0:00:02 > 0:00:04The monsoon.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06The greatest weather system on Earth.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10THUNDER CLAPS
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Giver of life.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16And the destroyer.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Shaping magical lands,
0:00:21 > 0:00:23from the Himalayas
0:00:23 > 0:00:25to Australia.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Its impact felt by giants...
0:00:29 > 0:00:33the exquisite...and the bizarre.
0:00:33 > 0:00:39Where spectacular nature meets the planet's most vibrant cultures.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47The rains brought a time of plenty...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49a time of new life.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56But this is the story of the other side of the monsoon...
0:00:56 > 0:00:59of what happens when the rains are gone.
0:00:59 > 0:01:04When animals and people must prove their resilience...
0:01:09 > 0:01:12..and confront the challenges...
0:01:12 > 0:01:14of the dry season.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Australia's Red Centre,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40a land of near-permanent drought.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49But once in a while, in exceptional years,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53monsoon rains penetrate even this far south.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59Back in the summer, the monsoon drove the rain deep into the desert.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07Now, in the dry season, a legacy of grass and seeds remains.
0:02:09 > 0:02:15A feast...for budgerigars.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Thousands of budgerigars.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52Now, their problem is not food, but finding water.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04They scan the parched land for an oasis.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11A rancher's wind pump draws up water from deep below ground.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18It's a magnet for everyone.
0:03:49 > 0:03:5180,000 budgies on the wing.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09And shadowing them constantly - predators.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Black falcons.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Brown falcons.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Australian hobbies.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49A confusing swirl of yellow and green.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52For the raptors to make a kill,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55they must make sense of this kaleidoscope.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32To single out a target, they patrol the edges of the flock.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10But now there's a greater threat.
0:06:11 > 0:06:17The lush vegetation created by the monsoon is tinder-dry.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Wildfire.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45The grass that fuelled the budgie boom now feeds the flames...
0:06:56 > 0:07:00That's the real impact of the dry season.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03It forces animals to move constantly.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11The search for food and water never seems to end.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26The dry season has a profound effect across all the lands of the monsoon.
0:07:28 > 0:07:34Even on the lush tropical islands to the north.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Here, the wet season brought torrential downpours every day.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Now, rainfall has dropped by 70%.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Most of the trees will not fruit until the rain's return.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09The forest still looks green...
0:08:13 > 0:08:16but food is much harder to come by.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23For a young bearded pig, these are the tough times.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Whilst there's still food in the canopy, little reaches
0:08:27 > 0:08:29the forest floor.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32PIG SQUEALS
0:08:36 > 0:08:41And for a youngster, every scrap must be fought for.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45There's always a bigger pig.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49PIGS SQUEAL AND GRUNT
0:09:02 > 0:09:04So, what's a pig to do
0:09:04 > 0:09:06when there's no food at home?
0:09:09 > 0:09:15He steps out of the forest... and into a different world.
0:09:19 > 0:09:25The seashore is ruled not by rain and drought, but by the tides.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Perhaps, there's a chance of food out here.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58Sand bubbler crabs turn over the beach as they scavenge for scraps.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02But these crabs are no bigger than peas.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Simply not worth bothering with.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12A hungry pig needs something more substantial.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23A hermit crab.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Now, that could make a good meal.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38..if only it could be opened...
0:11:04 > 0:11:09Finally, a crab that's not too small and not too strong.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17A ghost crab is just right.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45An escape burrow appears to offer salvation.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49But pigs have keen noses.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53And this nose also doubles as a shovel.
0:12:12 > 0:12:18And to round off his beachcombing, jelly for desert.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37When the monsoon rains return, the resourceful pig will have a glut
0:12:37 > 0:12:40of food back in his forest home.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43But there are lean months ahead.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46The dry season has only just begun.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53India.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Here, the monsoon winds that brought the rains have now reversed,
0:12:57 > 0:13:02bringing cool dry air from the north.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05In the desert state of Rajasthan, the last rain
0:13:05 > 0:13:08fell two months ago.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Surprisingly, for the people and animals who live here,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23these are the good times.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27It's the perfect weather...
0:13:27 > 0:13:29for camels.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37The brief rains brought a spray of green to the desert.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41And now the animals are in peak condition.
0:13:44 > 0:13:50For nomadic herders Sukhram and Surja Ram, it's time to sell.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59They're heading for the biggest event of the year.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09This is Pushkar.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19It's a small oasis town...
0:14:27 > 0:14:31..but at this time of year, the population balloons...
0:14:34 > 0:14:39..as Pushkar is home to the largest camel fair in the world.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57The fair attracts herders from hundreds of miles around.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02Ten days, 300,000 people...
0:15:04 > 0:15:06..and 20,000 camels.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Anyone who's anyone is here,
0:15:18 > 0:15:22all of them in search of a bargain.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30Some owners will do anything to catch the buyer's eye.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36But Sukhram is so confident,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39that a few well-placed garlands will suffice.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Prospective buyers try to find faults.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51in an attempt to barter down the price.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53CAMEL GROWLS
0:15:54 > 0:16:00They even take the animal for a test drive.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11Token amounts of money are offered...and respectfully declined.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16THEY SPEAK IN HINDI
0:16:16 > 0:16:21Sukhram has no intention of making a quick sale.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Negotiations can go on for days,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35and he's holding out for the very best price.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Sukhram's family are dependent on him.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53He must make enough money to feed them through the dry
0:16:53 > 0:16:54months ahead.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Sukhram holds his nerve for four days.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12At last, he seems to be closing on a deal.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30A result.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33The equivalent of £300.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42Then it's off, back into the desert.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47They've made the most of the good times.
0:17:47 > 0:17:53Now, they must face the seven months of drought that lie ahead.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08DEEP RUMBLING
0:18:12 > 0:18:16In Sri Lanka, there are animals less well adapted to the dry season.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26This family of elephants can no longer
0:18:26 > 0:18:28find enough to eat in their forest.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31But they remember where to go.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42All over the island, elephants are on the move.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59DEEP RUMBLING
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Minneriya Lake.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Within weeks, it will host
0:19:08 > 0:19:12the largest gathering of Asian elephants in the world.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21Each year in the dry season, up to 300 gather on its shores.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38The lake is crucial for their survival.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45As the water recedes,
0:19:45 > 0:19:50it reveals fertile ground where fresh grass starts to grow.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18Elephants have been coming to this spot for at least 2,000 years.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23This vast lake and others like it
0:20:23 > 0:20:27are actually ancient man-made reservoirs.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37In Sri Lanka,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40access to water has always depended on the monsoon rains.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54For thousands of years, kingdoms and dynasties
0:20:54 > 0:20:58were founded on architecture that best captured the rains.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11With a reliable source of water all year round,
0:21:11 > 0:21:16these ancient cities grew in size and sophistication.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Culture and religion flourished.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30INAUDIBLE
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Kings of old built vast reservoirs.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50This reached its height 800 years ago with King Parakrama the Great.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56During his reign, he built almost 3,000 reservoirs.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Including the largest in the ancient world -
0:22:01 > 0:22:03the Sea of Parakrama.
0:22:15 > 0:22:21The King declared, "Let not one drop of rain reach the sea
0:22:21 > 0:22:23"without benefiting man."
0:22:24 > 0:22:27THUNDER RUMBLING
0:22:31 > 0:22:33WINDS WHISTLING
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Today, this ancient legacy lives on -
0:22:37 > 0:22:41even in the drought, Sri Lanka is a wetland paradise
0:22:41 > 0:22:45dotted with more than 10,000 lakes.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Almost all are man-made.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02The people who built these great civilisations might be long gone,
0:23:02 > 0:23:03but the ruins are not deserted.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Tribes of macaques have reclaimed them.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24As the dry season intensifies,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Sri Lanka's man-made reservoirs become a lifeline for animals.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Chital have to drink.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40But to do so they must risk their lives.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Mugger crocodiles.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51They know that food will come to water.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01The odds are shifting in favour of the hunters.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26As the heat of the day subsides, more animals become active.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33GROWLING
0:24:34 > 0:24:38A young leopard has recently left his mother to go it alone.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49The chances of him becoming top cat here are slim.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59He is inexperienced and has everything to learn.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31With the drought intensifying, the night shift is particularly busy.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36There should be plenty of opportunities for a young leopard.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Leopards have superb night vision.
0:25:48 > 0:25:49We do not.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54We must rely on infrared cameras
0:25:54 > 0:25:57to experience the leopard's night-time world.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Water still remains the focus of activity after dark.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24But now thirsty animals must beware of both crocs and leopards.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32FROG CROAKS
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Hunting takes practice.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00At first he appears indecisive.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04BARKING
0:27:08 > 0:27:12But stalking a jackal brings an unexpected bonus.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19The warm night air carries the scent of a recently killed chital stag.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27The jackal must work quickly to make the most of this chance.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33The leopard could chase him off the kill at any moment.
0:27:49 > 0:27:50BARKING
0:27:50 > 0:27:52The jackal runs,
0:27:52 > 0:27:56but it's not the youngster that's spooked him.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59The real owner of the carcass is returning.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05A huge adult male.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10GROWLING
0:28:11 > 0:28:14It might be a good idea to move on.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26A young sambar deer.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Another chance at a meal.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35But the undergrowth is bone dry.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45RUSTLING
0:28:50 > 0:28:51CRACKLING
0:28:58 > 0:29:00RUSTLING AND CRACKLING
0:29:01 > 0:29:05CHATTERING AND SCREECHING
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Rumbled.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14HOOTING AND HOWLING
0:29:22 > 0:29:26No-one said hunting was easy, especially in the dry season.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32Tonight this young leopard goes hungry.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43At least with the reservoir
0:29:43 > 0:29:47he has a good place to hone his hunting skills.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03Elsewhere, water is becoming increasingly scarce.
0:30:05 > 0:30:11At the heart of south-east Asia is a land of monsoon forests.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14But the last monsoon rains were five months ago.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Now hot, dry air sucks the moisture
0:30:28 > 0:30:32out of the land, the trees, everything.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38The drought is so severe that trees drop their leaves
0:30:38 > 0:30:41to save themselves from drying out completely.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52With no fodder until the rain returns,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54cattle are released into the forest
0:30:54 > 0:30:59so they can roam in search of what little food is left.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11FLIES BUZZING
0:31:12 > 0:31:15But the drought is just too tough for the weak.
0:31:24 > 0:31:25CAWING
0:31:27 > 0:31:29A cunning crow.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Always on the lookout for an easy meal.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40An entire cow, all to himself.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44But it's not that simple.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54The crow's beak can't puncture the hide.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06White-rumped vultures are no use.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11Not even these formidable-looking birds can open a carcass.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13SCREECHING
0:32:19 > 0:32:22They're all waiting for a specialist.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31The red-headed vulture.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45A sharp re-curved beak is perfect for opening the thick hide.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53The other birds will have to wait in line.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19Unless he does something about it,
0:33:19 > 0:33:21crow could lose out altogether.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34But this is a crow with a plan.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46He's going to start a fight.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19With the vultures distracted, crow makes his move.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29But he's too late.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Jackal spoils everything.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Now everyone must wait.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26The mob strips the carcass to the bone.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Everyone's had their fill.
0:35:41 > 0:35:42Except crow.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Poor old crow.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Too clever for his own good.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01As the drought wears on,
0:36:01 > 0:36:05every day, dryness and heat build.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Death stalks the parched land.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29But out of death grows new life.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35A litter of four desert foxes
0:36:35 > 0:36:38in the Rann of Kutch, Northern India.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45In the last monsoon, onshore winds were so strong
0:36:45 > 0:36:48that they pushed seawater deep inland,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51creating a vast salt marsh.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54But for the last six months,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58desiccating winds have blown from the north,
0:36:58 > 0:37:02leaving 12,000 square miles of barren salt pans.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09An area the size of Belgium.
0:37:12 > 0:37:18But for the enterprising, this is a land of opportunity.
0:37:18 > 0:37:19ENGINE APPROACHES
0:37:37 > 0:37:41The baking heat attracts seasonal migrant workers.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47They're here to exploit a rich harvest.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55The Kutch provides salt for almost a billion people.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57HORN HONKS
0:37:57 > 0:37:59Which means a lot of traffic.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08And a free lunch for the foxes.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11Roadkill is everywhere.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39With ready meals all around them, there's plenty of time to play.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00For now, life is good.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05But there's a change on the way.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16The days are getting longer.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28More sunshine begins to drive vast updrafts.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36The winds switch, sucking in moisture from the south.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46Now the humidity makes the heat even harder to bear.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54Most animals would do anything to get out of the sun.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59But one does the exact opposite.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11Indian blackbuck face the drought as the ultimate test of endurance.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16A display of resilience proves they are fit to mate.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27For this young buck, it's a chance to show his strength.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34He needs to secure a small patch of territory called a lek.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Anyone can have a lek in the dusty salt marsh.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52But nearby there's prime real estate, offering golden grasses.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00There are plenty of females, but also much more competition.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05To win a desirable lek, he's going to have to fight.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27GRUNTING
0:41:27 > 0:41:29He announces his arrival.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47This large buck already has the prime spot.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52He's in peak physical condition.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07He's so popular, the females jostle for his attention.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36The young buck isn't ready to take on the big guy just yet.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46For now, he'll sit it out on the sidelines.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54The temperature hits a searing 45 degrees.
0:42:56 > 0:43:00The resident must stick it out,
0:43:00 > 0:43:02exposed on the bare lek.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09Whilst the young buck takes time to build his energy.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23For now, he keeps his cool.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28But the heat is only one of the challenges
0:43:28 > 0:43:31competing males must face.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35The haze conceals another threat.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Indian wolves.
0:43:44 > 0:43:45They patrol the lekking ground,
0:43:45 > 0:43:48looking for signs of injury or exhaustion.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58For healthy bucks, it's a test of nerve -
0:43:58 > 0:44:01if they run, they lose their lek.
0:44:05 > 0:44:07The young buck sees an opportunity.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15His opponent looks weak from exposure to the sun.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24Fighting in the heat is the ultimate test.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29So the bucks battle at high noon.
0:44:48 > 0:44:52This is no time to pick up an injury.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54Any sign of weakness, and they'll pounce.
0:46:11 > 0:46:15The defeated resident makes a swift exit.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21Victory for the young buck.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30But this is only the first of many challenges.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45He still has to convince females that he's worth mating with.
0:46:47 > 0:46:52He can't do that until the lek takes on HIS scent...
0:46:53 > 0:46:56..and that will take weeks.
0:47:00 > 0:47:05Guarding his territory in the scorching sun.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17The drought is almost over.
0:47:22 > 0:47:25Humid winds bring the promise of rain.
0:47:33 > 0:47:37But first, Sukhram and Surja Ram must endure the most extreme
0:47:37 > 0:47:40consequence of the desert drought.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43They've been roaming the sands
0:47:43 > 0:47:45for seven long months.
0:47:50 > 0:47:56Now, daytime temperatures reach an unbearable 55 degrees.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Relief is on the way.
0:48:16 > 0:48:20But ahead of the rains comes the drought's last gasp...
0:48:23 > 0:48:24..dust.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31A storm is coming.
0:49:15 > 0:49:20The winds that now carry dust will soon bring monsoon rains.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25And the balance of life will change.
0:49:31 > 0:49:36Lush new growth will bring the parched land to life.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43The rains will come.
0:49:47 > 0:49:54An ancient cycle of renewal, as old as the land itself.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59THUNDER CRASHES
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18The Monsoon team have come
0:50:18 > 0:50:20to the home of the world's largest leopards.
0:50:23 > 0:50:25GROWLING
0:50:25 > 0:50:31The biggest, weighing in at almost 100 kilograms, is one-eyed Ivan.
0:50:34 > 0:50:36For me, Yala is the place to see leopards.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38It's the best place in the world.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42There are more leopards here than anywhere else on Earth,
0:50:42 > 0:50:45and the ambition is to film one of these big cats hunting.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51The trouble is that leopards hunt mostly at night.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58And if you're not a leopard, you're potential prey.
0:51:01 > 0:51:06With an open-backed vehicle and a variety of night-vision cameras,
0:51:06 > 0:51:08the team enter the park before dusk,
0:51:08 > 0:51:11hoping to encounter nature's
0:51:11 > 0:51:13ultimate night-time predator.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19The driver switches to night vision.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25The infrared car lights are invisible to the naked eye.
0:51:28 > 0:51:29So it's a very odd experience,
0:51:29 > 0:51:31we're driving along at night
0:51:31 > 0:51:32in, to our eyes, at least
0:51:32 > 0:51:35complete darkness.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38The driver is wearing night-vision goggles,
0:51:38 > 0:51:42but we've just heard they're not working very well, so...
0:51:42 > 0:51:44that's a little bit alarming!
0:51:50 > 0:51:52A waterhole.
0:51:54 > 0:51:59Infrared search lights scan for life.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04Nothing is drinking here.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08But this could be a good sign for the crew.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20A big male.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25On that first night when I saw that first leopard,
0:52:25 > 0:52:29I was taken aback by how big it was.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37But something's caught the leopard's attention.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46As it first started approaching,
0:52:46 > 0:52:49I was thinking, "Oh, wow, this'll make a really nice shot."
0:52:54 > 0:52:57We were using these tiny monitors to film and see the leopard,
0:52:57 > 0:53:01but what we didn't realise at the time was that those monitors
0:53:01 > 0:53:04were lighting us up like a Christmas tree.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07The only light in the darkness are our faces. I'm not surprised
0:53:07 > 0:53:10the cat was interested to come and have a closer look.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18That leopard was coming closer and closer.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21I remember turning to Paul Stewart and saying...
0:53:25 > 0:53:29Leopards can leap three metres in one bound.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32If it had wanted, it could've jumped in the back of the truck with us.
0:53:41 > 0:53:44- BLEEP.- That's close!
0:53:44 > 0:53:46It was when I tilted the camera down to that point
0:53:46 > 0:53:49that I realised the cat was right underneath us.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57That's when I started asking Paul...
0:54:01 > 0:54:02So I grabbed that, passed it to Paul,
0:54:02 > 0:54:05Paul flashed it up and that startled
0:54:05 > 0:54:09the leopard just enough that he headed off in another direction.
0:54:12 > 0:54:16That was kind of unwelcome, torn between filming a lovely stalking
0:54:16 > 0:54:17shot and thinking,
0:54:17 > 0:54:19we'll have the leopard on our lap in a minute!
0:54:19 > 0:54:22- Is anyone keeping an eye out? - I am. I've got it.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26If nothing else,
0:54:26 > 0:54:30it's a promising sign that this leopard is keen to hunt.
0:54:32 > 0:54:37But in the darkness, the big cat gives them the slip.
0:54:44 > 0:54:45Stop!
0:54:45 > 0:54:48Yeah, he's totally behind me.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51- Can we back up a bit more? - Back a little bit.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55What the driver didn't tell us was the back lights weren't working,
0:54:55 > 0:54:59and he was so keen to get us the shot, he reversed blind.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01TYRES SCREECH
0:55:01 > 0:55:03Wait, wait, stop!
0:55:03 > 0:55:04Stop! CRASH
0:55:10 > 0:55:14'I could feel my heart pounding. I didn't know what had happened.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17'All I knew was that the vehicle was tilting on its side.'
0:55:17 > 0:55:20In the darkness, they reversed off a bridge.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25'It was really, really worrying because
0:55:25 > 0:55:27we really didn't want to get out of that vehicle,'
0:55:27 > 0:55:29but we had no choice.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31Just keep scanning further...
0:55:31 > 0:55:33Radio for backup.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Jumping out the car in the middle of the night with a leopard
0:55:39 > 0:55:41on the ground wasn't to be taken lightly.
0:55:43 > 0:55:45- I think we've got a leopard in the area...- Watch out.
0:55:54 > 0:55:58ANIMAL NOISES
0:56:03 > 0:56:06INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:56:08 > 0:56:11It takes 30 tense minutes before backup arrives.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24Despite being the best place to find leopards,
0:56:24 > 0:56:28it takes a whole week before the team even see another one.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32But then, they get lucky.
0:56:32 > 0:56:37A youngster, keen to hunt, becomes the star of the film.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44We'd trailed our leopard for over half an hour as it was stalking.
0:56:44 > 0:56:46(He's coming for the pigs...)
0:56:46 > 0:56:51Wild pigs - the opportunity that they've been waiting for.
0:56:52 > 0:56:56We were in the back of the vehicle, cameras rolling, we were sure that
0:56:56 > 0:56:59that leopard was going to go off on a hunt.
0:57:00 > 0:57:02And our leopard was ready to go.
0:57:04 > 0:57:06Sitting there watching each one go past.
0:57:12 > 0:57:15'He's not going to risk it, they're way too big.'
0:57:15 > 0:57:17It's not unknown for pigs to kill leopards.
0:57:19 > 0:57:24Gradually, night after night, the team piece together
0:57:24 > 0:57:28the remarkable story of a young leopard learning to hunt.
0:57:28 > 0:57:31What's interesting is they're always looking for a chance.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34Which is probably why the leopard on the first night
0:57:34 > 0:57:35paid so much attention to us.
0:57:35 > 0:57:38A young leopard has to work out if it's worth the risk,
0:57:38 > 0:57:40and not risk their life.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44It was the reality of what this leopard was facing,
0:57:44 > 0:57:46and I think it's a real insight.
0:57:47 > 0:57:51Instead of a hunt, it was a much more intimate glimpse of just
0:57:51 > 0:57:54how tough it can be for a predator -
0:57:54 > 0:57:57especially a young leopard in the dry season.
0:58:03 > 0:58:06Next time, a journey into the heart of the monsoon.
0:58:12 > 0:58:17A weird world of primeval jungles, and remote islands.
0:58:17 > 0:58:19BIRD SQUAWKS
0:58:19 > 0:58:22Where the monsoon meets the fires of the underworld...
0:58:22 > 0:58:25RUMBLING
0:58:25 > 0:58:29..and nothing is quite as it seems.