0:00:02 > 0:00:04India.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10A vibrant, bustling world.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Home to over a billion people.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18But if you know where to look, the most spectacular wildlife...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24..ancient cultures...
0:00:26 > 0:00:29..and extreme landscapes can be found.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36I'm Liz Bonnin.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I'm here to explore India's spectacular
0:00:39 > 0:00:42wildlife in one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45I've spent years studying wildlife,
0:00:45 > 0:00:50but every time I return to India, I discover something new.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51ROAR!
0:00:51 > 0:00:55I completely underestimated
0:00:55 > 0:01:00how extraordinary and eye-opening this was going to be.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Actor Frieda Pinto was born here.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08She wants to share the remarkable bond between India's people
0:01:08 > 0:01:09and the natural world.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15You always see that there is a connection between man and animal.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Wow!
0:01:18 > 0:01:21And from the highest peaks on Earth,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25mountaineer Jon Gupta explores India's most extreme landscapes.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29My passion is mountains.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32And there is nowhere in the world like the Himalayas.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42We're travelling the length and breadth of this subcontinent
0:01:42 > 0:01:46to reveal the hidden wonders of India's natural world.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51- These are... - ALL: The wonders of India.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53FREIDA LAUGHS
0:02:08 > 0:02:10BIRDSONG
0:02:13 > 0:02:18India is a place that's captivated me ever since my first visit.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20And I suppose it's made all the more special
0:02:20 > 0:02:22because I have a family connection.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25My great-grandparents came from India.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29And every time I return, I know I'm going to discover something new
0:02:29 > 0:02:32that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37'I want to start this journey with one of India's biggest surprises.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41'It comes in the form of one of this country's most iconic animals.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46'The big cats.'
0:02:48 > 0:02:52India may be known as the land of the tiger, but up until 1970,
0:02:52 > 0:02:57another big cat was the national animal of this country - the lion.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01'India is home to the world's last Asiatic lions.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06'A rare subspecies that once ranged from here to the Mediterranean.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13'I've tracked tigers across India, but I've never seen an Asiatic lion.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17'This is the only place I have the chance to do so.'
0:03:17 > 0:03:21This is the home of India's last remaining Asiatic lions -
0:03:21 > 0:03:23the Gir Forest.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28'A national park that's 580 square miles of broadleaf scrub
0:03:28 > 0:03:31'in the northwest of the country.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37'At one time, there were said to be as few as 12 lions left.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43'Park director Dr Sandeep Kumar and his team have worked
0:03:43 > 0:03:47'tirelessly to ensure the number is now over 500 and rising.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59'After two hours on the road, I get my first sight.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05'Two young males soaking up the early-morning sun.'
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Look at that! Look at that!
0:04:07 > 0:04:08Oh!
0:04:10 > 0:04:12They are just beautiful.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19So immediately, you can see two of the main features that
0:04:19 > 0:04:21differentiate the Asiatic to the African lion.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25The belly fold, and the mane is much shorter, isn't it?
0:04:25 > 0:04:29- And it doesn't surround the face in the same way?- Yeah.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34'The belly fold is one of the best ways to identify Asiatic lions.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39'It serves no purpose, but is a trait that was retained
0:04:39 > 0:04:42'in those lions that travelled here from Africa.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49'At three to four years old, these males are not quite adult yet.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52'They've only recently left their mother.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56'And they must now display their own strength and independence.'
0:04:56 > 0:04:57LIONS GRUNT
0:05:02 > 0:05:04What are they doing?
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Basically, they are telling how,
0:05:07 > 0:05:12"If there is anybody want to challenge me, please come."
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Yeah. They are beginning to assert themselves.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Yeah. Establishment.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20GENTLE ROAR GRUNT
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Basically, they will not compete with each other.
0:05:31 > 0:05:37Both of them will try to fight with the other lion.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45'African lions can form coalitions like this, too.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47'Working together to protect their territory
0:05:47 > 0:05:51'and the prides they can associate with for several years.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54'But these two will never live with a pride.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58'For Asiatic males, it's all about protecting territory.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02'But what about the females?
0:06:06 > 0:06:08'If we can find them, we might even see cubs.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14'In Africa, they would be in prides up to 30 strong.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17'They have to be to take down large prey, like wildebeest.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19'But here, we're looking for a smaller group,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22'since their prey is usually smaller.'
0:06:22 > 0:06:26- Now, you can see there are cubs and lioness.- Where?
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Just in front of this tree here.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Oh, wow! How old are the cubs?
0:06:31 > 0:06:33They are just four months old.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38'This is typical of lions in India.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41'A couple of females with a few cubs.'
0:06:46 > 0:06:49The cub in the middle is passed out. He is not budging.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- These two are the males. - OK. The two awake ones.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54And the sleeping one is a female.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58- OK.- Basically, male cubs will keep on behaving like a smart guy.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02- Moving head and...- They're more active, curious.- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04They're more foolish, probably.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12I now understand what you mean about Asiatic females.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16'These lionesses are incredibly muscular and powerful.'
0:07:17 > 0:07:22And so, it's all about how they have to hunt their prey.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26'In this dense-forested habitat,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29'the females don't need to chase their prey any great distance.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32'They're built to take them down quickly.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38'Not that these lions show any interest in anything more
0:07:38 > 0:07:41'than keeping out of the sun.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44'But in an instant, everything changes.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48'And these remarkable hunters become opportunist ambush predators.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53'A large Indian antelope called a nilgai has unwittingly
0:07:53 > 0:07:55'strayed a little too close.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59'The females are on the alert.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19'The lions are using the terrain to their advantage.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23'Creeping into a dry riverbed, hoping to ambush the nilgai.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34'This time, the nilgai escapes.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47'This has been a fascinating trip.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52'I wasn't sure I'd even see Asiatic lions,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55'let alone get close to them, or witness them in action.'
0:08:58 > 0:09:01They are absolutely perfect.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07Such a privilege to get so close to these extremely-rare animals.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14'With Sandeep and his team dedicated to helping them, these lions,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17'once the symbol of India, will continue to have a home here.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29'Freida Pinto is almost 2,000 miles away, heading to meet another
0:09:29 > 0:09:33'animal you wouldn't necessarily expect to find in India.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35'And the people dedicated to protecting it.'
0:09:38 > 0:09:42In the far-east of India, the state of Assam holds another surprise.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47'I'm not here to see India's cheeky monkeys,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49'but another member of the primate family.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54'One of our closer relatives and India's only ape,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56'the hoolock gibbon.'
0:09:58 > 0:10:01I did not know apes actually existed in India.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04'But more people need to hear about these endangered animals
0:10:04 > 0:10:07'because they have an enchanting skill.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12'Every morning, they sing.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16'Their sanctuary is only eight square miles.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22'For just over 100 gibbons, it's a tiny semi-evergreen forest island
0:10:22 > 0:10:27'surrounded by the modern world - tea plantations and towns.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32'I've come to meet Deben Borah, a warden here.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34'He has dedicated his life
0:10:34 > 0:10:37'to protecting this one small gibbon population.'
0:10:38 > 0:10:41THEY SPEAK IN NATIVE TONGUE
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Deben has been here since 1985.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52And he's been working in the forest right since that time.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54So no wonder he's our man, he's our expert.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00'I'm travelling with wildlife cameraman, Sandesh Kadur.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03'He and Deben have collaborated to film these gibbons for years.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07'Sandesh's camera is the best way for me to get a close look
0:11:07 > 0:11:11'at these gibbons, as they live high in the canopy.'
0:11:13 > 0:11:15You're going to see a great view right here.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18Aw!
0:11:18 > 0:11:21'Gibbons are the only apes that sing.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22'Every morning,
0:11:22 > 0:11:26'this forest comes alive with a complex range of calls.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29'Deben knows every one.'
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Woockoo-woockoo-woockoo-woockoo!
0:12:01 > 0:12:04'Hoolock gibbons are monogamous.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06'This is a family with a three-year-old.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09'The babies are born pure white.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13'They turn brown and darken to black if they are males, like this one.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19'Females stay golden brown, like his mother.'
0:12:46 > 0:12:49And the gibbons also recognise him.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51He's part of the family!
0:12:52 > 0:12:54'Before the gibbons sing, they have breakfast.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58'Feeding off the fruits at the top of the trees.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03'When this family notice us, they swing over.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07'They may regard Deben as one of the family...
0:13:08 > 0:13:11'..but they'd still like us to give them space.'
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Oh, it did poop on you!
0:13:14 > 0:13:17LAUGHTER
0:13:22 > 0:13:24DEBEN SPEAKS IN NATIVE TONGUE
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Don't be grossed out, this is gibbon poo. And guess what?
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It's all vegetarian. It's only fruit.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36'Hoolocks spent their lives up to 100-feet high in the canopy.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39'They have specially-adapted joints for gripping and swinging.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45'They are the fastest non-flying animals in the forest.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49'They can move through the trees at 35mph.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53'So when they set off to find other fruit trees,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55'it's a struggle just to keep up.'
0:13:55 > 0:13:57We're following the gibbons now.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00They're taking us for a little bit of a walk.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04They're really making us work very hard for their singing.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20'Across the northeast, forests have made way for homes,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22'industry and roads.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25'The number of gibbons has fallen to 2,600.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31'But Deben's forest has been protected for over 100 years.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35'In 1997, it became the only sanctuary named after gibbons.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39'It's the mother who's easiest to spot.'
0:14:39 > 0:14:41There she is.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45'It just needs one family to start singing
0:14:45 > 0:14:47'and the others will all join in.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54'Deben and I decide to try and get them going.'
0:14:54 > 0:14:56THEY GRUNT
0:14:59 > 0:15:01THEY GRUNT
0:15:01 > 0:15:03THEY CHUCKLE
0:15:03 > 0:15:06'Our gibbons choose to ignore us.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15'Just a few minutes later, something quite extraordinary happens.'
0:15:19 > 0:15:22CACOPHONY OF SOUND
0:15:25 > 0:15:28(That's amazing!)
0:15:28 > 0:15:30(Come on!)
0:15:33 > 0:15:34'The forest starts to fill
0:15:34 > 0:15:38'with the sound of other gibbon families singing.'
0:15:45 > 0:15:47(It's a crescendo.)
0:16:03 > 0:16:06'Locals call this the Singing Forest.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08'It's thanks to Deben and his colleagues
0:16:08 > 0:16:13'that India continues to hear the songs of her only ape.'
0:16:19 > 0:16:23A thousand miles to the northwest, it's like being in another world.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28I'm in the middle of a collision of continents.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31This is where the Indian subcontinent crashed into Asia
0:16:31 > 0:16:3440 million years ago, pushing the seabed up.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39It's the world's biggest crumple zone.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42The Himalayas.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53'I'm 4,000 metres up in the air, and these are just the foothills.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59'When I climbed Everest, I was almost 9,000 metres above the sea.'
0:17:04 > 0:17:06This range is the roof of the world
0:17:06 > 0:17:11and its winds and waters touch every part of the Indian subcontinent.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16It is the youngest and the highest mountain range in the entire world.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20'I've climbed the Himalayas many times in Nepal.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25'But I've never visited the Indian side.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29'There's a reason I needed to come here.'
0:17:29 > 0:17:33My grandfather was born in Shimla, a town further along the Himalayas.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37For me to finally be here, seeing what he would've seen
0:17:37 > 0:17:39growing up as a child, is really special to me.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44'So for my first visit to India, I want to see how these mountains
0:17:44 > 0:17:47'have a dramatic effect on its natural wonders
0:17:47 > 0:17:50'and shape life across the whole subcontinent.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58'The word Himalaya means, "the abode of snow".
0:17:58 > 0:18:00'It's a good name.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04'These mountains bestow a precious gift upon India.
0:18:04 > 0:18:05'Water.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13'This is the source of fresh water
0:18:13 > 0:18:16'for a fifth of the entire population of the world.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23'15,000 glaciers feed five of the largest rivers in Asia.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31'For millions of Indians, one stands above all others.'
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Over there is Chakumba, which means, "Four Pillars".
0:18:35 > 0:18:37It lies at the head of the Gangotri Glacier,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39which feeds the River Ganges.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44'If the mountains are the driving force of India,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46'the Ganges is its engine.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53'The River Ganges originates in the highest mountain range on Earth
0:18:53 > 0:18:58'and ends in the world's largest river delta, at the Bay of Bengal.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04'Almost half-a-billion people depend on its life-giving waters
0:19:04 > 0:19:08'and countless species of animals would perish without it.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13'No wonder Hindus worship the river.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20'Millions flock to holy places all along her banks.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23'Varanasi is considered the most sacred.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36'This holy river has its humble origins in the countless tiny streams
0:19:36 > 0:19:40'formed by the melting snow and ice of the Himalayas.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49'But as the streams grow, the power of the water begins to exert itself.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'This is truly a force of nature.'
0:19:59 > 0:20:02I'm just sat here and I'm getting buffeted by the wind
0:20:02 > 0:20:03and absolutely drenched.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08'The waters cut paths through the Himalayan rock,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10'shaping this landscape.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16'But these waters do not yet carry the name Ganges.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22'Each time one river joins another, it's marked as a holy place.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26'These sacred confluences are called Prayags.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31'The most important of all is here.'
0:20:38 > 0:20:42This place is called Devprayag, and it means, "God's confluence".
0:20:42 > 0:20:44These two rivers either side of me
0:20:44 > 0:20:48come together just here to start the beginning of the River Ganges.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54'It is a lifelong ambition of every Hindu to bathe in the Ganges.'
0:20:56 > 0:20:58The water here is holy.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01People come from all around the country to swim here,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04to purify their soul and get rid of their sins.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09'So I think I should give it a go, too.'
0:21:20 > 0:21:24Whoo! It's pretty chilly, but it's actually incredibly refreshing.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26And it feels wonderful.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33'This is how Indians prepare for a journey - by washing.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44'For Hindus, the Ganges connects India's past and present.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53'It's a place where they can pay homage to their ancestors.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58'Many people scatter the ashes of relatives in the river.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03'Others make offerings of petals as a mark of gratitude.'
0:22:09 > 0:22:13But the Himalayas aren't India's only mountains.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18I'm travelling far to the south to India's other great range.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20The Western Ghats.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27These lower, forested hills stretch from Mumbai, all the way south.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32They peak at just under 2,700 metres above sea level,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35but they're one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42India is well-known for its tea.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Assam and Darjeeling are household names.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51It produces over a million tonnes of it a year.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54A quarter of all Indian tea grows here.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Thousands work in the plantations that carpet these slopes.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07But this part of the Western Ghats is called the Anaimalai.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10It means, "Elephant Hills".
0:23:12 > 0:23:14For centuries, the forests here
0:23:14 > 0:23:18have provided a safe home to India's largest land animal.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23'I've come to discover what happens when one of India's iconic animals
0:23:23 > 0:23:27'has to share this land with the demands of the tea industry.'
0:23:29 > 0:23:32There's elephant droppings all over this road.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36'Asian elephants are easily distinguished by their smaller ears,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40'dented foreheads and the fact that only the males have tusks.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42TRUMPETING
0:23:42 > 0:23:44'The Western Ghats are home to
0:23:44 > 0:23:48'the largest population of elephants in India. Around 10,000.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55'But as trees have made way for tea, so the forest has become fragmented.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58'The elephants still need to get from one patch of forest
0:23:58 > 0:24:00'to the next to find food.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05'Which gives rise to one of India's unique sites.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09'Something I've wanted to see from the moment I first heard about it.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13'Elephants in the tea.'
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- I think I see one. - Where-where-where-where-where?
0:24:16 > 0:24:19- Look there, to the left. The swap is here.- Swamp? Yes.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20You see that there?
0:24:20 > 0:24:23No. Yes! Elephant! Ha-ha-ha-ha!
0:24:24 > 0:24:26There she is.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30'My guide is Ganesh Raghunathan.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33'He's been working with the elephants here for three years.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36'We need to approach this elephant carefully.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40'She seems calm, but if we startle her, it could be very dangerous.'
0:24:41 > 0:24:44(We've been upwind of her,
0:24:44 > 0:24:46(but the wind is just changing direction,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49(so we've got to be really careful that once
0:24:49 > 0:24:53(she figures out we're here, that she doesn't get stressed.)
0:24:55 > 0:24:57- (Ah, she's a beauty!)- (Yeah.)
0:24:57 > 0:25:00So, the elephants don't destroy the tea plantations, do they?
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- They don't feed on the tea? - No, they don't feed on the tea.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05They walk along these paths.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07In fact, you look at these paths that are here,
0:25:07 > 0:25:11it's something the elephants have walked on for a long time.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Elephants have fixed travel routes to source food and water,
0:25:16 > 0:25:20using tracks established long before the tea plantations appeared.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26This is a landscape that these elephants have been moving
0:25:26 > 0:25:31through for hundreds of years and they haven't changed their
0:25:31 > 0:25:35habits, they've, sort of, adapted to how the landscape has changed?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40The elephants do this every day and wherever they appear,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43people keep a watchful eye.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48Their migration routes are so firmly established in a herd,
0:25:48 > 0:25:53passed on from the elder individuals to the youngest.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56It's not something that's going to change.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Ganesh is part of a team tracking the movement of the elephants
0:25:59 > 0:26:02that live in several herds around the tea.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06The more they understand their behaviour,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09the more they can keep elephants and people apart.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Is she the matriarch?
0:26:12 > 0:26:14- Yes, she's the matriarch. - How hold is she?
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Definitely over 40 years of age.
0:26:16 > 0:26:17How old is he, then?
0:26:17 > 0:26:19He's about seven to ten years of age.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22So, where are the rest of the herd, right now?
0:26:22 > 0:26:24They're about a kilometre and a half in this direction.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Do they often separate?
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- They do that very often. - Why is that?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32It's because...see, again, these are all fragments of forest, right?
0:26:32 > 0:26:35So this herd is about 23 in number - the place wouldn't be able to
0:26:35 > 0:26:38- provide for all of them to forage in one place.- OK.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40So, they break up, they go in different directions
0:26:40 > 0:26:42but they regroup very soon, as well.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48- Look, she's nudging him, she's nudging him.- "Get into that forest!"
0:26:52 > 0:26:56But I want to know what happens when elephants and people do meet.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Thousands work here.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02If they know where the elephants are, they can stay out of their way.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07The problems are caused by unexpected encounters.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14A startled elephant can charge and attack...they've even killed people.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19This happened mostly after sundown,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23so people would walk back home from the bus stop, like a bus stop that
0:27:23 > 0:27:27we have here and they didn't have any clue where the elephants were.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30It was mostly a surprise encounter.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35Since 1994, we've had about 41 people who've lost their lives here.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40But there's a determination to make co-habitation work.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44So, Ganesh and organisation called The Nature Conservation Foundation
0:27:44 > 0:27:47have devised an elephant warning system.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52It uses the mobile phone network to send group texts instantly to
0:27:52 > 0:27:55everyone that's signed up to the service.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59So, that's a facility where you can send out one single text
0:27:59 > 0:28:02message to a large number of people.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06So, right now, I can send out about 1,500 messages
0:28:06 > 0:28:09to about 1,500 people in a span of one second or so.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14And just as vital is the up to the minute information on elephant
0:28:14 > 0:28:17sightings they can send him every day.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19So, how long has this system been up and running
0:28:19 > 0:28:22and have you noticed a difference in the fatalities?
0:28:22 > 0:28:26There used to be an average of about three people who used to
0:28:26 > 0:28:28lose their lives to elephants every year.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Now, I think that's dropped to about 1.5,
0:28:31 > 0:28:32which is half of it.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38- When you started, did you anticipate it would be such a success?- No, no.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42- Really?- No, we didn't anticipate anything since we started.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Ganesh and the project he's working on are proof of how modern
0:28:47 > 0:28:51India is learning to live in harmony with its natural world.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Elephants are complex and intelligent animals.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01Despite their size, they can be incredibly delicate and gentle.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11This is their home and thanks to the passion of the people here,
0:29:11 > 0:29:15these hills can continue to carry the name of Elephant Hills.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24Not all elephant stories involve conflict.
0:29:24 > 0:29:29I've come to Kaziranga, 160 square miles of protected wilderness.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33The largest national park in Assam,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44One of the most wonderful things about Indian wildlife is that
0:29:44 > 0:29:47you never know when you're going to be surprised with something new.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51I just found out that a baby was born, just a month ago,
0:29:51 > 0:29:53and I am going to see it right now.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58Elephants have been working animals in India for 4,000 years,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02hauling lumber and carrying heavy goods.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05In Kaziranga, they're used to help people to see the park.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08They're almost part of the family.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12One of Kaziranga's working mothers is willing to share her
0:30:12 > 0:30:14family with me.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18I'm accompanied once more by wildlife cameraman Sandesh Kadur.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20His knowledge will help me
0:30:20 > 0:30:24understand how best to approach the mother and her infant.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Just let her come to you, let her come to you.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30Baby's name is Rapogi...beautiful one.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35She's coming, the mother's coming.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38She knows you have bananas, so now you can probably feed her.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41- Just give her one?- Yeah, give her one at a time, go ahead.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44OK. There you go, Mummy.
0:30:47 > 0:30:48Just keep giving her one.
0:30:48 > 0:30:53Look, look...and she lifts her legs, so she doesn't trample the baby.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Let's see if we can get the baby close to you.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59Come around me, on my right.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01- On your right?- Yeah.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10The gestation period for a baby elephant is 18 to 22 months.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15The calf will actually be fully developed by the 19th month but it
0:31:15 > 0:31:17needs to stay in the womb,
0:31:17 > 0:31:20so it can grow tall enough to reach its mother to feed.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26They are dependent on their mother's milk for three to four years.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30- Oh, they're walking.- They're ready to go to the water now.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Elephants are not just part of work...
0:31:37 > 0:31:40..they're also part of worship.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43All over India, you see evidence of how important they are.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50For Hindus, the god Ganesha has the head of an elephant.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55He's a symbol of strength and the remover of obstacles.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58You see his likeness everywhere.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00There is even one in my Jeep.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07It's a constant reminder of just how important animals
0:32:07 > 0:32:10and the natural world are to the culture of India.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16To me, elephants are the best example of the ancient
0:32:16 > 0:32:18relationship with animals.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23This is why getting to meet this mother's precious newborn is
0:32:23 > 0:32:25so exciting!
0:32:25 > 0:32:27I know you want to come!
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Oh, that's what you want to do?
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Break time. Time out.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36- Is the baby peeing?- Yup.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Time out, she needs a little pee.
0:32:38 > 0:32:39A little pee!
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Hi.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53I can only get this close because the mother has decided to
0:32:53 > 0:32:58trust me and Rapogi is so young her trunk can't hurt me.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01If only she'd take my hand.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11Wow!
0:33:15 > 0:33:19This is clearly one of the most beautiful mother, baby experiences
0:33:19 > 0:33:21I've ever had, this up close.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23To have the baby just trust you
0:33:23 > 0:33:26and to come and wrap its little trunk around you, you know
0:33:26 > 0:33:30that it's going to accept you as its play mate for a little while.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37In Kaziranga, the working elephants live almost like wild elephants.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39When they're not working they're free to roam.
0:33:41 > 0:33:46It provides a wonderful example of the quality that bonds
0:33:46 > 0:33:48people to the wildlife here...
0:33:48 > 0:33:50respect.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05Respect is something you have to show when entering India's mountains too.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14Many of the wonders that India offers vary with the seasons.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16Spring, in the Himalayas,
0:34:16 > 0:34:20is a time when shepherds bring their flocks to high altitude pastures.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27As the sun warms the hillsides and temperatures rise to 30 degrees,
0:34:27 > 0:34:29a unique valley bursts into life.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34It lies hidden amongst India's tallest peaks.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42Over there is India's second highest mountain, Nanda Devi, it is
0:34:42 > 0:34:45believed to be the home to Shiva's wife, Parvati.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49The name Nanda Devi means Goddess of Bliss.
0:34:50 > 0:34:56The peaks that surround the mountain are said to protect her.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00They also conceal a hidden wonder, few have been able to witness.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Roads towards it can be washed away
0:35:04 > 0:35:07and it takes days of trekking to reach it.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11In winter, it's snowbound...
0:35:14 > 0:35:18..but in spring, when the snows retreat,
0:35:18 > 0:35:20this valley is unique.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Rolling meadows of alpine blooms.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30This is the Valley of Flowers.
0:35:34 > 0:35:39From June to September, around 500 species of wild flower bloom here,
0:35:39 > 0:35:4233 square miles of them.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47Orchids, poppies, primulas, marigold, daisies and anemones.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52A cacophony of colour carpeting slopes
0:35:52 > 0:35:55that are 3,600 metres above sea level.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Many of the plants are endemic to these mountains.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08As with so much of India's natural world,
0:36:08 > 0:36:12there's a Hindu legend associated with the creation of this valley.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17Herbs, found here, saved the life of the god Rama's brother.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23To celebrate, the gods showered flowers from heaven...
0:36:26 > 0:36:28..giving the valley its unique appearance.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33This place of Hindu legend is now a World Heritage Site.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38But this hidden treasure was not easily
0:36:38 > 0:36:40revealed to the world outside India.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45Expeditions tried to reach it but the valley remained hidden
0:36:45 > 0:36:50until 1931, when three British mountaineers stumbled across it,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52returning from an expedition.
0:36:52 > 0:36:57They wrote, "Others will visit it, analyse it and probe it...
0:36:57 > 0:37:01"But whatever their opinions, to me, it will remain a valley of flowers."
0:37:03 > 0:37:05"A valley of peace and perfect beauty, where the
0:37:05 > 0:37:08"human spirit may find repose."
0:37:11 > 0:37:18From unexpected Alpine blooms to the animal everyone associates
0:37:18 > 0:37:20with India.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25One that has always carried with it a deep cultural significance.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27The tiger is the guardian of the forest.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31He created the rains, regenerates life, brings fertility.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35No other animal has quite so much attributed to it.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39And perhaps that's because, unlike much of her wildlife,
0:37:39 > 0:37:43tigers can be found across almost the whole of India.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46India has 48 tiger reserves but the
0:37:46 > 0:37:49tiger is an endangered animal.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53There are just over 2,000 Bengal Tigers left in the wild.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00There is no greater sight than seeing one hunt.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07It's no secret that I'm somewhat obsessed with tigers
0:39:07 > 0:39:11and there is nothing like seeing one in the wild but when it comes to
0:39:11 > 0:39:16emulating the spirit of the tiger, South India is the place to be.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24Southern India is home to a spectacular celebration,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27the Puli Kali, the Tiger Dance.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32As someone who is so passionate about tigers,
0:39:32 > 0:39:34I simple have to see it!
0:39:45 > 0:39:49No-one's quite sure how this local tradition started but some say
0:39:49 > 0:39:52it began over 200 years ago,
0:39:52 > 0:39:56when a maharaja wanted a dance to celebrate the spirit of the wild.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00And there's no animal that embodies that better for Indians than
0:40:00 > 0:40:02the tiger.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06So, how many painters in total get the honour of making these
0:40:06 > 0:40:08wonderful works of art.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12- 25, 30 people.- Just 30?
0:40:12 > 0:40:15A-ha, and how long have you been doing it, how many years?
0:40:15 > 0:40:20- I have ten years.- Ten years...and is it difficult?
0:40:20 > 0:40:22When you started, was it like, oooh!
0:40:22 > 0:40:24- I was shaking, body shaking. - The wobbly belly!
0:40:26 > 0:40:30And do you develop your own style to be distinct from the other artists?
0:40:31 > 0:40:36So, this is different to the other mouth because the belly's bigger?
0:40:36 > 0:40:39So you make the mouth bigger. I see.
0:40:39 > 0:40:40SHE LAUGHS
0:40:40 > 0:40:42I knew the belly was important!
0:40:44 > 0:40:47The bigger the belly, the better the tiger.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49I even get the chance to have a go myself.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52So beautifully done.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54I don't want to let the side down.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01I get to paint a tiger on someone's belly!
0:41:01 > 0:41:04We're performing in the ground of a temple, so it's
0:41:04 > 0:41:08important that we receive a blessing before going ahead with the dance.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12Limbered up, painted up, looking the part.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14I think we're ready for the dance.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17BELLS CHIME
0:41:17 > 0:41:20I've seen tigers hunt, I've seen them prowl
0:41:20 > 0:41:23but I've never seen them quite like this.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40The dance is a seasonal event, performed once a year
0:41:40 > 0:41:44at the harvest festival of Onam, around the beginning of September.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47The biggest can have up to 900 dancers
0:41:47 > 0:41:49and they can dance for hours on end.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56I fell under the spell of a tiger on my first visit to India.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02The female I set eyes on then had such an impact on me that
0:42:02 > 0:42:07when I returned home I took up my studies in wild animal biology.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12Tigers have been part of my life ever since.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23They're clearly a part of the lives of these dancers too.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33TIGER ROARS
0:42:33 > 0:42:35That was incredible!
0:42:35 > 0:42:39It's just so lovely to see so much dedication, so much passion,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42so much energy in a dance like this.
0:42:42 > 0:42:47And when you think the tiger is on the brink of extinction, it's so
0:42:47 > 0:42:53heart-warming to see people who are so dedicated to revering,
0:42:53 > 0:42:55celebrating and protecting the tiger here.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57Brilliant!
0:42:57 > 0:43:01This is a celebration with animals at its heart
0:43:01 > 0:43:05and finally there may be real cause for celebration,
0:43:05 > 0:43:09some studies are reporting that tiger numbers seem to be recovering.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Back in the northeast of the country,
0:43:17 > 0:43:21I've come to a land that's famous for its climate throughout India.
0:43:21 > 0:43:26A place I've known about since I was a seven-year-old schoolgirl,
0:43:26 > 0:43:28Meghalaya.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32When I was in school,
0:43:32 > 0:43:37in India, I learnt about this little town in the northeast of India,
0:43:37 > 0:43:42in the state of Meghalaya, called Cherrapunji and the interesting fact
0:43:42 > 0:43:45of this place was that it rained almost every day of the year.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51My geography textbook would proudly tell me that Cherrapunji
0:43:51 > 0:43:55holds the world record for most rain in a calendar month...
0:43:56 > 0:43:58..over 30 feet.
0:44:05 > 0:44:09Cherrapunji can get more rain in a month than Britain gets in a year.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12Of course, it doesn't rain every day
0:44:12 > 0:44:17but this a land carved out by water, full of chasms and raging torrents.
0:44:24 > 0:44:29You'd think that no-one could live here but Indians have always
0:44:29 > 0:44:33worked with nature, using what is available to overcome obstacles.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40So, this is home to a wonder that dates back hundreds of years,
0:44:40 > 0:44:42yet is still in daily use...
0:44:46 > 0:44:50..living bridges made from the roots of trees.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02By the way, this is one single tree.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05Not just this, this and this, one single tree.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10It's hard to believe, right?
0:45:12 > 0:45:16The trees are fig trees, chosen because of the way
0:45:16 > 0:45:20they produce a series of secondary roots from higher up the trunk.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24These act as added supports for the trunk.
0:45:24 > 0:45:29The roots grow quickly, taking hold in thin soil and around rocks.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35They are ideal trees for these bridges.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38There are quite simply more roots to use.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44I don't think I've seen anything like this before.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48This is probably one of the most spectacular things nature has
0:45:48 > 0:45:50ever shown to me.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54I don't think I have stood on a bridge that is made
0:45:54 > 0:45:57out of the roots of a tree that is 400 years old.
0:45:57 > 0:46:02In Meghalaya, you have these root bridges almost everywhere
0:46:02 > 0:46:05and it was actually grown by man in order to overcome
0:46:05 > 0:46:09the challenge of crossing the raging rivers, the raging torrents,
0:46:09 > 0:46:12to get from one place to the other, for trade, for example.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19Unlike the bridges I know of, it is a very, very strong bridge
0:46:19 > 0:46:22and it's only going to get stronger in time.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27As the tree grows, the roots that form the bridge get thicker
0:46:27 > 0:46:28and stronger.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31New roots are used to maintain the bridge.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35This skill may be ancient but the local villagers still use it
0:46:35 > 0:46:38to maintain old bridges and even grow new ones.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45It's a skill they proudly pass on to the younger generation,
0:46:45 > 0:46:48like Vaskam Walang who grew up in the local village
0:46:48 > 0:46:50and was taught by the elders.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53Vaskam, my friend, I hear you're an expert
0:46:53 > 0:46:57at training the roots of these living bridges. How long have
0:46:57 > 0:46:59you been doing this for?
0:46:59 > 0:47:02I've been doing it no less than five, six years.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05I learnt from the villagers and first of all,
0:47:05 > 0:47:08the villagers have to plant the tree first and when the roots come
0:47:08 > 0:47:12out they train the roots to come outside of the river.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15- You say, they plant the tree first?- Yes.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18They don't just pick a tree that already would already have the
0:47:18 > 0:47:20- roots that they could train?- No.
0:47:20 > 0:47:22That's a lot of dedication.
0:47:22 > 0:47:25OK, so they plant the tree, the roots start growing,
0:47:25 > 0:47:27then what's the next phase?
0:47:27 > 0:47:29What do they do next?
0:47:29 > 0:47:31They direct it by putting this beetle nut trunk...
0:47:31 > 0:47:33- This is a beetle nut trunk? - Yes, this is a beetle nut trunk.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36And because it's hollow, it's useful to pass the roots...Wow,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38that's interesting.
0:47:38 > 0:47:40- So, these are beetle nut trees right here, right?- Yes.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43By using beetle nut trunks to train the roots in the right direction,
0:47:43 > 0:47:47the structure of the bridge is brought to life.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51It takes skill but most of all it takes patience.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54And how long does it take to become this.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57Maybe around ten, 15 years to become.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00- Wow, maybe then I should try one, right?- Yeah, you can do it.
0:48:02 > 0:48:06So, let's take the thin one, like this one's good? OK.
0:48:09 > 0:48:12- Keep it inside.- Keep it inside. All the way through, right?
0:48:12 > 0:48:14Yeah, all the way through.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25- That's safe and secure now?- Yeah.
0:48:25 > 0:48:27OK, ten years, I'll be back in ten years.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32These bridges have been a vital part of what's known
0:48:32 > 0:48:35locally as the beetle nut trade.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38It's ground into a powder called paan and chewed.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42A delicacy of the Northeast that reached the rest of India,
0:48:42 > 0:48:44thanks to these bridges.
0:48:46 > 0:48:50But there is something puzzling me about this particular bridge.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52I wondered why they needed two bridges.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58It took 400 years to train and grow the first one, so why spend another
0:48:58 > 0:49:04200, 300 years to build the second one or simply because in the
0:49:04 > 0:49:07monsoon season, which is June to October,
0:49:07 > 0:49:09the lower part of the bridge is
0:49:09 > 0:49:12actually fully submerged, it's under water.
0:49:14 > 0:49:19And if you think about the force of the water during the monsoons, the
0:49:19 > 0:49:22bridge still survives, the bridge still stands strong and just gets
0:49:22 > 0:49:24stronger in time.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32But of course, the people of these villages needed the second
0:49:32 > 0:49:35bridge to continue their day today activities.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39Another important fact to know is that none of this has been
0:49:39 > 0:49:42written down, it's just been passed on by word of mouth,
0:49:42 > 0:49:45through family traditions.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52For all that you know, this could possibly be even 1,000 years old.
0:49:52 > 0:49:54You don't know, you just know that it's very old.
0:49:58 > 0:50:04This has been extraordinary, to see how inventive people are...
0:50:07 > 0:50:11..how they work with nature to create solutions
0:50:11 > 0:50:13has been incredible.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23From the far reaches of the north to the very south of India...
0:50:26 > 0:50:29..for the last of our natural wonders.
0:50:31 > 0:50:35An iconic bird of the rainforest with an extraordinary
0:50:35 > 0:50:37breeding behaviour.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40The best time to see it is in the spring.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46The crack of dawn and we've come to a coffee plantation to try
0:50:46 > 0:50:50and spot one of the most iconic, bizarre
0:50:50 > 0:50:53and spectacular birds of the rainforest
0:50:53 > 0:50:59and just as we were walking up this track we spotted the male,
0:50:59 > 0:51:02that's now in that tree just ahead of me.
0:51:10 > 0:51:14The bird I'm here to see is the Great Pied Hornbill.
0:51:17 > 0:51:20Hornbills make a special nest.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26To protect their eggs, they choose a hollow inner tree.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28The female is sealed up, using dung.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33She'll stay there for four months.
0:51:35 > 0:51:39Twice a day, the male will bring food for her and their young.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43Hornbills mate for life.
0:51:45 > 0:51:49Their nests can be hard to find,
0:51:49 > 0:51:52unless you've been studying them for 15 years, like Divya Mudappa.
0:51:55 > 0:51:57They're such big birds!
0:51:57 > 0:52:01I knew they were big but when you see them with your own eyes.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03Look at that!
0:52:05 > 0:52:10Their colourings are impossibly perfect
0:52:10 > 0:52:13for something natural.
0:52:13 > 0:52:18The shadings of yellow and then the black and white feathers
0:52:18 > 0:52:20are just so beautiful.
0:52:20 > 0:52:24He's on the move, he's going to go across to the nest.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27Does he have food in his bill?
0:52:27 > 0:52:29- In his gullet.- In his gullet.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33- So, he regurgitates it for the female?- That's right, yeah.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37I don't even need the binoculars, he's so big!
0:52:37 > 0:52:40Once he flies over, there he is, there he is!
0:52:40 > 0:52:42SHE GASPS AND EXHALES
0:52:46 > 0:52:48He's regurgitating.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51So, how can you tell what he's regurgitating?
0:52:51 > 0:52:54Just by watching it and looking at the shape of the fruit.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02These are magnificent creatures.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14Their wingspan can fully extend to five feet.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23Each nest will normally contain one or two young.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28They're not born with the distinctive
0:53:28 > 0:53:32casques on their bills, theses take about five years to fully develop.
0:53:35 > 0:53:39The bright yellow colour looks artificial
0:53:39 > 0:53:43but it comes from a preen gland secretion, which the male spreads
0:53:43 > 0:53:47onto his primary feathers, giving them their distinctive colour.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55The male brings all sorts of fruits to the nest
0:53:55 > 0:53:59but he'll also seek out small insects and other flying creatures.
0:53:59 > 0:54:02This one even has a bat in its beak.
0:54:10 > 0:54:13I can see the bill of the female.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16- They close up the entrance... - That's right.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20..to protect from predators, that's something else, isn't it?
0:54:20 > 0:54:23She doesn't get to stretch her wings for, like, months.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26In fact, she might moult when she's sitting in there
0:54:26 > 0:54:28and get a new set of feathers.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32That's dedication for you!
0:54:34 > 0:54:39This really unusual growth on top of the bill, it's hollow and it's very
0:54:39 > 0:54:43lightweight, it's made of hollow cells, supported by two walls.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46And it acts as an amplification chamber, so that
0:54:46 > 0:54:50when they call, in the forest, the sound travels even further.
0:54:52 > 0:54:57And just before mating season, sometimes you'll see males
0:54:57 > 0:55:02butting or clashing their casques together in mid-air, so that they
0:55:02 > 0:55:04can win the female.
0:55:06 > 0:55:10It makes, for their name, the hornbill
0:55:10 > 0:55:14and there's no question, it's quite a bizarre structure.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20These magnificent birds are often called
0:55:20 > 0:55:22"the gardeners of the rainforest",
0:55:22 > 0:55:26because they play such a vital role in the eco-system
0:55:26 > 0:55:28as seed dispersers.
0:55:28 > 0:55:33They feed on so many of the fruit trees around the forest
0:55:33 > 0:55:37and as they fly, they drop all of the seeds,
0:55:37 > 0:55:39all across the landscape.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49Oh, I can't get enough of his head!
0:55:51 > 0:55:55The unusual casque, the shape of the beak, the shadings,
0:55:55 > 0:55:58they're such stunning creatures!
0:56:01 > 0:56:02Ah, he's off.
0:56:13 > 0:56:18The sound of the wings through the forest at dawn, I mean,
0:56:18 > 0:56:20there's nothing more glorious, is there?
0:56:20 > 0:56:23No, my hair stands on end every time I hear it.
0:56:23 > 0:56:28I got complete shivers as he soared across the sky!
0:56:39 > 0:56:42This is a land that seems to have it all.
0:56:42 > 0:56:47From the unexpected lions of the Gir Forest
0:56:47 > 0:56:51and the people's intimate connection with the animals that live here...
0:56:51 > 0:56:53Wow!
0:56:53 > 0:56:56..to the magnificent Himalayas that shape both the landscape
0:56:56 > 0:56:58and its life.
0:56:59 > 0:57:03These are the natural wonders of India...
0:57:06 > 0:57:09..and we've only just scratched the surface.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11Next time...
0:57:15 > 0:57:17That's extraordinary!
0:57:19 > 0:57:21It makes you emotional, right?
0:57:26 > 0:57:30It's just, literally, popped out of a hole and it's just lovely to watch.
0:57:32 > 0:57:34THEY ROAR
0:57:34 > 0:57:36Beautiful female behind me.
0:57:36 > 0:57:38This is unbelievable!
0:57:40 > 0:57:42See you later!
0:57:42 > 0:57:44SHE SCREAMS
0:57:44 > 0:57:46THEY SPEAK IN NATIVE LANGUAGE
0:57:59 > 0:58:01The Wonders of India.
0:58:05 > 0:58:08OK, one, two, three...
0:58:08 > 0:58:10- TOGETHER:- The wonders of India!
0:58:10 > 0:58:12SHE LAUGHS