0:00:10 > 0:00:14In the heart of South East Asia is an ancient kingdom.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20With over 3,000km of coastline.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27But beyond its golden shores
0:00:27 > 0:00:29there are secret worlds.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Home to mysterious creatures...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43..and forest giants.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54This is a fast-changing country
0:00:54 > 0:00:56where East and West collide.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08People and animals must work together to survive.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Forming unique relationships.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20A spiritual land...
0:01:21 > 0:01:23..full of magic and wonder.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33This is Thailand.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50Each morning,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53a magical chorus rings through the forests
0:01:53 > 0:01:56of Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17The cry of the lar gibbon bonds males and females.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21ANIMAL CALLS
0:02:23 > 0:02:27These intelligent apes often pair for life
0:02:27 > 0:02:31and advertise their territorial rights with song.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38In their forest sanctuary, this cream-coloured male
0:02:38 > 0:02:42and his dark-haired mate are raising a youngster.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Grooming helps keep family bonds strong
0:03:00 > 0:03:03for the ten or more years they'll stay together.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Finding food is the next priority.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26And it's not always easy.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30It requires an intimate knowledge of their patch of forest.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Building momentum helps them swing from tree to tree
0:03:43 > 0:03:46at speeds of more than 50km per hour.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Following memory maps of highways through the tree tops,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13the gibbons find the perfect places to forage.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21But sometimes a gibbon highway meets a human highway.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35When the fruiting trees are on the other side,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37there's a big problem.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Gibbons are strictly arboreal.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45So they're reluctant to leave the trees
0:04:45 > 0:04:48and are vulnerable on the ground.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Crossing a busy road on foot would be too dangerous.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06No-one passing below this rope bridge gives it a second thought.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09But, for the gibbons, it's a lifeline.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35The rope bridge allows the park's gibbons
0:05:35 > 0:05:38to access fresh feeding grounds.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00The devoted couple have located a fruiting fig tree.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Time for a lazy breakfast.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Their lives have been made just a little bit safer
0:06:25 > 0:06:27by a human helping hand.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Life in one of Asia's fastest-changing countries
0:06:39 > 0:06:43means people and animals are finding new ways to get along.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51Central Thailand is the richest and most productive region.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Its fertile flood plains nourish rice fields
0:06:58 > 0:07:01that cover 40% of all the farmland.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Where the land meets the Gulf of Thailand...
0:07:08 > 0:07:11..lies the great city of Bangkok.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Around 8 million people live in the nation's capital.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29And this bustling central region is known as the nation's rice bowl.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Even here, there are magical places to be found,
0:07:35 > 0:07:36hidden from view...
0:07:39 > 0:07:43..where age-old beliefs and traditional practices live on...
0:07:45 > 0:07:49..and time seems to have stood still.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00Phraya Nakhon Cave was discovered some 200 years ago,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03when Thailand was still known as Siam.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16Thai kings have visited this cavern for centuries.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22The Royal Pavilion crowns this mystical place.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Spirituality is the key to understanding
0:08:33 > 0:08:36central Thailand's harmonious relationship with nature.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48This Lyle's flying fox is waiting out the heat of the day.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54And he's not alone.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05With leathery wings nearly a metre wide,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09he can fly 30km or more in search of fruit.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14These flying foxes are often regarded as pests,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18destroying orchards and causing conflict with farmers.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30But this bat and his colony are special.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34They are under Buddha's own protection.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45This is the temple of Wat Pho Bang Khla.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51HE BANGS DRUM
0:09:52 > 0:09:54As dusk approaches,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58the resident monks are called to prayer by the beat of a drum.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04But the bats have heard it all before.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Here, the spiritual and animal kingdoms are united.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14MONKS CHANT
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Buddhism is the religion of more than 90% of Thai people,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26profoundly influencing their everyday lives.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Buddhist teachings state that
0:10:31 > 0:10:34all living things are worthy of kindness,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37compassion and tolerance.
0:10:48 > 0:10:54This very tolerant place is known as the Bat Temple.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00It's the daytime residence of 6,000 or more flying foxes.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Leaving their sanctuary to forage far away,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15they'll return at dawn to this spiritual haven.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40The natural world features prominently
0:11:40 > 0:11:42in Thai religion and mythology.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46The lotus is linked to Buddha himself.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55In shallow lakes to the west of Bangkok,
0:11:55 > 0:11:59tightly-filled buds rise on slender stems
0:11:59 > 0:12:02as if craning their necks to the heavens.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14The contrast of the blooms to the muddy water
0:12:14 > 0:12:19inspired Buddha to use the lotus as a symbol of enlightenment.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24The passage from darkness to light,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26ignorance to wisdom.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Yukha spends every day in the watery fields
0:12:32 > 0:12:34plucking the stems.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Almost every part of the lotus is edible,
0:12:49 > 0:12:54and the petals, roots and stamens are used in traditional medicine.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01By dawn the next day, these bouquets will be on sale in Bangkok.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04But not as ingredients for food or pharmacy,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07they are destined for a higher purpose.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15The lotus bud is one of the most popular ways to pay tribute
0:13:15 > 0:13:18at one of more than 30,000 temples.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Embracing both Buddhist and Hindu principles,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37people make daily offerings to honour the gods.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47This shrine is named after Erawan -
0:13:47 > 0:13:51the elephant that carried the Hindu god Indra,
0:13:51 > 0:13:55so he deserves a floral offering too.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10Here in Thailand, one animal's fate is intertwined more than any other
0:14:10 > 0:14:14with the country's history and its future.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30The Asian elephant.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41It has been revered for centuries.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Even the word for its dung also means moon.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48A new beginning, the propagator.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Creating new life from seed dispersal.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06But the story of elephants in Thailand is not always a happy one.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14There are more than 4,000 of these giants in captivity.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16And most visitors to Thailand
0:15:16 > 0:15:20take a ride on a domesticated elephant for granted.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35At Sublangka Wildlife Sanctuary,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39a new life is offered to elephants rescued from the tourist trade.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48The Elephant Reintroduction Foundation
0:15:48 > 0:15:51releases rehabilitated elephants back into the forest.
0:16:00 > 0:16:0531-year-old Wadsana was bought by the sanctuary in 2011.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Four years later, a calf called Earn arrived.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14And they have been inseparable ever since.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Earn and her adopted mother are now taken
0:16:21 > 0:16:23on regular walks in the forest.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36To be ready for their release,
0:16:36 > 0:16:40they'll need to be familiar with its sights, sounds and smells,
0:16:40 > 0:16:45know where to find water, and what they can and can't eat.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57Annan is a former mahout, an elephant trainer and rider.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00He is now one of the team of rangers
0:17:00 > 0:17:02responsible for the daily care of the elephants.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05IN THAI:
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Wadsana and Earn will soon be ready to join
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Sublangka's growing population of elephants.
0:17:32 > 0:17:38And for when the day arrives, a royal send-off is being planned.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45300km south-west of Bangkok
0:17:45 > 0:17:48lies the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52The plains flood during the rainy season,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and with the waters come rich deposits of silt.
0:17:59 > 0:18:04These fertile fields not only fill the rice bowls of a nation,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07they also provide a major export.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12So, for farmers, living side-by-side with animals is a delicate balance.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Chestnut munias do their best to steal the rice grains
0:18:22 > 0:18:24ripening in the paddy fields.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28And the farmers chase them away,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30just as they always have.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Open-billed storks were once hunted by villagers for food.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57But in the 1980s, golden apple snails were introduced to Asia
0:18:57 > 0:19:02from South America, and became a major agricultural pest.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Suddenly, the storks became the farmers' friends.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10They are snail specialists.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16So they are left to forage in peace.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Local farmer Uncle Alf is draining a pool.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Fish are abundant among the paddies.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Family and friends muck in to help with the catch.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53These freshwater fish were trapped here
0:19:53 > 0:19:57when floodwaters receded at the end of the last rainy season.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Scooping them up by hand is the way it's always been done.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15But sometimes the fish make it easy for you.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19LAUGHTER
0:20:22 > 0:20:26The harvested fish will be sold at the market,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and the little egrets are welcome to any left behind.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40There's one kind of fish that is highly prized
0:20:40 > 0:20:42across central Thailand.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45But not as food.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53And these village boys are out to catch some.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01BOYS CHATTER
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Here's what they're after -
0:21:20 > 0:21:25a fish that's admired for showing no fear in defence of its territory.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45The Betta fish is better known as the Siamese fighting fish.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53They share their fearless reputation
0:21:53 > 0:21:56with the gladiators of the ancient martial art of Muay Thai.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Or Thai boxing.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Top fighters can become household names...
0:22:10 > 0:22:14earning millions of Thai baht per fight.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Fortunes can be won or lost on the outcome.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26The opponents size each other up.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33The fish extend their fins to make themselves look bigger.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45When one fish is slipped into the bottle of the other,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49their true nature as born fighters is revealed.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51BELL RINGS
0:23:28 > 0:23:30A knockout ends this bout...
0:23:31 > 0:23:32..and the fish fight is over
0:23:32 > 0:23:35when one retreats to the bottom of the bottle.
0:23:35 > 0:23:40Tomorrow, both fish will be returned to the wild.
0:23:48 > 0:23:55For centuries, Siamese fighting fish have been admired as prize-fighters,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59but selective breeding to enhance colour, tail and fins
0:23:59 > 0:24:03has also made them into exquisite objects of desire.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Photographer Visarute is well known in Thailand
0:24:12 > 0:24:17for his photographs capturing their silky sensuousness.
0:24:42 > 0:24:49Extreme slow motion reveals their dance in all its willowy grace.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14These little fish loom large in Thai culture...
0:25:17 > 0:25:21..epitomising the exoticism of this country.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Food is a huge part of Thai culture.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47But among the more familiar ingredients
0:25:47 > 0:25:51in Thailand's food markets are some unexpected delicacies.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Wi Li has bought this supper of live crickets to feed her family.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Insects have long been on the menu in Thailand.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52And the children love these crispy bugs.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02But thieves lurk in the shadows.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17The soles of their feet are covered in microscopic bristles
0:27:17 > 0:27:19that split into hundreds more,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21gripping every surface.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31It's one of the largest geckos in the world.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34The tokay.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40A gecko might steal a meal or two,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44but they also help get rid of unwelcome insects.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Geckos evolved to climb trees and rocks,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04so scaling a wall is no problem.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20At up to 35 centimetres long,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23they're big lizards with big appetites.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51Thai people may be accustomed to large lizards in their houses...
0:28:53 > 0:28:57..but some giants make more intimidating neighbours.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Lumphini Park in the heart of Bangkok.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08An oasis of green amid the daytime bustle.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12But something's not quite right
0:29:12 > 0:29:16with this picture of carefully tended tranquillity.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24There's danger in this urban paradise.
0:29:36 > 0:29:42Huge lizards, called water monitors, stalk these lawns.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54Water monitors can reach more than three metres in length
0:29:54 > 0:29:57and weigh over 50kg.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11These lizards are exclusively carnivorous.
0:30:11 > 0:30:16They even dispose of the remains of less fortunate monitor lizards,
0:30:16 > 0:30:19which may win them a few friends.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Razor-sharp teeth and germ-laden saliva
0:30:25 > 0:30:28can inflict life-threatening wounds.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33But water monitors rarely bite humans.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40The reaction to these latter-day dinosaurs is typically Thai.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47Their attitude, when it comes to potentially lethal lizards
0:30:47 > 0:30:51sharing public spaces, is summed up by one of their favourite
0:30:51 > 0:30:55Buddhism-inspired expressions - mai pen rai -
0:30:55 > 0:30:57it's fine.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01Just be calm, carefree, and we can all get along.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20Some Buddhist teachings advise that things are best left alone.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26But they also may urge direct action to preserve the natural world.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Like symbolically ordaining trees as monks,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41complete with robes,
0:31:41 > 0:31:44as a sort of spiritual preservation order.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Other Buddhist ceremonies can also benefit nature.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03And for Wadsana and Earn, it's a very special day.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08SINGING OVER MICROPHONE
0:32:10 > 0:32:14Making merit is a way of earning celestial favour
0:32:14 > 0:32:16for doing a good deed.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23It might be giving alms to a monk, chanting Buddhist scripture,
0:32:23 > 0:32:27or releasing an animal into the wild.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31As befits their size and place in Thai culture,
0:32:31 > 0:32:36to release an elephant is one of the highest forms of making merit.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43Today, six will be set free,
0:32:43 > 0:32:45six elephants for the 60th birthday
0:32:45 > 0:32:49of Thailand's much-loved Princess Sirindhorn.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16It's a very big day for a little elephant like Earn.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19She has to face the crowds of well-wishers.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25And Annan has even taught her to bow for the Princess.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39The Princess blesses them with holy water.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52She offers them each a stick or two of sugar cane for their journey,
0:33:52 > 0:33:54and they are free.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14Annan and the team of rangers will continue to monitor their progress.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29There's already a herd of previously released elephants
0:34:29 > 0:34:31roaming the forest.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36Hopefully, in time, Wadsana and Earn will join up with them.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40But first, they need to get used to life without Annan.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51Elephants have always occupied a special place in Thai mythology.
0:34:52 > 0:34:56But other animals share that mythical status.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00And some are a lot harder to get along with.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08In rural Sakaerat, north-east of Bangkok,
0:35:08 > 0:35:13a lethal conflict is taking place between villagers and snakes.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27There are more than 175 snake species in Thailand.
0:35:29 > 0:35:35This little Asian vine snake is one of more than 100 that are venomous.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40And more than half of those are highly dangerous.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47There are up to 10,000 snake bites per year in Thailand.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50And one type of snake bites more people
0:35:50 > 0:35:52than all the other snakes put together.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59This roadside community is typical of rural Thailand.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Running through its centre
0:36:02 > 0:36:06is a river that dries up entirely in the hot season.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18As night falls, it becomes a perilous place,
0:36:18 > 0:36:20haunted by predators.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30Pit vipers.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35Barely 60 centimetres long,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39this green pit viper is making its way to a site
0:36:39 > 0:36:42where it can ambush frogs, lizards or mice.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48It's all too easy for someone passing by
0:36:48 > 0:36:52to brush dangerously close to this striking little snake.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Snakes are often killed on sight,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07but there's a snake conservation team here
0:37:07 > 0:37:10that is trying to save the snakes and people
0:37:10 > 0:37:12in the Sakaerat area and beyond.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19A call has come in that a huge king cobra has tried to enter a house,
0:37:19 > 0:37:22and has taken refuge in a potted shrub.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36Colin Strine, head of the snake team, assesses the situation.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Stet back, step back, step back.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42It's one of the world's most deadly snakes.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46OK, I'm going to go ahead and make the grab now.
0:37:48 > 0:37:53I'm trying to bring out the vines that it's grabbing onto.
0:37:53 > 0:37:58The bite of a king can deliver enough venom to kill an elephant.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00So there's no room for error.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Here we go, here we go. Go, go, go.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- Grip now, grip now, please.- OK. - Good.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11Good job.
0:38:13 > 0:38:14Release, let go.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17OK.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21If this snake had not been rescued, the locals would have felt
0:38:21 > 0:38:23they had no choice but to kill it.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31Bagged and boxed, the cobra will be taken back
0:38:31 > 0:38:32to the conservation centre.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Nice and easy. We don't see any parasites. OK.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Snakes that are brought in by the team are given a sedative
0:38:46 > 0:38:48prior to a thorough health check.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53Measurements are taken for the team's research.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Perfectly natural, and it's quite common with humans
0:38:57 > 0:39:00to be very fearful of snakes.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03I guess we should just be really happy
0:39:03 > 0:39:07that they were willing to call instead of just killing it.
0:39:07 > 0:39:13We do work pretty hard to try and educate people about snakes,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15and about not to be afraid of them.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20The king cobra is the longest of all venomous snakes
0:39:20 > 0:39:24and reaches close to six metres in length.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30This male is a mere three-and-a-half metres.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36The sleeping king is inflated.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40The long lungs running down his body are full of anaesthetic
0:39:40 > 0:39:45which has to be manually forced out before he can come around.
0:39:52 > 0:39:57It's crucial that rescued snakes are returned to their own territories,
0:39:57 > 0:39:59so they're given time to recover fully
0:39:59 > 0:40:02before being released a short distance from their capture sites.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13For Colin, every king safely returned to its territory
0:40:13 > 0:40:15is a success story.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21It feels good, because they're still alive.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24It's always a pleasant feeling when they're going back into the wild.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37Some Thai people believe that encountering a snake
0:40:37 > 0:40:40is a sign of good luck and good fortune...
0:40:43 > 0:40:46..though it might be best to avoid sharing the water with one.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53The ancient serpent cult of this region teaches
0:40:53 > 0:40:56that the wealth of Thailand was bestowed upon it
0:40:56 > 0:40:58by the Naga snake spirits,
0:40:58 > 0:41:01living in the kingdom's waterways.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10For centuries, these waterways have helped transport
0:41:10 > 0:41:13people and goods around Thailand.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23At watery crossroads, floating markets sprang up everywhere.
0:41:39 > 0:41:45These days, modern commerce is fast replacing the traditional.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51But an amiable armada of old women, vessels laden with local produce,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54still invades Tha Kha, west of Bangkok,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57to buy and sell from boat to boat.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11The lowlands of central Thailand
0:42:11 > 0:42:14have long been the agricultural heart of the country.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20A network of canals was constructed to link rivers
0:42:20 > 0:42:23and allow the transportation of goods
0:42:23 > 0:42:27east from Cambodia and south-west from coastal provinces.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32During the rainy season,
0:42:32 > 0:42:36fertile sediment washes down these waterways,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39eventually reaching the Gulf of Thailand.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46As the monsoon subsides, the sea teems with life.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51The waters are ripe for harvest.
0:42:51 > 0:42:57And one of the largest yield comes in the form of a very small fish.
0:43:02 > 0:43:07It's anchovy season at fishing villages all along the Gulf Coast.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12The daily catch is deftly filleted
0:43:12 > 0:43:15and neatly laid out to dry in the sun.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25This must take place before the fish start to spoil.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28So everyone plays a part in the process.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39Once the sun and breeze have done their work,
0:43:39 > 0:43:42the dried fish will keep for up to a year.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58There's plenty for everyone in this seasonal pay-out.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08Flocks of terns are always ready to cash in.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18But a much larger fisherman has arrived in these waters.
0:44:26 > 0:44:31The locals call it chao pho lai, meaning very big grandfather.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37A 15-metre-long Bryde's whale.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46Whales are thought to bring good luck,
0:44:46 > 0:44:50but locals believe that bad things happen to those who harm them.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56Chao pho lai is also the name for Thai mafia.
0:44:56 > 0:44:58Godfathers.
0:45:02 > 0:45:07From August to December, the whales gather in the Gulf of Thailand
0:45:07 > 0:45:10to make the most of the abundant anchovies.
0:45:12 > 0:45:13They usually feed alone,
0:45:13 > 0:45:16though a mother and calf will hunt together.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34These two have located a school of anchovies.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50Like other whales in the rorqual family,
0:45:50 > 0:45:53such as blue and humpback whales,
0:45:53 > 0:45:56Bryde's whales sieve each monumental mouthful
0:45:56 > 0:46:02through long, coarse bristles called baleen.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04At least, that's how it usually works.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09These whales are exhibiting behaviour
0:46:09 > 0:46:12that is puzzling marine biologists.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27Some think the anchovies are too small,
0:46:27 > 0:46:31and would slip through the coarse baleen of the Bryde's.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34So the whales rock and swill the fish to the back of the gullet
0:46:34 > 0:46:36so they can swallow them.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59In other parts of the world where they feed on larger fish,
0:46:59 > 0:47:02Bryde's whales don't use this method.
0:47:02 > 0:47:06But here they seem to have developed a unique way of making the most
0:47:06 > 0:47:08of Thailand's fertile waters.
0:47:18 > 0:47:23These giants of the sea are treated with respect and reverence.
0:47:40 > 0:47:46In central Thailand, the giants of the forest are gaining freedom
0:47:46 > 0:47:48and ever more footholds in the wild.
0:47:53 > 0:47:58The little elephant family is learning to live on its own.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26Climbing a tall and slippery bank could be dangerous for Earn.
0:48:27 > 0:48:29But Wadsana shows her how,
0:48:29 > 0:48:32ascending the slope on her knees.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51It looks like Earn's going to be just fine.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00The rangers follow the elephants regularly,
0:49:00 > 0:49:02checking to make sure they are healthy
0:49:02 > 0:49:05and learning to feed themselves successfully.
0:49:23 > 0:49:27Annan will never come into close contact with them again.
0:49:27 > 0:49:32They'll now live out their lives in the forest as wild elephants.
0:49:55 > 0:49:59The Asian elephant is the enduring symbol of Thailand.
0:50:00 > 0:50:05At Sublangka, their breeding herd in the wild is also a symbol
0:50:05 > 0:50:08of Thailand's transition from past to present.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13Making merit and earning goodwill from the gods,
0:50:13 > 0:50:16means also renewing the forest.
0:50:28 > 0:50:33In the forests, fields, and even the cities of central Thailand,
0:50:33 > 0:50:38nature thrives, with the blessing and help of its people.
0:50:48 > 0:50:53Unique, spiritual and still untamed.
0:50:56 > 0:51:01The ancient bonds between humans and animals live on.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18During the filming of the central Thailand episode,
0:51:18 > 0:51:20the crew visited Sakaerat,
0:51:20 > 0:51:24a hot spot for conflict between humans and snakes.
0:51:27 > 0:51:32The one creature they really wanted to film was a very pretty snake
0:51:32 > 0:51:34with a very bad reputation.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41It's a snake that has been carefully studied
0:51:41 > 0:51:44here at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46These will put you in hospital.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52Producer Steve Cole is introduced to the serpent in question
0:51:52 > 0:51:55by snake research assistant Ben Marshall.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59These guys are responsible for the vast majority of bites in Thailand.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01They are beautiful, aren't they?
0:52:01 > 0:52:03It's a green pit viper.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05How far would that snake strike?
0:52:05 > 0:52:09Is it a she? Would she expect me to be a lot closer before she...
0:52:09 > 0:52:11Yeah, much closer, and a lot more agitated.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14These guys are not going to waste their time, waste their venom,
0:52:14 > 0:52:16they will attempt to hide.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19They will attempt to just stay absolutely still.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23It sounds like the sort of snake we might have some hope of filming!
0:52:23 > 0:52:25Absolutely. Especially when you find one,
0:52:25 > 0:52:27cos he's not going to be going anywhere.
0:52:29 > 0:52:34Finding these creatures in the wild can be both difficult and dangerous.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38But, luckily for Steve, this team rescues and releases
0:52:38 > 0:52:40the types of venomous snake
0:52:40 > 0:52:43that most often come into conflict with people.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47Many of these are radio tagged
0:52:47 > 0:52:50to provide data on their habits and whereabouts.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52I keep thinking she, but I could be wrong.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55It's this inside info that Steve needs.
0:52:56 > 0:53:01And snake researcher Sammy Assad is here to guide the film team.
0:53:04 > 0:53:08Three tagged pit vipers have made this dry riverbed their home.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14They don't move around much, so they should be easy to find.
0:53:14 > 0:53:15That's the theory.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24Green pit vipers hunt under the cover of darkness.
0:53:27 > 0:53:31Sammy quickly picks up the signal of one of the transmitters.
0:53:37 > 0:53:38So, at the moment,
0:53:38 > 0:53:41it's sounding like he's just within the base
0:53:41 > 0:53:43of this, kind of, liana vegetation covered tree.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48I'd definitely be careful moving around here,
0:53:48 > 0:53:50cos there are lots of other green pit vipers in the area.
0:53:50 > 0:53:52So if you're going to walk around,
0:53:52 > 0:53:54make sure you've got a head torch on.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00After checking he's not about to have his very own snake conflict,
0:54:00 > 0:54:03cameraman Si Wagen sets up lights.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08I can see him now.
0:54:10 > 0:54:11Got him.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13Ah, fantastic!
0:54:15 > 0:54:17In this tangle of twigs and branches,
0:54:17 > 0:54:20you can just see his coils there.
0:54:20 > 0:54:21The scales.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24It's impossible to pick out his head at the moment.
0:54:26 > 0:54:28They just blend in so beautifully,
0:54:28 > 0:54:32it's almost impossible to see them in this tangle of leaves.
0:54:35 > 0:54:36But if he stays there,
0:54:36 > 0:54:38we won't be able to get a good shot of him.
0:54:40 > 0:54:43The pit viper showed no sign of moving,
0:54:43 > 0:54:47so the team come back to the same location the next night.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52They hope to find a more accessible snake.
0:54:56 > 0:54:57So...
0:55:00 > 0:55:02It's amazing that our light doesn't bother him,
0:55:02 > 0:55:04but it seems like his method of defence
0:55:04 > 0:55:07is the same as his method of attack.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Just keep very still.
0:55:11 > 0:55:16Now, they have seen for themselves how still pit vipers can be,
0:55:16 > 0:55:20they have an even more complicated shot in mind.
0:55:20 > 0:55:24We are going to try to get a motion-control camera shot.
0:55:26 > 0:55:29Motion control cameras run along small tracks,
0:55:29 > 0:55:33allowing smooth moves into a subject.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36In this case, Steve is hoping they can create the feel
0:55:36 > 0:55:38of a striking snake
0:55:38 > 0:55:41without the danger of an actual snake attack.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45I've no idea even if it's pointing in the right direction.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47No, it's not.
0:55:50 > 0:55:52It's trickier than we thought.
0:55:52 > 0:55:54I always thought it would be tricky!
0:55:54 > 0:55:57I, on the other hand, was an optimist.
0:55:57 > 0:55:58Wrongly so!
0:56:00 > 0:56:03The problem is, the focus has to be pin sharp
0:56:03 > 0:56:06at the closest point to the snake.
0:56:06 > 0:56:07I can't quite achieve focus there.
0:56:07 > 0:56:12And that means the camera is well inside the snake's striking range.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14I physically have to get closer to it.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33To get focus,
0:56:33 > 0:56:35I'm going to have to put my hand right next to its face.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38- You can't do that.- No. So I'm going to guess the focus.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41And then run it back and forwards
0:56:41 > 0:56:44until such time as we get the focus correct.
0:56:45 > 0:56:49OK, so... We're going to have to inch forward.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53Once Si has set the focus as close to the snake as possible,
0:56:53 > 0:56:58he has to stop the camera in exactly the right spot.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01I've got about 3mm to park this camera.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05The depth of field at point of focus is so shallow
0:57:05 > 0:57:08there's no margin for error.
0:57:14 > 0:57:17Right, Steve, here we go.
0:57:23 > 0:57:24Well, that's sharp.
0:57:24 > 0:57:26Spot on.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32I think that's about as close as we're going to get.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35It's closer than I thought we'd be able to get,
0:57:35 > 0:57:37and he's been very patient,
0:57:37 > 0:57:40so I think it's time for us to leave him alone now.
0:57:40 > 0:57:43He's also paying way too much attention me now.
0:57:44 > 0:57:47And I don't like that! He's only little, but he's scary.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53The team has got the shot.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57The green pit viper finds a less busy place to hunt,
0:57:57 > 0:57:59and speeded up,
0:57:59 > 0:58:01the shot is suitably striking.
0:58:07 > 0:58:11Next time, we head to Thailand's untamed north,
0:58:11 > 0:58:16where mysterious cloud forests are home to ancient customs.
0:58:17 > 0:58:19Here, life can be tough.
0:58:19 > 0:58:23And survival means forging unexpected alliances.
0:58:27 > 0:58:28Both old...
0:58:29 > 0:58:31..and new.