Ussuri Iolo yn Rwsia

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-On my journey through Russia, I've

-climbed the Caucasus mountains...

-..and wandered through

-the Ural forests.

-I've sailed on the White Sea and

-roamed the shoreline of Lake Baikal.

-I've reached Ussuriland.

-I'm looking forward

-to experiencing...

-..some of Russia's

-Far Eastern delights.

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-The Far East

-In the Far East,

-Siberia's chilling winds...

-..meet Japan's warm mists

-to create an exotic landscape.

-Here, everything appears

-out of the ordinary.

-The winters are harsh

-and even the strongest creatures...

-..battle to survive.

-To reach Russia's Far East

-from Europe...

-..you have to travel

-hundreds of miles...

-..before reaching

-the far end of the country...

-..and the Pacific Ocean.

-I've flown to Vladivostok.

-I'm going to travel west

-for 100 miles to Lake Khanka.

-I'm here in September - the leaves

-are starting to change colour.

-As Costa, my driver, and I

-drive through the villages...

-..I get a taste

-of the people's way of life...

-..and realize

-how self-sufficient they are.

-This part of Russia

-is called Ussuriland.

-Here, north of the border

-with China...

-..miles and miles of swamps

-and paddy fields can be found.

-Right in the middle of Ussuriland...

-..is the largest lake

-of Russia's Far East - Lake Khanka.

-The lake covers an area

-of 4,000 square metres.

-Over 350 species of birds

-gather here every summer.

-Some of the birds in these wetlands

-near Lake Khanka...

-..are familiar to us in Wales.

-Coots, wild geese,

-marsh harriers and grey herons.

-When we think

-of the larger wetlands in Wales...

-..the Newport wetlands,

-Penclacwydd...

-..and Malltraeth on Anglesey...

-..they're anywhere

-up to 100 acres in size.

-To give you an idea, these wetlands

-would cover half of Anglesey.

-This is only a small part

-of Lake Khanka.

-There are birds everywhere. It's

-too good an opportunity to miss.

-I love wandering around the wetlands

-to see the birds.

-Birds aren't the only creatures

-on this lake.

-A very unique-looking creature

-lives here.

-This is

-the Chinese soft shell turtle.

-These turtles usually live

-in Asian and American lakes...

-..but it's found its way to Russia.

-For eight months of the year,

-the lake is frozen...

-..and the turtle

-hibernates under the ice.

-The turtle makes the most

-of the summer sun...

-..but it has to take care

-before it ventures out of the lake.

-The turtles are shy.

-They don't want to share the beach

-when they're sunbathing.

-The largest turtle

-chooses his territory first.

-This small turtle makes a mistake

-as it ventures out of the water.

-The larger turtle is determined

-to teach him a lesson.

-Finally, the large turtle is left

-in peace to sunbathe on the beach.

-The lake is relatively shallow -

-no more than four metres deep.

-It's renowned for the miles

-of lotus flowers that grow on it.

-At the end of the summer,

-as autumn grips the lake...

-..the green leaves

-lose their colour...

-..whilst the seeds

-have already been scattered.

-Wow! Look at these

-incredible plants - the lotus.

-Right now, in the autumn,

-with their broad leaves...

-..they look like creatures

-from another planet.

-They're at their best in the summer

-when the beautiful flowers open up.

-Our wildlife camera crew

-spent their summer on the lake...

-..as it became a sea of colour.

-This is the largest collection of

-lotus flowers in the whole of Asia.

-The landscape is beautiful

-during the summer.

-The lake isn't always calm.

-When the wind picks up,

-the waves create floods...

-..which destroy

-the surrounding land.

-The strong winds

-also force the birds to land.

-The floods create new pools

-of water.

-As the storm retreats, the soft

-shell turtle explores the new pools.

-Hundreds of small fish

-have been trapped in the pools.

-There's no escape.

-It's heaven for the hungry turtle.

-But it has competition.

-The snakehead is also searching

-for food in the shallow water.

-This fish can breathe outside water

-and can slither out of the lake.

-The turtle has found enough fish

-to keep it happy for a while.

-It only has a few months

-before the lake freezes.

-It must eat as much as it can

-as it prepares for winter.

-The snakehead also knows

-winter is approaching.

-It must swim to deeper waters.

-When the storm passes, a thick

-cloud of mist descends on the lake.

-During the summer, raccoon dogs

-swim in the shallow pools...

-..but something else

-has attracted this one to the lake.

-The turtles' hatching period

-has started.

-Raccoon dogs can smell

-young turtles in the sand.

-Having found a nest,

-the raccoon dog feasts on an egg.

-The floods

-have destroyed many nests.

-When a baby turtle is born,

-it heads straight for the water.

-The nest is located

-far from the lake to avoid floods.

-It's a long journey

-to reach the water safely.

-Adult turtles

-don't look after their young.

-Larger turtles will eat them

-at every opportunity.

-This little turtle flees quickly.

-The current helps its escape.

-It doesn't stay

-in the shallow water for long.

-It heads for deep water where it

-can hide under the lotus leaves.

-The leaves provide camouflage

-to fool any nearby predators.

-The little turtle

-can enjoy the sunshine for now.

-The turtle's favourite food

-is algae.

-There's plenty of it

-under the water.

-The turtle

-has good eyesight and smell.

-It can also breathe underwater.

-This allows it to find dead fish.

-On the other hand, snakeheads

-love to eat live creatures.

-As the little turtle concentrates

-on catching the fish...

-..it doesn't notice the nearby

-threat and becomes an easy lunch.

-While I roam the water's edge

-and the nearby land...

-..I experience

-the changeable weather.

-As the wind strengthens,

-large waves form on the water.

-During the autumnal storms, you

-won't find any insects on the lake.

-The wind is too strong for them.

-For a few days in the summer,

-when the weather is perfect...

-..when it's fine

-and entirely calm...

-..millions of mayflies

-appear at the same time...

-..and create a mist

-on the water's surface.

-Our wildlife camera crew spent

-the summer months filming the lake.

-They managed to film one of Lake

-Khanka's most incredible sights.

-As the sun sets, thousands

-of insects rise above the water...

-..and create the illusion of

-a snowstorm in the middle of summer.

-Being surrounded by insects

-isn't a nice experience...

-..but it's an incredible sight.

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-I'm moving ahead on my journey

-through Russia's Far East.

-I'm approaching Ussuriland

-near the Amur river.

-Travelling here in the autumn and

-seeing all the colours around me...

-..it's hard to believe that winters

-here are as harsh as Siberia's.

-The beautiful colours hide

-a fierce and graceful creature...

-..which roams the forest.

-This is the Amur tiger.

-Animals must withstand freezing

-temperatures to survive here.

-The Amur tiger, which is only found

-in this part of Russia...

-..succeeds in doing so.

-Our wildlife camera crew

-filmed these tigers...

-..after spending a whole year

-in Russia's Far East.

-This is the only tiger in the world

-that survives so far north.

-Its size and strength ensures

-that it's king of the forest.

-There are only 450 in the world...

-..with 300 of them in Ussuriland.

-Weighing 200kgs, this young tiger

-is heavier than a small horse.

-Young tigers stay with their mother

-until she mates.

-When the mother is ready to mate,

-the young tigers stay away.

-The male tigers roam for miles...

-..and see many female tigers

-on their journey.

-Even though the female tigers

-expect a visit...

-..the timing of the male tigers

-isn't always perfect.

-The female leaves

-signs and smells...

-..to notify the male

-that she is ready to mate.

-Even in the snow,

-the male tiger can sense...

-..that the female

-is ready to mate...

-..by opening its mouth

-and tasting the air.

-This female tiger

-isn't ready to mate yet.

-The male will have to be patient.

-By now, I've reached

-Ussuriysk Nature Reserve...

-..two hours from Vladivostok.

-Here, my tour leader, Mikhail,

-and I meet Mikhail Maximov...

-..one of

-the nature reserve's wardens.

-Mikhail tells us that

-this nature reserve is special...

-..because 90% of the forests

-contain Korean coniferous trees.

-They're a crucial part

-of the wild boar's diet...

-..which is the Amur tiger's

-primary source of food.

-This is the perfect habitat

-for the tiger.

-Mikhail has seen around 15 tigers

-during his career, from a distance.

-On one occasion,

-a young tiger attacked him.

-Tigers are usually shy creatures

-that avoid confrontation.

-This young tiger was startled

-and attacked Mikhail...

-..taking a swipe at his back

-before fleeing.

-The experience

-will stay with Mikhail forever.

-I'm venturing into the forest...

-..but I'm unlikely to see a tiger

-on the lowlands...

-..since it's too close to the road.

-I have seen evidence

-of another creature, though.

-Russia is renowned for its bears,

-especially the brown bear.

-Another bear lives in this area -

-the Asian black bear.

-In this clearing behind me,

-one hibernates every winter.

-This species is as happy

-in the trees as it is on the ground.

-The weather is very changeable

-in this part of Russia.

-The taiga is very similar

-to a rainforest.

-The rain doesn't bother

-the Asian black bear.

-Unlike the brown bear, it eats

-leaves and vegetables all year.

-They must be able to climb skilfully

-and escape from tigers.

-There's plenty of food

-throughout the year.

-The tastiest leaves

-are on the trees.

-The bears know where to search.

-This female black bear loves

-eating leaves from the oak tree.

-Nearby, the younger bears climb.

-They are only a few weeks old.

-Despite being young, they've learnt

-the skill of climbing already.

-Just like little monkeys,

-they can reach the very top.

-They know the highest branches

-are the safest.

-As they play, the mother

-keeps an eagle eye on them.

-These young bears have looked after

-themselves over the summer.

-Just like the Ussuri badger,

-they start preparing for winter.

-The bears have been filling

-their bellies since early summer.

-They're now much heavier - three

-times heavier in a matter of weeks.

-The play-fighting shows these

-are young, inexperienced bears.

-The badger

-has nothing to worry about.

-The bears are too busy

-making the most of the autumn sun.

-Before long, the bears will prepare

-nests of leaves and branches...

-..to keep them warm in winter.

-Once the snow arrives, they'll

-hide in their holes in the forest.

-Tree trunks like this can be found

-along the forest floor everywhere.

-They're an important habitat

-for a wide variety of creatures.

-One of them is a snake

-that is only found in this area.

-Unbeknown to this chipmunk...

-..it has strayed into the territory

-of Russia's ratsnake.

-The chipmunk

-is searching for food...

-..and often stores a pantry

-of nuts and berries in the trees.

-Another chipmunk

-has joined in the treasure hunt.

-In their hurry

-to fill their bellies...

-..they don't sense

-the nearby threat.

-This two-metre long ratsnake...

-..preys on birds,

-mice and chipmunks.

-Will it find its lunch today?

-The chipmunks are fortunate that

-this snake has no interest in them.

-It slithers to the riverbank

-to find its prey.

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-I'm moving ahead on my journey

-through Russia's Far East.

-I'm on my way

-to Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve.

-The Amur river flows through

-this part of Russia's Far East.

-It's one of Russia's longest rivers.

-It winds its way from Lake Baikal

-all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

-Here, miles and miles of woodlands

-provide the perfect habitat...

-..for a wide variety of wildlife.

-During the autumn,

-the woodlands are a sight to behold.

-The trees create

-a sea of different colours.

-Having reached

-Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve...

-..I'm roaming along the stream

-which flows through the woodland.

-Wherever you see dozens of fish

-together in a stream like this...

-..you'll find creatures

-that take advantage of the feast.

-Grey herons and otters

-are the main predators.

-In this area, a special kind of owl

-preys on the fish.

-This Blakiston's fish-owl chick

-is two months old.

-It's waiting patiently to be fed...

-..12 metres above the river.

-OWL CALLS

-Its parent's calls from nearby

-alert it that food is on its way.

-It knows it will be fed tonight.

-Its parents

-are fishing close to the nest.

-It's an interesting,

-as well as an educational, sight...

-..for the chick.

-Fortunately, there's a variety

-of fish in the river.

-It can enjoy one fish for now.

-In one night,

-this chick will eat up to ten fish.

-Both parents will have to fish all

-night to satisfy the young chick.

-The moonlight is just like sunlight.

-It lights the valley

-and wakes the chick's senses.

-Fish aren't the only prey

-for the owl.

-Toads are also part of its diet.

-Down at the water's edge, another

-creature uses the moonlight to hunt.

-The raccoon dog loves roaming

-the Ussuri woodlands...

-..and hunts toads skilfully.

-The muddy water or the owl's calls

-doesn't bother it.

-It has an amazing ability

-to sense tadpoles from a distance.

-Some weeks later, the chick is

-almost the same size as its parents.

-The tree trunk which has fallen

-across the river is a safe haven.

-It's an ideal vantage point to keep

-an eye on any fish that swim by.

-The water is deep and the current

-is fast after heavy rain last night.

-It has to wait patiently

-before starting to hunt.

-Further up,

-in the nature reserve's woodlands...

-..I'm in the territory of a rare

-creature which is only found here.

-Kedrovaya Pad's

-most famous resident...

-..is the Amur leopard,

-one of the world's rarest animals.

-Only 40 remain.

-It's been over-hunted

-and it's lost its habitat.

-Here, at the nature reserve,

-the combination of upland forests...

-..and rocky terrain is ideal for it.

-Even the animals

-that live in the trees...

-..come out to witness

-the leopard's rare visit.

-It's a nocturnal creature.

-Despite its ferocity, it's a shy

-animal which only comes out to hunt.

-This leopard killed a deer

-some nights ago.

-It's hidden it under a tree trunk.

-It will return to its prey

-many times until it's eaten it all.

-The flying squirrels can rely on

-the vast pantry the trees provide.

-They shimmy up and down

-the tree trunk at pace.

-After feeding, the leopard

-disappears into the night...

-..as quickly as it arrived.

-I want to discover more

-about the leopard...

-..one of Russia's

-valuable treasures.

-Mikhail and I are joined

-by Irina, the reserve's warden.

-The reserve was formed

-over 90 years ago.

-Irina says the reserve is crucial

-to the future of the leopard.

-She knows that at least

-three female leopards live here...

-..along with one male leopard

-which enjoys roaming the woodlands.

-It's the king of Kedrovaya Pad.

-She is both sad and excited

-about the fact that very few remain.

-We may be the last generation

-to see them.

-The numbers have stayed the same

-over the past few years.

-President Putin has signed

-a document to support a plan...

-..to safeguard the leopard's future.

-I sincerely hope the plan works.

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-After a long journey, I reach

-Vityaz Bay near the Sea of Japan.

-It's part of the Pacific Ocean.

-This is a small seaside town.

-Since the coastline

-is so close to Korea...

-..everything looks so different

-to the other areas I've visited.

-Well, here I am, after travelling

-over high mountains...

-..and wide-open plains,

-and through giant forests.

-I've crossed the world's

-largest country...

-..and reached the Pacific Ocean.

-This coastline is as rich

-in wildlife as the mainland.

-Our wildlife camera crew were here

-at the start of the year...

-..when snow adorned the rocks and

-the water was two degrees Celsius.

-The temperature doesn't bother

-the Harlequin ducks.

-They're waiting for high tide

-when plankton will be washed ashore.

-Some hours earlier, the largha seals

-were relaxing on the rocks.

-Now, they have to flee

-to the colder waters.

-In a few weeks' time, the water's

-temperature will be increased...

-..by the Tsushima current.

-It will affect wildlife on the land

-as well as in the depths.

-The Sea of Japan's coastline

-offers a wide variety of seaweed.

-Eager to feed on the seaweed, the

-ducks dive bravely into the depths.

-The seaweed and common eelgrass grow

-in the sheltered areas of the bay.

-They provide food and shelter

-for many different creatures.

-Sea snails, shrimps and fish enjoy

-living in these underwater forests.

-These ducks eat the seaweed

-on the water's surface...

-..before diving to search for more.

-They will soon leave the water

-for a few weeks...

-..heading for the mountains to mate.

-The landscape around the coastline

-looks very exotic.

-The underwater wildlife

-is just as magical.

-This is one of the richest seas in

-Russia for fish and sea creatures.

-Fish, such as the Japanese fugu...

-..are swept along

-by the Tsushima current.

-The fugu

-is a relatively small fish...

-..but it defends itself

-with a powerful poison.

-Further down, a starfish is using

-its suckers to search for food.

-Within a few seconds,

-the starfish is feasting.

-These seashells

-have no chance of surviving.

-The starfish poisons them before

-sucking the remains from the shell.

-This soft-shell crab

-looks for any remains.

-Millions of them

-live in the shallow waters.

-They search for the remains

-of other creatures.

-The soft coral acts

-as a sieve for the nutritious water.

-These mussels are flourishing

-on the bottom of the Sea of Japan.

-The Tsushima also carries

-some strange-looking fish.

-These creatures lay their eggs in

-water that's packed with oxygen...

-..but flee

-before the temperature drops.

-Sika deer have been reintroduced

-in Ussuriland...

-..after they died out

-following over-hunting.

-They've adapted perfectly

-to life in the forest...

-..but they do venture out

-from time to time.

-Sometimes,

-they can be seen on the beaches.

-After spending time in the woodlands

-near the Sea of Japan...

-..the unusual whistles

-of the Sika deer is an indication...

-..that it's time to move on

-to the coastline.

-WHISTLING

-Every year, the sea attracts them

-in their hundreds.

-It's a slow journey. The deer stay

-vigilant along their misty path.

-The sound of the sea

-draws them down to the beach.

-Here, the deer will feed

-on the seaweed.

-It's a healthy meal for them.

-It provides the salt they require.

-Sea salt also forces the deer

-to lick their fur clean.

-As the deer feast on the seaweed...

-..they haven't realized that

-there could be danger on the beach.

-An Amur tiger also likes

-to roam the coastline...

-..especially if

-a herd of deer is nearby.

-Some of the deer

-have remained vigilant...

-..and warn the others

-about the approaching predator.

-This tiger didn't finish

-last night's feast.

-It has returned to its prey.

-The tiger usually hunts

-during the night...

-..killing black bears,

-badgers and raccoon dogs...

-..but it will also find deer

-along the coastline...

-..and it's too good

-an opportunity to miss.

-This tiger has eaten enough. Very

-little meat remains on the carcass.

-But it doesn't want to give

-the ravens an easy meal.

-As soon as the tiger's back

-is turned, the birds attack...

-..but the tiger isn't happy.

-Finally, the birds

-are left in peace to eat.

-The tiger heads for the woodland.

-However, the ravens

-have competition - a sea eagle.

-They'll have to share their supper.

-I reach the end of my journey

-in Russia's Far East...

-..in wonderful Ussuriland.

-Of all the places

-I've visited in Russia...

-..Ussuriland has been

-the biggest eye-opener.

-Not because

-it's very different to Wales...

-..but because it's so similar.

-Large areas of land

-are covered by trees.

-It's similar to the way Wales was

-4,000 years ago...

-..before we started to fell trees.

-Some of the animals that lived

-in Wales still live here...

-..the lynx, the bear

-and the wild boar.

-And here, of course, the tiger too.

-I'm so glad I visited

-in the autumn...

-..when the trees are at their best.

-The leaves have turned

-gold, yellow, orange and red.

-Now that I've reached

-the Pacific Ocean...

-..you'd think my journey was over,

-but it's not.

-There's one more journey -

-across the water to Kamchatka...

-..the land of volcanoes.

-S4C Subtitles by Simian 04 Cyf.

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