0:00:02 > 0:00:04A long time ago, Darwin came to our island.
0:00:04 > 0:00:09The stories that he told, well, filled my granddad with wonder!
0:00:09 > 0:00:13And he told me so that I could tell you!
0:00:17 > 0:00:18Boo!
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Oh. Hello, Sam!
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Granddad, I wanted to frighten you!
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Why would you want to do that?
0:00:27 > 0:00:33I'm practising being scary, because I need to protect myself!
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Being scary is one way to protect yourself,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39but there are lots of other ways too!
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Are there?
0:00:41 > 0:00:46A long, long time ago, there were two fish that were best of friends.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51Tracey the triggerfish, and Percy, the little puffer fish.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56- One, two, three... - Ooh, where to hide? Where to hide?
0:00:56 > 0:01:00..eight, nine, ten!
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Ready or not, here I come!
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Hey, slowcoach!
0:01:05 > 0:01:09What now, Chico? I'm meant to be playing hide and seek!
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Knock, knock!
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Who's there?
0:01:12 > 0:01:13- A fish!- A fish who?
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Have you got a cold?
0:01:15 > 0:01:17A cold? No...
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Atishoo!
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Right! Very funny, Chico(!)
0:01:22 > 0:01:26I suppose that's why they call you a clownfish!
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Hey, you!
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Shh! Chico, I'm trying to hide and I don't want Percy to find me!
0:01:35 > 0:01:38I know a far better hiding place!
0:01:38 > 0:01:43- Oh!- No-one will be able to find me here!
0:01:43 > 0:01:46I can't hide in sea anemones. Their tentacles sting!
0:01:46 > 0:01:52So, how come Chico can hide in the anen...anemones if they sting?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Because he's a clownfish.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00Clownfish are covered with a special slime that covers their scales,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02and stops them getting stung.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09Hey! Slowcoach! She's over here! Hiding in the coral!
0:02:09 > 0:02:11You think you're so clever.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Yes. I'm fast and I'm funny. What can you do?
0:02:15 > 0:02:17I can do this.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19SHE SUCKS IN WATER
0:02:21 > 0:02:22Not bad.
0:02:22 > 0:02:23And that's not all.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Now, try and get me out.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29HE STRAINS
0:02:31 > 0:02:33That's clever! How did you do that?
0:02:33 > 0:02:37Her spines lock into place, so no-one can pull her out.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Oh, and by the way, I found you.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Oh!
0:02:42 > 0:02:46OK, Mr Slowcoach Clever-Clogs! What can YOU do?
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Erm...
0:02:48 > 0:02:50While Percy was thinking what he could do,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54a big, hungry barracuda was swimming around
0:02:54 > 0:02:55looking for something to eat!
0:02:55 > 0:03:00I can laugh at your jokes, even if they're not funny. I can...
0:03:00 > 0:03:01THEY GASP
0:03:01 > 0:03:03Percy! Watch out!
0:03:07 > 0:03:09BARRACUDA GRUNTS
0:03:11 > 0:03:13You are amazing!
0:03:13 > 0:03:16So that's why you're called a puffer fish!
0:03:16 > 0:03:20But how did the puffer fish get their puff?
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Well, a long, long, long, long time ago,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26there weren't any puffer fish.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31Only triggerfish, who were able to squirt water out their mouth
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and turn sea urchins upside down.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Then one day, a triggerfish found out
0:03:38 > 0:03:42that if she swallowed the water instead of squirting it out,
0:03:42 > 0:03:47she could puff herself up to make herself look bigger!
0:03:47 > 0:03:51She was particularly talented at puffing herself up,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53and so were some of her babies.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55These babies did well,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59and had more babies who could also puff themselves up.
0:03:59 > 0:04:06And after a long, long, long time, there were lots and lots of...
0:04:06 > 0:04:08- Puffer fish!- Exactly!
0:04:08 > 0:04:11So, if I drank lots and lots of water,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14would I be able to puff myself up?
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Why would you want to do that?
0:04:16 > 0:04:20So I could scare someone off if they wanted to eat me!
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Tracey and Chico weren't scary.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26But they still managed to protect themselves, didn't they?
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Well...yes!
0:04:28 > 0:04:32So, what do you have, that protects you?
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Hmm...
0:04:36 > 0:04:38In the next story,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Sam finds out that a long neck can be really useful!
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Ooh! Those leaves look so yummy!
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Ooh...
0:04:50 > 0:04:55I wish I had a longer neck so I could reach them!
0:04:55 > 0:05:00Long, long ago, that's exactly what the giraffe said.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01Did they?
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Oh, yes!
0:05:03 > 0:05:08A long, long time ago, giraffes didn't have long necks.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12They were just like the elephants and the antelopes,
0:05:12 > 0:05:17- whose necks were shorter. - Just look at those leaves!
0:05:17 > 0:05:20This is the perfect tree for a spot of lunch.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Hello there, elephant!
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Haven't seen you for a while. How are things?
0:05:27 > 0:05:29ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Hey, over here, lads! Grub's up!
0:05:33 > 0:05:38Hey! Leave me some, will you? I was here first!
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Ow! You're standing on my hoof.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Don't mean to be pushy, but...
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Ah! Thank you. Very kind of you.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Oh, no!
0:05:51 > 0:05:54They haven't left me anything to eat!
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Hmm. Now THEY look good!
0:05:58 > 0:06:02HE STRAINS
0:06:02 > 0:06:04It's no use.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07SAM: Was the giraffe still hungry?
0:06:07 > 0:06:11He was. Then he found another acacia tree.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Ah! Perfect!
0:06:13 > 0:06:16He started to eat, when...
0:06:16 > 0:06:20- Go on, get out of the way! - Hold on! You don't have to shove!
0:06:20 > 0:06:23There's plenty of leaves for us all.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25But the antelope weren't listening.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28They were too busy munching.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Ooh, ow, ah! Watch it!
0:06:31 > 0:06:32Very, very tasty!
0:06:32 > 0:06:34There'll be nothing left for me!
0:06:34 > 0:06:38So what did the giraffe do?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41There was nothing he could do,
0:06:41 > 0:06:47other than stand back and wait until the antelope had had their fill.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Maybe I can...
0:06:49 > 0:06:57re-e-e-each those high...juicy...leaves!
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- Uh, got it! - ANTELOPE MUNCHES
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Bother!
0:07:02 > 0:07:04And bother again!
0:07:04 > 0:07:06It's so not fair!
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Well, that's how it was for the giraffes.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15They had to compete with the elephant and the antelope for food.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20Then, one day, after a long, long, long, long time,
0:07:20 > 0:07:26a giraffe was born that had a slightly longer neck.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31And as she grew up, she was taller than her brothers and sisters.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Hello there, how's things?
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Whatever.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Hey, look at that!
0:07:39 > 0:07:42How come the giraffe is still eating?
0:07:42 > 0:07:47Oh! Long necks can come in very handy, you know.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48And she was right.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50With her longer neck,
0:07:50 > 0:07:55the giraffe could reach the juicy leaves on the high branches.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58She didn't get as hungry as the other giraffes,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00she had plenty to eat!
0:08:00 > 0:08:04So when she got older and had baby giraffes of her own,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07some of them had long necks too.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12Over many, many, many years, more giraffes were born
0:08:12 > 0:08:14with longer necks.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Oi, you, outta the way!
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Hold up, guys, I don't believe it!
0:08:19 > 0:08:24Have you seen the length of this guy's neck?
0:08:24 > 0:08:28I think you'll find this is an especially good tree.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34The giraffes with the longest necks found more juicy leaves,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37and didn't often go hungry.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39They survived,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42and the giraffes with the shorter necks
0:08:42 > 0:08:44didn't do so well.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48So after many, many, many, many, many years...
0:08:48 > 0:08:51All the giraffes had really long necks!
0:08:51 > 0:08:55Do you think one day there will be a tortoise born
0:08:55 > 0:08:57with a really long neck?
0:08:57 > 0:09:02Sam, that's a very interesting question.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05In the next story,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Sam and I visit an old friend of mine.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Lonesome George.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Granddad, are we nearly there yet?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Just reaching the beach!
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Hang on to your shell, son!
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
0:09:21 > 0:09:23And here we are!
0:09:24 > 0:09:27But why are we here, Granddad?
0:09:27 > 0:09:31We're visiting my old friend, Lonesome George.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34He's a very special tortoise.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36I wonder where he is?
0:09:36 > 0:09:40Lonesome George? Why's he called that?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Well, it's because...
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Oh! Ooooh... Uh...
0:09:46 > 0:09:48HE GROANS
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Ha-ha! There he is!
0:09:50 > 0:09:53My, oh my, oh my!
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Who are these two young fellas?
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Good to see you too, Lonesome George!
0:09:59 > 0:10:03This is my grandchild, Sam.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Welcome to my island, young 'un!
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Lonesome George, you look different!
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Are there other tortoises that look like you?
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Other tortoises?
0:10:14 > 0:10:18There's no other tortoises like me on this island.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Why's that?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Haven't you told him, Granddad?
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Then I'll tell you, Sam.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30It happened a long time ago.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36Once, there were many, many tortoises on this island.
0:10:36 > 0:10:42And then the sailing ships arrived, bringing people.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Ho, ho, ho...
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Ho, ho...
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Of course, the sailors needed something to eat.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56So did the settlers.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Ah, here's some grub!
0:11:01 > 0:11:07So some of the sailors caught and ate lots of tortoises.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10SAM: Oh, no!
0:11:10 > 0:11:14So now, some of the tortoises had gone.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Then the ships brought goats, for the farmers.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21GOATS BLEAT
0:11:21 > 0:11:24So the goats ate lots of the plants.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27There wasn't enough food for the tortoises,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31and many tortoises got hungry.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36Before long, even more tortoises had gone.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39No food to eat? That's terrible!
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Woof! Woof!
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Then the ships brought dogs to herd the goats!
0:11:44 > 0:11:49And some of the dogs killed and ate tortoises.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54But something far worse came off the ships.
0:11:54 > 0:11:55Rats.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00And the rats liked to feed on tortoise eggs.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13Before long, almost every tortoise had gone.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Sailors and settlers
0:12:18 > 0:12:22and goats and dogs and rats.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26They changed this island forever.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29That's so, so sad!
0:12:29 > 0:12:32It was long ago, Sam.
0:12:32 > 0:12:38Soon, there were fewer and fewer tortoises growing up.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42And fewer and fewer baby tortoises hatching.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Far too few... Far too few.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Until there was only me left.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54That's why you're called Lonesome George!
0:12:54 > 0:12:59And that's why I like to see young visitors like you, Sam.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Thank you for bringing him across, Charlie!
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- So, what will happen when you die?- Sam!
0:13:06 > 0:13:08That's OK.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09When I go,
0:13:09 > 0:13:14there won't be any more tortoises like me left in the world.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19My kind of tortoise will be extinct.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21HE GROANS
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Granddad, will we ever become extinct?
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:13:35 > 0:13:38E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk