer an antidote and get its respiration back to normal.'
0:20:19 > 0:20:22The giraffe is now totally awake.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Just the team holds it down.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28They keep her calm with a blanket over her eyes.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Time is critical for Julian to take his DNA sample
0:20:32 > 0:20:34from the least intrusive place.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36It'd be fine if I take a tip off the ear.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Just hold her a bit.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39Just...
0:20:42 > 0:20:44OK, that's just... That's fine.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Next, the team gently secure the GPS collar.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53COLLAR TWISTS
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Now, they'll be able to track where this giraffe roams
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and see if she crosses the border into South Sudan.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Time to let her go.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14OK, Pablo, get off, get off, get off...
0:21:20 > 0:21:22PANTING
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- She got me in the shins with her horns.- Ah.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Jesus!
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Mm, I'm sore.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31It's like being beaten with a ten-pound mallet on your shin.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33- Fantastic, guys. - LAUGHTER
0:21:33 > 0:21:34A little bit of DNA.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36- Let's get on with it. - Next one.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42Soon, now, Julian will know if his theory is correct.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45We've always known giraffes look different in different places
0:21:45 > 0:21:47across the continent.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52But are they as different as Julian thinks?
0:21:54 > 0:21:57This is really exciting stuff.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59This is the first DNA sample.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01It's a little piece of tissue, that's all it is.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03But it's got a big mystery inside of it.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12We want to send it off to Germany, get it analysed
0:22:12 > 0:22:17and who knows? This is the key to understanding giraffe.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Now they can all be compared to each other.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Julian has just one last flight.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42He desperately wants to get more giraffe.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45It's all a bit of a mad rush this morning. We were all ready to go,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47and we've just got another passenger
0:22:47 > 0:22:50from the wildlife authority that we have to take with.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Literally, this is my last day. I'm out this evening.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55So we've got to get out there and see if we can find these guys.
0:22:55 > 0:22:56HELICOPTER WHIRS Without warning,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59the government insist on an official accompanying the team
0:22:59 > 0:23:03on their last day, so there's no room for cameras...
0:23:03 > 0:23:05HELICOPTER WHIRS
0:23:05 > 0:23:08..but the helicopter returns much earlier than expected -
0:23:08 > 0:23:11and it's soon clear why.
0:23:11 > 0:23:12They've been shot at.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17We basically flew over some guys with some cattle in the park.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19We saw the two rifles point up
0:23:19 > 0:23:21and then we heard...bang.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25The team is still in shock.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29We all thought that basically the chopper had been hit somewhere,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32so we thought, we've got to get out of here really quickly.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Luckily, no-one was hit, er...
0:23:35 > 0:23:36and that's the end of the collaring.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38That's the end of the giraffe collaring. It's...
0:23:38 > 0:23:40It's just too unsafe.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42It's a bloody warzone out there, it's crazy.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45The team can't find where the bullet hit,
0:23:45 > 0:23:47but it's ended Julian's mission.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51We're just trying to help giraffe, trying to help conservation.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53We don't even know what flavour giraffe it is out there.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Let's hope the sample we've got...
0:23:55 > 0:23:58we can take that and figure out who's who.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Julian must leave.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05He carries a single precious cargo.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08Nothing shakes you up more
0:24:08 > 0:24:12than having some AK-47s fired at you in a helicopter.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Scary.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I tell you what, I'm happy to leave.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20I want to get home to the family, get on with life.
0:24:20 > 0:24:21HELICOPTER WHIRS
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Within a year, a helicopter was shot down
0:24:27 > 0:24:30and the pilot killed by poachers in Tanzania.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35In the last decade, it's estimated over 1,000 rangers
0:24:35 > 0:24:39have been killed while protecting wild animals,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41in a war with poachers
0:24:41 > 0:24:43increasingly funded by organised crime.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55The early results from the DNA analysis are just coming in,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57and they are very significant.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02As Julian suspected, it looks like there isn't just one,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06but perhaps four or five separate species of giraffe...
0:25:07 > 0:25:11..and the Nubian giraffes in Ethiopia should be reclassified
0:25:11 > 0:25:14as one of the rarest species on Earth.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Their only other large population is in Uganda.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Here, the giraffes were thought to be different,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23and called Rothschild's giraffes.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25But they are the same.
0:25:25 > 0:25:30In total, there's just 2,150 survivors
0:25:30 > 0:25:34of this potentially new species left in the wild.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46This is Murchison Falls National Park,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Uganda's largest and oldest conservation area.
0:25:49 > 0:25:50BIRDS CHEEP
0:25:55 > 0:26:00It is the last great stronghold of the Rothschild's giraffe.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Over 1,000 live here.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05They are very distinctive, with lighter coats,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07white stockinged legs
0:26:07 > 0:26:10and - not three - but five ossicones.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15In the ground beneath their feet
0:26:15 > 0:26:18lie three quarters of Uganda's oil deposits,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20and plans to drill are underway.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Keeping this fragile population safe
0:26:24 > 0:26:28will now be Julian and the team's biggest priority.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31An entire species of giraffe could rely on it.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37If something goes wrong here in Murchison Falls,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Rothschild's giraffe could be extinct in no time.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43The time is now.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46If we don't come together to save giraffe, it could be too late.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Losing this new species would be a disaster.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Julian and the Uganda Wildlife Authority
0:26:55 > 0:26:59have a daring plan to protect these giraffe for generations.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06Currently, the giraffes all live on one side of the Nile -
0:27:06 > 0:27:08they can't cross it.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12The plan is more ambitious than anything they've done before.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16They are going to catch giraffes from the north side
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and start a new giraffe population across the river,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21away from the oil drilling.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25This is Tom Okello, Murchison Falls' Park Manager.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29In all, you should not keep all your eggs in one basket.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32we first keep some stock out of the oil area,
0:27:32 > 0:27:37so that, in the event that some impacts may come out of oil,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40we have a safe population somewhere else.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42To carry out this mission,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46the men and women in charge of caring for Uganda's wildlife
0:27:46 > 0:27:49have gathered from across the entire country.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Gorilla doctors from the mountains,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55the chief vets of the other great parks of Uganda,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58rangers from Murchison Falls itself.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03And Julian has brought along a secret weapon...
0:28:03 > 0:28:06vet Dr Pete Morkel.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07I love giraffes.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09It's quite remarkable that such a...
0:28:11 > 0:28:14..strangely put together beast functions so well.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19Catching and moving a wild giraffe is difficult and dangerous.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Pete has done it hundreds of times.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25It is an unusual type of capture.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27That animal is totally awake.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30It is a stressful situation, but it does work very well.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33It's the accepted way of catching giraffe, here in Africa.
0:28:33 > 0:28:38Before the team learns on a giraffe, Pete is training them on himself.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42If that animal falls more than two or three times,
0:28:42 > 0:28:45it says, "That's it, I'm finished".
0:28:45 > 0:28:46It's not good for the giraffe.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51The team is going to have to guide any giraffe they catch
0:28:51 > 0:28:53into a trailer, using ropes.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55We need someone giving good control.
0:28:55 > 0:28:56We need the people responsive.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59They must be strong, they must be intelligent, eh?
0:28:59 > 0:29:03There's no chance for sleeping. I will show you.
0:29:03 > 0:29:04Are you ready?
0:29:05 > 0:29:08You must allow me to move forward, otherwise we will never load it.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11You must let me go. You must let me move.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13- ALL TALK - You must let me move.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Cos I don't want stay here the whole day.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16ALL TALK
0:29:16 > 0:29:19- So, what you want to do is stand to a little to one side.- Yeah.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21ALL SHOUT
0:29:27 > 0:29:29LAUGHTER
0:29:32 > 0:29:35You want to have these giraffe delivered safe and sound,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37that's the primary objective.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39That's what's most important to me.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41CAR ENGINE RUNS
0:29:41 > 0:29:45It's 5am, and the team is preparing for their first day.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51WATER RUNS
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- Did you sleep well? - ALL:- Yes.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- Are we ready to go? - ALL:- Yes.
0:29:56 > 0:29:57All right.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Three of the vets are also Christian pastors.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Muhangi, you lead us in prayer.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07Almighty Father, we thank you for your love for us.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09We surrender every one of us into your care...
0:30:09 > 0:30:15They have two weeks to catch and transport 20 giraffe.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Protect us while we are in the wilderness. Amen.
0:30:18 > 0:30:19- ALL:- Amen.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22The group is inexperienced, but, as Julian and Pete know,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25the only way to learn is to get your hands on a giraffe.
0:30:27 > 0:30:28We are going into action now.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37The catching team moves ahead carefully.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41They are looking to create a breeding herd,
0:30:41 > 0:30:46so are after young, healthy females and just three or four males.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49They hope the new population will quickly swell.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54The rest of the cars hang back,
0:30:54 > 0:30:56ready to run in once they've caught a giraffe.
0:31:13 > 0:31:14It's in! The drug is in.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16Even a small giraffe is so strong
0:31:16 > 0:31:20that no team could catch it just with ropes,
0:31:20 > 0:31:23and the dart in its rump carries such strong sedative
0:31:23 > 0:31:28that the animal must be given an antidote within 20 minutes.
0:31:28 > 0:31:29But it's also a waiting game,
0:31:29 > 0:31:32because, if they try to catch it too soon,
0:31:32 > 0:31:34it could startle and run away.
0:31:34 > 0:31:35Two minutes.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42The team watch for signs the drugs are taking effect.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45Four minutes.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Everyone knows their job in theory...
0:31:47 > 0:31:50ALL TALK HURRIEDLY
0:31:50 > 0:31:52..but the giraffe is extremely unpredictable
0:31:52 > 0:31:54and the capture becomes chaotic.
0:31:54 > 0:31:55ALL SHOUT
0:31:55 > 0:31:56The team is wary -
0:31:56 > 0:31:59a giraffe kick could decapitate a man.
0:31:59 > 0:32:00ALL SHOUT
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Finally, they bring it down safely,
0:32:08 > 0:32:11but it's not a textbook capture.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13ALL SHOUT
0:32:13 > 0:32:14Julian and vet Pete step in.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Pete is in charge of the antidote.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20Give the antidote, gentlemen.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22Where's the antidote? Where's the antidote?
0:32:23 > 0:32:26We poleaxe them with chemicals, really.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28So if you don't give the antidote immediately it's going to die.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31The antidote is in in time.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35Now the giraffe is wide awake,
0:32:35 > 0:32:38Julian keeps it from struggling by sitting on its neck.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Putting on the blindfold just sedates her a lot,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43so, hopefully, she's being a bit more relaxed now.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47- It's just measuring the ossicone. - Ten.
0:32:47 > 0:32:48And, by doing that, we can figure out...
0:32:48 > 0:32:50There's hardly any research ever been done.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Nine.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Hopefully, we can just build up more information over time.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56- It's nine and a half, maybe.- OK.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57Come on, guys!
0:33:00 > 0:33:05The calmer they keep the giraffe, the easier the next stage will be.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07We have some water?
0:33:07 > 0:33:08It's on the ground for over ten minutes
0:33:08 > 0:33:13while the team take measurements and samples and position their trailer.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16- Who has the spray? - Spray, please.
0:33:16 > 0:33:17Spray, spray, spray!
0:33:17 > 0:33:20It's all right, we don't have to shout. We just keep nice and slow.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Just easygoing.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24It's time to loop ropes around it,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27which they'll use, as Pete demonstrated,
0:33:27 > 0:33:30to guide the blindfolded giraffe into its trailer.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32THEY SPEAK IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:33:38 > 0:33:41I think Julian is the last one to sit on the neck.
0:33:41 > 0:33:42ALL TALK
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Now they're helping it up, they're pushing it up.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53ALL TALK
0:33:53 > 0:33:57THEY SHOUT
0:33:57 > 0:33:59Hold on. Wait, wait, wait!
0:34:04 > 0:34:05POLE CLANGS
0:34:07 > 0:34:10I find it quite emotional, I'm actually quite close to tears.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12Erm, it's just...
0:34:12 > 0:34:16You don't normally see them so close and get so close.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19It's stressful for everyone, and it's a big learning curve.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23For a giraffe to stand up is a huge effort.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25The team is wary of exhausting this one.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Let it go. Let this thing go.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29- Let it go?- Yeah.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31OK, let this one go?
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Can the pilot move?
0:34:33 > 0:34:36To be safe, vet Dr Margaret Dricuru
0:34:36 > 0:34:37makes a call.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39Everyone to one side, please.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42- The giraffe is going to get up. - Everyone to one side.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52I think it's not a good idea to keep trying.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55The welfare issues - that's the reason we've let it go.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Back at their base, the team have built a boma -
0:35:20 > 0:35:24an enclosure for the 20 giraffes to go into.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26But, for now, it remains empty.
0:35:26 > 0:35:27It's not a great start.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35Undeterred, they are still aiming for two giraffes by sundown.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43Ranger Francis Adiyokan lives here
0:35:43 > 0:35:45and he loves these animals.
0:35:46 > 0:35:47The giraffe is very beautiful.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50It is a design which God has created on the world.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54So I feel like they have to stay in the world forever.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Because, if God meant for it to end,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58he would have put an expiry date,
0:35:58 > 0:36:01which means that it has to be protected forever.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03So I am very happy to protect giraffe.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16'At the end of the day, when you're capturing a giraffe,
0:36:16 > 0:36:17'you're just focused.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22'It's all about having that giraffe come down safely
0:36:22 > 0:36:24'and get up safely.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26'I'm just totally focused.'
0:36:26 > 0:36:28Although many of the team are wild animal vets,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31few have actually touched a giraffe before -
0:36:31 > 0:36:33like Dr Eddy Kambale.
0:36:33 > 0:36:38'I am already very excited to work with a giraffe
0:36:38 > 0:36:40'for my first time, since I was born.'
0:36:40 > 0:36:42I just used to read books,
0:36:42 > 0:36:46but now I am feeling the reality of what it means,
0:36:46 > 0:36:48being and working with a giraffe.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52We have few of them so we need to keep some, yeah.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Yeah, good.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57To push blood up their huge necks to their brains,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00giraffes have the largest heart of all the land mammals.
0:37:00 > 0:37:05It can weigh over 10kg and beats twice as fast as our own.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10When it was running, the heartbeat was much higher.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13But right now it's settling down,
0:37:13 > 0:37:14so the rate has reduced.
0:37:16 > 0:37:17How's the breathing? It's good?
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Breathing is fine and it's very regular.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22It's a very relaxed giraffe.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25For me, I feel attached.
0:37:25 > 0:37:26Yeah. Yeah.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31GIRAFFE BLEAT
0:37:31 > 0:37:34OK, everyone, I think let's let the animal properly stand up.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38Let it get up strongly onto its feet before we start to pull it.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42'Catching the giraffe, it's something that I learnt from Pete.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45'You know, if he says things can be done, you do it.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48'And you're out there and you're there for the giraffe.'
0:37:48 > 0:37:52Giraffes use their powerful necks to batter other giraffes.
0:37:53 > 0:37:54Oh!
0:37:56 > 0:38:00But Julian has to stay close to stop the giraffe from hurting itself.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05When it's down, you sort of go,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07"OK quick, rush. Let's get all the things done.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09"Let's make it safe, let's make it and sound".
0:38:09 > 0:38:13And you're just waiting for that moment for it to get up safely.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26Slowly, the team is learning that, to move a giraffe,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28you cannot pull it.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Instead, you must gently guide it.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37DOOR SHUTS
0:38:39 > 0:38:40Fantastic, eh?
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Absolutely bloody brilliant.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46There she goes. Hopefully, er...
0:38:46 > 0:38:48we'll see her soon, at the boma.
0:38:48 > 0:38:49Bloody brilliant.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55This is my first translocation I'm actually involved in.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57I've heard lots of stories, but I've never been there.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59The reality of it is actually quite tough,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02because it's very intrusive for the animals.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06I think we just have to keep in mind why we are doing it.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11The blindfold calms the giraffe on the slow 10 miles back to the boma.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13I'll take the blindfold off.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Before she can be released, Pete needs to climb up
0:39:17 > 0:39:21and brave the giant neck to free the giraffe from her blindfold.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26He knows it's vital to keep calm.
0:39:26 > 0:39:27GIRAFFE CLOMPS
0:39:33 > 0:39:35OK.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55GIRAFFE CLOMPS
0:39:58 > 0:40:01Finally, the first giraffe is in the boma.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04Because giraffe are social animals,
0:40:04 > 0:40:06left alone overnight,
0:40:06 > 0:40:08this one might panic and hurt itself.
0:40:10 > 0:40:11The team are under pressure -
0:40:11 > 0:40:15they must now catch her a companion.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19The next giraffe is much bigger and stronger.
0:40:25 > 0:40:26ALL SHOUT
0:40:43 > 0:40:48The team hold their nerve as one tonne of giraffe kicks out at them.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08ROPE CREAKS
0:41:18 > 0:41:22It's been a long day... GIRAFFE CLOMPS
0:41:22 > 0:41:24GIRAFFE CANTERS ..but two healthy females
0:41:24 > 0:41:26are now safely in the boma.
0:41:26 > 0:41:27Just 18 more giraffes to go.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35These two giraffe that are now out there in the boma,
0:41:35 > 0:41:37we don't know if they have feelings,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39if they have family bonds.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41Are they sad? I don't know.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45The team will now pull back
0:41:45 > 0:41:47to leave the giraffe alone overnight.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52Let's hope the lovely ladies have a good night and we'll go from there.
0:41:52 > 0:41:53BIRDS CHEEP
0:41:58 > 0:41:59GIRAFFE BLEAT
0:42:04 > 0:42:07'OK, let's humble ourselves and we pray.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10'We pray that, Lord, you will protect the animals
0:42:10 > 0:42:11'we are going to capture,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14'you protect us who are going to capture,
0:42:14 > 0:42:19'we pray that the animals and the personnel will be safe
0:42:19 > 0:42:21'and we pray that, Lord, my God,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23'that you give us great success
0:42:23 > 0:42:26'and we pray that, at the end of this exercise,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28'we shall accomplish the target.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30'In Jesus' name we pray.
0:42:30 > 0:42:31- 'Amen.' - ALL:- 'Amen.'
0:42:33 > 0:42:35ALL SHOUT
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Over the next few days, with guidance from Julian and Pete,
0:42:44 > 0:42:45the team grows in confidence.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50Personally, I try to keep things sort of under control.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58'If you get stressed, people around you get stressed.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03'They want to know that you're in control
0:43:03 > 0:43:05'and you're working with them.'
0:43:05 > 0:43:07'This is very important.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11'It's the first time that a Ugandan team has done this.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13'And this is very good for the country.'
0:43:14 > 0:43:16'We're here to save giraffe.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24'All you want to know is that it's safe and sound
0:43:24 > 0:43:27'and, once it's off and gone, then you can start to relax.'
0:43:32 > 0:43:35Soon, the two giraffes in the boma are joined by others.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40This is the beginning of the small population
0:43:40 > 0:43:44that will form a genetic arc to take across the Nile.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49GRUNTING
0:43:51 > 0:43:54Determined to fill the boma in the little time they've got,
0:43:54 > 0:43:56the team starts at dawn every day
0:43:56 > 0:43:58and finishes after sunset.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04Their passion for this animal sustains their work.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08They're very gracious animals
0:44:08 > 0:44:11and, for that reason, I really love them a lot.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16Giraffes are majestic animals.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21They oversee the forest.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27It's my animal because it's calm
0:44:27 > 0:44:29and I love its colours.
0:44:31 > 0:44:35It's one of the most beautiful creatures in the world.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44APPLAUSE
0:44:45 > 0:44:46GIRAFFE CLOMPS
0:44:48 > 0:44:50'We are learning. Thank you.'
0:44:50 > 0:44:53- 'Well done, Pete. That's cool.' - 'That was much better.'
0:44:58 > 0:45:03- MOLLY:- 'It's really cool to see my dad save the giraffe,
0:45:03 > 0:45:05'because there's not lots around.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12'I want to be just like my dad is
0:45:12 > 0:45:15'and I want to help all the giraffe.
0:45:15 > 0:45:19'And if there's only a couple left,
0:45:19 > 0:45:20'I'll try and work harder.'
0:45:26 > 0:45:29The tired team knows the end is in sight.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36You're all right, mate. You're all right, mate.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38That way, that way. You'll be good, mate.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40The pioneer giraffe colony is complete.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43Five of the giraffes are special -
0:45:43 > 0:45:46they've been fitted with satellite tracking collars.
0:45:46 > 0:45:50But one young male is special for a different reason.
0:45:51 > 0:45:53- LUCA:- 'There's one giraffe that I like the best
0:45:53 > 0:45:55'and he just has the funny lip.'
0:45:55 > 0:45:57Yeah, I can see it, just there.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00- And his name is Melvyn. - GIRAFFE CLOMPS
0:46:00 > 0:46:03He just looks so hilarious,
0:46:03 > 0:46:06and his head looks like a seahorse head.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09And every time he eats he looks very grumpy.
0:46:09 > 0:46:10THEY LAUGH
0:46:11 > 0:46:13Stage One is complete.
0:46:13 > 0:46:18The team can now rest before their final challenge as the night falls.
0:46:23 > 0:46:27Soon, these giraffes will go where no giraffes have gone before.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30HIPPO SNORTS
0:46:30 > 0:46:32Throughout the mission,
0:46:32 > 0:46:36the rangers have also been carrying out their other duties...
0:46:36 > 0:46:37GRUNTING
0:46:37 > 0:46:40..patrolling the park to protect the animals here.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53Murchison Falls is next to Lake Albert.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56On the other side is the Democratic Republic of Congo.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01The human populations all around are growing,
0:47:01 > 0:47:05and some people cross into the park to trap and poach
0:47:05 > 0:47:07the wild animals, using metal snares.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14They feel pain, like us.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17When we are denying their right to move,
0:47:17 > 0:47:18their right to eat,
0:47:18 > 0:47:20their right to be alive in the world...
0:47:25 > 0:47:29We don't want to lose them, we don't want them also to suffer.
0:47:29 > 0:47:30They have to be free.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Also the same way God created them.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37So we are not happy with those poachers.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42By Tom's office, two large huts
0:47:42 > 0:47:45are stuffed full of the poacher's equipment
0:47:45 > 0:47:47that his rangers have found here
0:47:47 > 0:47:48in the last year alone.
0:47:51 > 0:47:55If an elephant or giraffe becomes trapped, this is the result.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00If they can be reached in time,
0:48:00 > 0:48:03the snares can be removed and the animals saved...
0:48:07 > 0:48:09..but, sometimes, they're too late.
0:48:10 > 0:48:13Dr Eric Enyel, the park vet,
0:48:13 > 0:48:16has been tracking a snared elephant for days.
0:48:16 > 0:48:17He's just caught up with it.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19But it died an hour ago.
0:48:21 > 0:48:22The wire caught it in a very wrong place.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24It was unable to feed.
0:48:25 > 0:48:29We have not lost them to poachers for a very long time.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31It's now coming to a year plus.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33It's not a good happening.
0:48:33 > 0:48:34It is really very sad for us.
0:48:37 > 0:48:39And this is a very big loss.
0:48:39 > 0:48:41This one is still a young bull.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44It has gone with all its genetic material. Gone.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57The elephant is taken to be buried,
0:48:57 > 0:49:00and its tusks removed, so that no poacher can profit from them.
0:49:04 > 0:49:06It is a stark reminder of how vulnerable
0:49:06 > 0:49:08the Rothschild's giraffes are,
0:49:08 > 0:49:12with over half of their entire population in just one place.
0:49:19 > 0:49:21Now, it's time.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24The team are preparing for the final stage of the mission.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30The giraffes will be split into three groups.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33They'll be driven for many hours and across the Nile.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36To distract them on the journey,
0:49:36 > 0:49:40the rangers cover the truck with delicious leaves.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45This specially prepared vehicle
0:49:45 > 0:49:48has been paid for by the donations of hundreds of people
0:49:48 > 0:49:50from across the world.
0:49:53 > 0:49:55If you've got giraffe in the boma,
0:49:55 > 0:49:57you don't relax until they're released.
0:49:57 > 0:50:01I still get worried until that last giraffe runs out of a truck
0:50:01 > 0:50:03and is off, safe and sound.
0:50:06 > 0:50:08RANGERS SHOUT
0:50:10 > 0:50:14Murchison Falls has never seen anything like it.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28The giraffes are seeing the world from an angle
0:50:28 > 0:50:29even higher than they're used to.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35Because of its precious cargo,
0:50:35 > 0:50:37the convoy heads out slowly.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46The team have put bars between the giraffes to help them stay upright.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51It's such a delicate situation
0:50:51 > 0:50:53that eight men must ride up with them
0:50:53 > 0:50:57to keep constant watch, at the risk of being licked with a giant tongue.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11Melvyn is in the middle,
0:51:11 > 0:51:14so has to be handed his travelling snacks.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24After four slow hours of driving,
0:51:24 > 0:51:28they reach an obstacle no truck or giraffe can cross without help...
0:51:30 > 0:51:31..the Nile.
0:51:34 > 0:51:38The water here will flow over 4,000 miles,
0:51:38 > 0:51:41across the Sudan and into Egypt,
0:51:41 > 0:51:42before it finally meets the sea.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46Just a few miles upstream,
0:51:46 > 0:51:50the torrent is so strong it can cut through mountains.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54But here the river becomes calmer.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57The banks and the water are a havens for wildlife...
0:51:57 > 0:51:59BIRDS CAW
0:51:59 > 0:52:02..and the current is gentle enough for a ferry to drive across it.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09HIPPO GRUNTS
0:52:13 > 0:52:14HIPPOS GRUNT
0:52:16 > 0:52:19All the years of hard work from Julian and Steph
0:52:19 > 0:52:24are paying off in a truly extraordinary sight.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26How often do you see a giraffe on a boat?
0:52:26 > 0:52:27SHE LAUGHS
0:52:30 > 0:52:33If anything goes wrong here, it would be a catastrophe.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37I can count one, two, three, four, five.
0:52:37 > 0:52:39Six. Where's Melvyn?
0:52:39 > 0:52:42- MOLLY:- At the end! - Ah!
0:52:42 > 0:52:45He's looking where he's going, he's checking out.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48No giraffe has ever seen anything like this before.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07The ferry safely pulls in,
0:53:07 > 0:53:11and the passengers enter a land untrodden by giraffe.
0:53:11 > 0:53:12We're on the way.
0:53:12 > 0:53:15We've just crossed over the Nile River with six giraffe.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17I've never been so stressed in my life.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19VAN RUMBLES
0:53:22 > 0:53:23GRUNTING
0:53:23 > 0:53:25This side of the river is wilder.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28Nothing as tall as a giraffe has eaten the trees here,
0:53:28 > 0:53:31so the rangers and Julian clear the way
0:53:31 > 0:53:34for the world's tallest living load.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38None of this would have happened
0:53:38 > 0:53:42if Julian's life hadn't suddenly changed course over two decades ago.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46As I grew up, I really wanted to be a stockbroker.
0:53:46 > 0:53:49Unfortunately, my dad died when I was 16.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51So it was tough.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54I realised that I didn't want to spend my life behind a desk.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57I wanted to do something more than make a few bucks.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59I'm really happy that I've changed my game,
0:53:59 > 0:54:03and now I think I have the most amazing life in the world.
0:54:03 > 0:54:07If Julian and Steph can show this translocation works...
0:54:07 > 0:54:09That is great. Keep going.
0:54:09 > 0:54:14..it will be the beginning of even bigger missions to save giraffe.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16But they cannot do it alone.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19What we need and what we'll always need is money.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22I've been doing giraffe for 15 years without being paid a cent.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24If things can be done, you do it,
0:54:24 > 0:54:26and you're out there and you're there for the giraffe.
0:54:26 > 0:54:29Everyone, apart from the giraffes,
0:54:29 > 0:54:32knows that their long journey is finally at an end.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38- We have to open... Stop.- We have to open the door first, Allen.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41There's no time for hesitation.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45The longer they're inside, the more chances of an accident.
0:54:45 > 0:54:46Kennedy, you come out. Out.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49- Let us pull.- Are the bars all gone?
0:54:49 > 0:54:51- The bars are all gone. - CLINKING
0:54:53 > 0:54:57The team creep back, so the nervous giraffes can see it's clear ahead.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00Come on, Melvyn, be the man.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03Melvyn and the others make their move.
0:55:03 > 0:55:04Come on!
0:55:12 > 0:55:13Well done, guys.
0:55:13 > 0:55:14APPLAUSE
0:55:17 > 0:55:19See them all going through there, guys.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25'When it happens, it's amazing.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28'All the guys we've worked with,
0:55:28 > 0:55:32'it's been an amazing effort, you know, and super proud.
0:55:32 > 0:55:36'Super proud that we've been able to do an amazing job together.'
0:55:36 > 0:55:38- We are feeling great.- Yes! - This a great success.
0:55:38 > 0:55:42All the animals are released, they are all alive, no problem.
0:55:45 > 0:55:49Giraffe after giraffe runs off into a new life.
0:55:53 > 0:55:54GIRAFFE CLOMP
0:55:56 > 0:55:58Goodbye! Bye-bye!
0:56:05 > 0:56:07The team can finally celebrate.
0:56:08 > 0:56:12In this historic moment, Dr Andrew Seguya,
0:56:12 > 0:56:15the head of the Uganda Wildlife Authority,
0:56:15 > 0:56:16has come along to join them.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18'I'm very, very proud of them.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21'Look at them - these guys have worked for the last few weeks.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23- 'They have put in everything. - THEY SING
0:56:23 > 0:56:26'They have left their families, they have come here,'
0:56:26 > 0:56:27they have slept in the bush.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30Most importantly, they have shown the love for the giraffe.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33They have handled them with a lot of care,
0:56:33 > 0:56:35with a lot of love and with a lot of professionalism.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37I'm very, very proud of them.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39THEY SING
0:56:39 > 0:56:42But, also, it is really one of those exciting days for conservation.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44CHANTING AND CLAPPING
0:56:44 > 0:56:47This is the just the beginning.
0:56:47 > 0:56:49The Ugandan team will now continue their mission
0:56:49 > 0:56:53to save giraffes and other endangered animals
0:56:53 > 0:56:55across the entire country.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57THEY SING
0:57:01 > 0:57:04For Julian and Steph, it's a very personal moment.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09After 15 years of hard and dangerous work,
0:57:09 > 0:57:12they can finally see the tide starting to turn.
0:57:14 > 0:57:16'If you had that moment every day,
0:57:16 > 0:57:19'I don't reckon you'd be able to sustain yourself.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22'My heart wouldn't be able to survive, let's be honest.'
0:57:22 > 0:57:25- LUCA:- 'Melvyn was the funny one with the funny lips.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29'I miss him now, but at least he's not in a zoo.'
0:57:32 > 0:57:35- STEPH:- 'We did that, we actually made a difference here.
0:57:35 > 0:57:37'And I think that is something really amazing.
0:57:37 > 0:57:40'And not too many people can say, in their lives,
0:57:40 > 0:57:43'that they actually have made a difference.'
0:57:46 > 0:57:49Over the coming months, the giraffes range far and wide.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54The readings from their GPS collars
0:57:54 > 0:57:56show them travelling hundreds of miles,
0:57:56 > 0:57:58as they explore their new home.
0:58:01 > 0:58:03The team are planning more translocations
0:58:03 > 0:58:05to further swell the colony...
0:58:06 > 0:58:09..and soon they hope that new giraffe calves
0:58:09 > 0:58:11will be born on both sides of the Nile.
0:58:15 > 0:58:18Across the continent, Julian and the team
0:58:18 > 0:58:21are working closely with African governments
0:58:21 > 0:58:25and the people who live alongside these gentle giants
0:58:25 > 0:58:27to secure a better future for all giraffe.
0:58:54 > 0:58:57CHANTING AND CLAPPING
0:58:57 > 0:58:59LAUGHTER