The desert of northwest India is one of the most challenging environments on the planet, where only the best adapted survive.
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AnimalsTranscript
00:00The deserts of Northwest India.
00:07One of the most challenging environments on the planet.
00:18Tracks are often the only clue to life.
00:21Here, survival demands resilience, strength and adaptation.
00:30This is Maristali, India's region of death.
00:51The Asiatic lion.
01:14Power and courage make this animal, not the tiger.
01:20India's national emblem.
01:37These are the formidable beasts
01:39that once ranged across the lands of the Bible
01:42that fought Samson and devoured Christians in Roman arenas.
01:50Now, they're only found in these parched scrub forests.
02:03This pride consists of six lions.
02:18Three adult females, two eight-month-old cubs
02:22and their year-and-a-half-old sister.
02:32The oldest lioness rules.
02:41Asiatic lion prides are far smaller than their African cousins,
02:45reflecting the smaller prey they hunt.
02:54The cubs are thin and constantly hungry.
03:02They try to suckle from their mother, the matriarch of the pride.
03:06But her milk has dried up.
03:19With the best hunter injured,
03:21the responsibility to feed the pride
03:23now falls on the less experienced younger females.
03:27life in these deserts knows nothing of gentleness or ease.
03:48gentleness or ease. The lionesses need to make a kill.
04:18Asiatic lions once numbered in thousands and ranged from India to the Mediterranean.
04:32They now cling to existence in this, their last refuge.
04:46India's deserts form part of the barren region that stretches 11,000 kilometers from Africa
04:53in the west to China in the east.
04:58They dominate the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
05:06A land of unrelenting heat.
05:15Punishing dryness.
05:21Driving winds sandblast everything in their path.
05:27This is the little ram of Kutch, which literally translates to salty desert.
05:37Once the bed of a shallow sea, little grows in this alien landscape.
05:44Species have to adapt to survive out here.
05:50Once the bed of a shallow sea, little grows in this alien landscape.
05:58Little species have to adapt to survive out here.
06:08Indian wildasses are among the hardest creatures in the whole of Asia.
06:26Indian wildasses are among the hardest creatures in the whole of Asia.
06:38Constantly on the move, extracting liquid from plants, they can survive on saline water.
06:56Instinctively, they face into the wind, letting the breeze pass over their moist, hairless noses,
07:02which radiate the heat to keep them cool.
07:10Thick skins help withstand punishing sandstorms.
07:16Their light coloration reflects the sun's intense rays.
07:29Adaptations like these are essential for life in such a harsh place.
07:34Adaptations like these are essential for life in such a harsh way.
07:50However, for many of India's desert species, there is another, quite different pressure.
08:04India's desert region is home to 130 million people, nearly half the population of the United States
08:17in an area smaller than Texas.
08:28Humans must also struggle to survive here,
08:31and conflict between man and animal is almost inevitable.
08:39But in a nation with an ingrained reverence for life,
08:44there is also charity and tolerance.
09:01Demoiselle cranes converge on a waterhole in Rautistan.
09:18Refueling before the grueling fright back to their breeding grounds,
09:23nearly 3,000 kilometers to the north in Mongolia.
09:27Over 100,000 birds attempt this migration that will take them over the Himalayas.
09:38Many die from fatigue, hunger and predation.
09:43Thousands more are killed by hunters.
09:46The small town of Kichan has become an oasis on their epic migration.
10:04At their peak, birds outnumber villagers by several thousand.
10:08They have become an oasis on their own.
10:09They have become an oasis on their own.
10:10They have become an oasis on their own.
10:11They have become an oasis on their own.
10:13It all started a few years ago when one man began feeding a handful of cranes.
10:27The cranes overcome their normal shyness an edge nearer.
10:31Now, up to 10,000 make the annual visit.
10:48When one takes the plunge, the rest quickly follow.
11:01There it goes Hmongi.
11:03When one takes the plunge, the gross exports.
11:05There it goes.
11:06Once they have become an oasis on the floor,
11:08sometimes is incredible when they're on the floor,
11:10if one gets the plunge would have ibup Drips andument spin.
11:12If they just get through the ней ouros that are into the lake,
11:14it wants to gather their little j enlightenment.
11:17And now they have an oasis.
11:20So there you'll be heard from it.
11:22It may be heard from them there!
11:28Is it correct Zegunday?
11:30Deserts offer little, so for people to give away food is a remarkably selfless act.
11:50All desert animals have to be opportunistic.
12:00A lioness scavenges on a dead cow in a stagnant pool.
12:12She feasts until a much larger male arrives.
12:30Young cubs suckle, their mother having finally fed.
12:42But they will require much more than this if they are to survive.
12:49Lions are not the only big cat to inhabit these deserts.
12:59Said to be more cunning than the tiger and fiercer than the lion.
13:06Yet so secretive it can live alongside people almost undetected.
13:22First light at a rocky outcrop surrounded by farms.
13:27Two eight-month-old leopard cubs wait for their mother to return from the night's hunting.
13:46Unlike the young lions, these cubs are clearly well fed.
13:50Their success is down to their adaptability.
13:54They will hunt virtually any animal, birds, insects and even frogs.
14:01Such tolerance of even large predators owes much to a Hindu philosophy called Ahimsa,
14:07her deep-seated reverence for all life.
14:10She is a consummate killer with a notorious ability for stealth.
14:11She is a consummate killer with a notorious ability for stealth.
14:17Walking silently on her toes, setting her hind feet precisely in the print of her forefeet.
14:24She is a consummate killer.
14:25She is a consummate killer with a notorious ability for stealth.
14:31Walking silently on her toes, setting her hind feet precisely in the print of her forefeet.
14:44The goat herder moves his flock on.
14:59The chance is over.
15:01A male lion stakes a claim to his territory.
15:16His roars tell rival males that this is his patch.
15:23Scent marking reinforces the message.
15:41Nearby, two 24-month-old cubs hone their hunting skills.
15:53This lioness operates alone.
16:18They greet her with play fighting.
16:22Asiatic male lions play a little part in the pride, only returning to mate and eat.
16:43The lioness and her cubs greet him.
16:52Then he is!
16:53This lioness and her cubs passengers are so시다able…
16:59What is this?
17:01It's because the lioness and her�리 650an monster is being camped.
17:04Dead, the lioness and the lioness and the elephant have been targeted.
17:09Early March, in the grasslands of eastern Rajasthan.
17:31Herds of blackbuck graze in the early morning sun.
17:36Also known as Indian antelope,
17:39they once ranged right across these deserts.
17:45Today, the loss of habitat means they're now only found in isolated areas.
17:56Blackbuck are one of the few antelope where males and females have distinctive colouring.
18:01The females are lighter.
18:04The males have long twisted horns packed with blood vessels which radiate heat and help keep them cool,
18:16especially during the mating season when they're most active.
18:20They mark out territories or lex with dung and urine and defend them by grunting and posturing.
18:36Females approach to choose a mate.
18:40Bucks strut and parade.
18:42The continuation of their genes is all that matters.
18:50Holding on to the prime spot requires a great deal of effort.
18:53If posturing isn't enough, rivals engage in duels.
18:59His character doesn't interfere with a minor division.
19:01HONEY WILL BE S G crowning MIND
19:05Yeah, we have arms arms and masks.
19:07favorites.
19:09It makes me feel i'm quite busy.
19:11It makes me feell at this point as if the giants vard
19:25Their guard is down and two wolves are drawn in looking for an easy meal.
19:55Indian wolves usually hunt in pairs when targeting antelope.
20:11One wolf acts as a decoy, the other attacks from behind.
20:25But they're spotted.
20:34Blackbuck are the fastest animals on these plains, which they once shared with the now extinct
20:43Indian cheetah, explaining their now unnecessary turn of speed.
20:50The wolves don't stand the chance and know it.
21:03Fatalities are inevitable.
21:08The wolves nervously approach a carcass, a young blackbuck that may have died from wounds
21:15inflicted on the licking ground.
21:19They're aware that much larger, more powerful hunters could be nearby.
21:24Leopards.
21:36When food is short, wolves take what they can.
21:43Midsummer, and reproduction is in full swing.
21:58A pair of paradise flycatchers build a delicate nest.
22:06The male watches as the female works.
22:14An oriental white eye pays a visit.
22:21A female rose-ringed parakeet feeds her two chicks.
22:45A male peacock, India's national bird, parades at his leg.
22:56He attracts the attention of a pea hen.
23:01She is looking for the most impressive tail and flamboyant display, both unfakeable proof of
23:09the bird's strength and genetic vigor.
23:11Leopards.
23:18Ha, ha that's how good she does.
23:36Peacock alarm calls warn of a predator.
24:06Unlike in Africa, Asiatic lions hunt in small groups, ambushing rather than running down prey.
24:36One lion can devour 45 kilograms of meat in one city.
25:06And not eat for another week.
25:36The demoiselle cranes begin their long journey back to their northern nesting grounds.
26:00Flocks of pipits feed on grass seeds.
26:16An Indian fox is hunting.
26:23She will prey on anything from small birds and rodents to insects.
26:38At this time of the year, she's kept busy at the den.
26:43These three-month-old pups spend their days sleeping and playing.
26:58With a young family, this den may be too close to the road.
27:13Forcing them to relocate.
27:14With a young family, this den may be too close to the road, forcing them to relocate.
27:28Close by, two other little ones are also on their own while their mother hunts.
27:4930 centimeters tall, these kittens are potential prey.
27:59A game of hide-and-seek improves their survival skills.
28:08Although only play, their claws are primed for attack.
28:25Desert cats are one of the few wild cats to live underground where it's safer and cooler.
28:48Indian foxes will eat desert kittens.
29:03The vixen moves in to investigate.
29:09The young cat confronts her.
29:30The young cat confronts her.
29:37But this time, she's after real estate, not a meal, and takes over their den.
29:47The cats need to find a new home.
30:00Predated by both desert cats and Indian foxes, the jerd is a relative of the gerbil.
30:07The jerds are most active in the cool of the morning and early evening.
30:20Enormous black eyes perched high on top of their heads help them to spot danger.
30:32There are over 40 different birds of prey hunting in these deserts.
30:47Up to 50 individuals can be found in a labyrinth of tunnels.
30:54They're safe from predators and have an ample supply of succulent roots.
31:00But there is another reason for choosing a life underground.
31:10Only 10 centimeters below the desert surface, the temperature can be 10 degrees cooler.
31:16That's essential for species like this spiny-tailed lizard that can't regulate its body temperature.
31:29They store fat in their spiny tails, which fuels them in times of famine.
31:44It's early morning and this cold-blooded reptile needs to warm up to get its metabolism going.
31:59Slowly, more emerge and their dark skin soaks up the sun's heat.
32:03As they warm up, their skin becomes lighter and balances the effects of the sun's rays.
32:18Once at an optimum temperature, they feed on grasses and carefully mark out their territory.
32:33Now.
32:54Not every intrusion is hostile.
32:57This is what passes for romance in the world of swiney tails.
33:18For larger species, the traditional way to keep cool is to shelter under a tree.
33:27Like a tropical reef in an empty ocean, the Kajeri tree provides shade and food for desert species.
33:47Unimpressive and disheveled on the surface, their roots go down 30 meters in search of water.
33:57They can withstand temperatures of 45 degrees in summer to less than 10 degrees in the winter.
34:12Acacias are better known as African species, but are also native to India.
34:17Here, they stabilize the sand dunes and are capable of surviving extreme trout.
34:31As evening falls, a rare white-napped tit flies to its roosting site.
34:48This hole offers protection against both the elements and predators.
34:54May is the windy season when the dunes move.
35:15The clouds move.
35:32Little can survive out here as temperatures reach 49 degrees.
35:37In one of the few remaining water holes, dromedary camels take in moisture.
36:07They can go two weeks without water, and after doing so they can drink 130 litres, equal to one third of their body weight.
36:19They're among the best adapted of all the desert species.
36:25Thick eyebrows shield their eyes from the sun.
36:31Long eyelashes keep sand out of their eyes.
36:36They can close their nostrils.
36:42Their wide feet prevent them from sinking deep into the desert sand.
36:48They can vary their body temperature from 36 to 42 degrees to stop them sweating and conserve water.
37:00Extinct in the wild for 2,000 years, they are now domesticated.
37:12They are now in the wild for 3,000 years.
37:28Another desert grazer capable of going months without water
37:49is the rare Chinkara gazelle.
37:58To the Bishnoi people, preserving life is an essential part of religion.
38:11Enjoying centuries of protection from predators, poachers and famine, these normally shy Chinkara
38:18are at home amongst this devout Hindu community.
38:25The young Leopard family is still living.
38:53The Leopard family is still living amongst the villages.
38:58The cubs are now nearly a year old.
39:03The Leopardess returns from the night's hunting, but is greeted by only one cub.
39:13The other must be out there somewhere.
39:26Until Leopard's kill cubs that are not their own.
39:36She calls out to locate her missing cub.
39:51On the far side of the hill, the adventurous young male is hunting peacock.
40:07Inexperienced, he has much to learn.
40:30Roughed-up neck feathers warn others of his presence.
40:43His hunt is over.
40:50The cub returns to the den side of the hillock to rejoin his family.
41:11The cub returns to the den side of the hillock to rejoin his family.
41:22He still has another year before he'll venture out on his own.
41:27Into an uncertain world between the unforgiving wilderness and the ever-advancing human population.
41:33Unrelenting heat evaporates the few remaining pools in the little ran of Kutch.
42:00The people eke out a living producing salt for the tables of India.
42:19Flamingos trawl these waters, feeding on plankton.
42:26They drink water so concentrated with salt it would lead to brain damage and death in humans.
42:33June is the mating season for wild ass.
43:01Stallions or jacks are battling to control harems of female ass or jennies.
43:08Groups of younger males hang out in herds, hoping to seize the opportunity to steal the female.
43:17In the blistering heat, jackass gallop at speeds in excess of 60 kilometers an hour.
43:36The females watch on.
43:52The menace will do not walk away.
43:53Come.
43:54The menace will be used in a cabin.
43:58Let's go.
44:28Below the old Maharaja's palace,
44:31Indian long-billed vultures take to wing
44:34and soar effortlessly above the blue city of Jodhpur.
44:38Mercifully for creatures that spend their lives
44:59with their heads buried in rotting carcasses,
45:02old-world vultures do not have a sense of smell.
45:07Instead, they rely on incredible eyesight
45:10and can spot carrion up to six kilometers away.
45:13They, too, suffer from overheating and squabble for shame.
45:30Or use their own shadows to keep their bald heads
45:34out of the midday sun.
45:35With modern India's human expansion,
45:55wildlife faces the growing challenge
45:58of surviving alongside over one billion people.
46:01Over the past ten years,
46:05India's vulture populations have crashed by 99%,
46:09poisoned by a drug used on cattle.
46:14Several species face extinction.
46:17But India has an excellent record
46:29of bringing species back from the edge.
46:36At the beginning of the 20th century,
46:39hunting and habitat loss
46:41had reduced the Asiatic lion numbers
46:43to just 13 animals.
46:49Intense conservation efforts
46:51have brought them up to 400 individuals
46:54and climbing.
46:58After a decade on the brink,
47:01the vultures are recovering
47:02thanks to breeding programs
47:04and a ban on the drug that decimated them.
47:07There are even plans
47:10to reintroduce Asiatic cheetah
47:13into these deserts,
47:15which would remind the black buck
47:18why they have such acceleration.
47:23The adaptability of nature
47:26combined with a reverence for all creation
47:29means wildlife can continue to survive
47:33even in this the most hostile
47:35of India's many environments.