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lao
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a country of outstanding natural beauty
where the mekong river winds its way
through mountains cloaked in dense
tropical forests
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it's one of the most pristine countries
in southeast asia
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a treasure trove of wildlife
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the mighty mekong river flows down
through a landscape
that it has sculpted over millennia
[Applause]
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it's central to the survival of
countless enigmatic
and endangered creatures
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from magnificent gibbons
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and dazzling pea fowl
to marauding macaques
lao is a land of kaleidoscopic beauty
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so
[Applause]
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the mountain wilds of northern lao
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a living paradise fed by the mekong
river
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the mekong's vast network of tributaries
carves the region into isolated pockets
of pristine jungle
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these enclaves provide refuge for a
number of critically endangered species
part of the province is protected by the
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bokeho nature reserve
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a 1230 square kilometer sanctuary
established in 1997
to save a rare species from extinction
the black crested gibbon
with between thirteen hundred to two
thousand individuals left in the wild
they are one of the world's most
endangered primates
an elegant creature perfectly suited to
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life in the high
canopy
sightings like this are rare
a female feeds in a tree
like all females she has a light coat
and a distinctive black crest on her
head
her mate and their infant play nearby
in contrast to the females male black
rested gibbons are jet
black
the family spends each day traveling
through the canopy
visiting their favorite feeding trees
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gibbons live in close-knit family groups
this young male will stay with his
parents for more than three years
even after they have their next baby
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it's two hours before sunset
while it's still light the family heads
back to the safety of its sleeping trees
along the river
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from its source in tibet the mekong
travels nearly 2
000 kilometers before it reaches the
bokeho province
in the far northwest of lao
it flows briefly along the burmese
border before continuing another 1700
kilometers down through lao
following its western border with
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thailand
gibbons like many other creatures in the
tropics
live in the canopy where food and
nutrients are most concentrated
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those that don't live in the canopy must
turn to the mekong to satisfy their
needs
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the tributaries and wetlands of the
mekong basin
are home to a multitude of fish eating
birds
a pair of pied kingfishers rests on a
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branch overlooking the lake
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unlike most kingfishers that dive into
the water from a perch
the pieds have a different approach
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the male hovers 10 meters above the lake
and locates a target
kingfishers have excellent eyesight
above and below the water
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but they don't get it right every time
he cleans his beak and rejoins his mate
two black bands across his breast set
him apart from the female
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she has a single broken band around her
breast
she's seen how not to do it
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as she hits the water bony plates slide
across our eyes for protection
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without hungry chicks to feed the prize
is hers alone
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the male kingfisher better up his game
true hovering like this is a specialist
skill
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pied kingfishers are the largest birds
on the planet
able to do this
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he beats his wings horizontally to
achieve lift without thrust
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this time he doesn't miss
may the start of the wet season
in lao
monsoon winds pick up moisture from the
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indian ocean and head inland
clouds envelop the landscape as the
winds rise up over the hills and
mountains of lao
they empty their load over the forests
along the mekong floodplain
the country is transformed
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wetlands are replenished
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insects and invertebrate numbers soar
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and the birds quickly follow
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blackwing stilts and other wading
species return
in their thousands to breed over the
coming months
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these wetlands around the mekong's
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tribute trees
are also home to a curious looking
primate
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stump tailed macaques
also known as bear macaques they're
covered in thick
long dark fur
their bright red faces are unmistakable
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although with age and exposure to
sunlight these darken to brown or black
infants are born white their fur
won't darken till they're around four
months old
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like some humans both males and females
become
partially bald as they age
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the troop has stumbled across a grove of
fruit trees
they find the seed pods irresistible
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stump-tailed macaques live in mixed
groups of between
five to sixty individuals
they inhabit forests up and down the
mekong
but their numbers are in decline
the troop is governed by a dominant male
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keeping everyone in line is a full-time
job
there are a number of subordinate males
in the troop
most importantly he must keep these
hopeful suitors away from his harem of
females
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his attacks are necessary to reinforce
the hierarchy
but stump held macaques equipped to
reconcile
the alpha male acknowledges their
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submissive behavior with a kiss
with order restored he gets back to
feeding along the bank of the stream
the rest of the troop is more interested
in the tasty seed pods
their thick fur protects the adults from
the rain
and babies have their own living
umbrellas
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the yearlings aren't so fortunate
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without a heavy coat or the cover of mum
they shelter together under the trees
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as evening approaches the dominant male
leads the troop back into the forest
everyone quickly falls in line
well nearly everyone
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these jungles are dangerous at night
the troops sleeping trees are hidden
among these rocky outcrops
they're a safe place to spend the night
further down the mekong from the black
crested gibbons at the volcano reserve
the call of a different species of
gibbon rings out across the jungle
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this is the morning solo of a male law
given he reminds the neighbours on both
sides of the river that this
is his domain
there are seven types of gibbon in lao
they don't swim so rivers form natural
barriers between different species
living in the same region
unlike their black crested cousins male
and female la
gibbons can be either dark or light
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they have distinct rings of white fur
around their faces
and with white gloves and socks they're
also known as white-handed gibbons
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gibbons spend most of their lives high
off the ground in the canopy
no other creatures on the planet can
travel through trees as effectively
their wrists and shoulders can fully
rotate and they have unusually long and
muscular arms
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with these adaptations they swing like
pendulums
arm to arm through the trees
[Laughter]
although other primates use this
technique
gibbons are the specialists
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when a gap between trees is larger than
their swing
they simply leap
with the help of gravity they seem to
almost
fly through the canopy
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gibbons can cruise like this for hours
and barely expend
any energy
they are effortless in their tree top
environment
perhaps their most impressive skill is
the way they negotiate the
three-dimensional
space of the canopy
it's far more complicated than running
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on the ground
if they misjudge which branch to grab
next
it's a long way down
a newborn clings to its mother's stomach
as she clambers round the canopy
from the moment they're born baby
gibbons are thrown into this way of life
the infant is pre-programmed not to let
go
with strength to match
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most babies are born late in the wet
season when fruit is more plentiful
this neighboring female has a slightly
older baby
while her mate enjoys a quick lie down
she takes her baby to a branch where she
can supervise some climbing practice
not bad for a first attempt
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but like mothers the world over you
can't take your eyes off your kids for a
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second
gibbons evolved their exceptional
physicality for one main reason
feeding in the canopy
finding a tree laden with fruit is the
easy part
reaching the fruit is more tricky
this is where gibbons excel
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their extraordinary athletic ability
allows them to get themselves into all
sorts of bizarre positions
nothing is out of reach
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their hands and feet perform
interchangeable tasks as they glide
around the trees
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when a branch might not look strong
enough to support them
gibbons expertly redistribute their
weight
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and continue to feast
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one might falter for a moment
but there's always a solution
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it looks casual but these are feats of
strength far beyond
human capabilities
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this phenomenal power in their arms
comes from their fused
forearm muscles which work together as
one
but this strength comes at a cost
gibbons have limited dexterity in their
hands
they can freely move their thumbs and
little fingers
but their fused forearm muscles means
their three middle fingers can only move
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as one
it's a small price to pay for these
masters of arboreal locomotion
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gibbons are the epitome of physical
efficiency
perfectly evolved to exploit their
treetop habitat
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further down the mekong there's another
resident that has evolved in almost the
opposite direction
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a curious bird that has sacrificed
efficiency and locomotion
for showmanship
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at dawn a male pea fowl announces his
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presence
the peacock's elaborate plumage is a
wonder of the natural world
evolved to advertise his genetic prowess
and attract females
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p hens choose males based on the quality
of their plumage
the size and quantity of the iconic eye
spots are paramount
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but this beauty is also a handicap
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it inhibits flight and makes it hard to
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avoid predators
and that's the point
is a burden only the strongest males can
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bear
when a peahen selects her mate she gets
more than a collection of fabulous
feathers
a male with a dazzling appearance must
also have the necessary strength and
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fitness to survive
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these are the genetic qualities that he
will pass on to his offspring
the ancient forests that grow along the
banks of the mekong are among the oldest
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on earth
a vast array of animals live side by
side and have evolved different
strategies to cope with the dangers they
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face
the variation beautifully reveals itself
with the nesting habits of the birds
that live here
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they are united in their need to protect
their nests from a host of jungle
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predators
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[Applause]
some build nests high up making them as
difficult to reach as possible
brightly colored sparrows fashion these
basket-like nests in the canopy
others rely on stealth
a velvet fronted nut hatch conceals her
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nest inside a hollow tree trunk she
shuttles in and out with beakfuls of
insects to satisfy her hungry chicks
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she tries not to attract the attention
of a patrolling lizard
nearby a freckle-breasted woodpecker's
nest is in the crosshairs
the lizard has caught the scent of its
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chicks
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the female's formidable beak is enough
to make it reconsider
other birds evolved to nest in a
completely different direction
instead of going up they went down
a pair of blue winged pitters collects
worms for their insatiable brood
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they're well well-camouflaged nest sits
on the forest floor in a bamboo grove
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the nest conceals both the chicks and
their parents bright plumage
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the night jar on the other hand is a
master of subterfuge
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her silhouette and plumage blend
seamlessly into the leaf litter
night jars don't actually bother with a
nest
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they make do with the forest floor
her tiny chick is almost invisible to
any predator
a beautifully simple approach
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back with the troop of stump-tailed
macaques
there are a number of new mouths to feed
this baby was born overnight
she's clean and dry ready for morning
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introductions
everyone wants to meet the new addition
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her first steps are wobbly she can
barely support herself
she's learning to make sense of the
world around her
everything is a new experience
she will suckle for about a year but as
soon as she finds her feet
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her mother will allow her to wonder
about the truth
stump-tailed macaques are relaxed
mothers compared to other species
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they're happy for their young to explore
the environment while they're still very
small
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33:09
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but like all babies they sometimes bite
off more than they can chew
this mother is so relaxed because other
females don't kidnap babies
something that often happens in similar
macaque species
stump tales are extremely social with a
strong
sense of community
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even a male lends a hand with child care
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unusual behavior for most macaques
the young infant works his way around
the group
building bonds with the older generation
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despite the attention sometimes a young
macaque
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just wants its mother
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but getting a hug isn't always
straightforward
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especially when your mother won't stay
on the ground
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getting back down seems to be a problem
as well
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thankfully he hitches a ride
for now this youngster is the center of
attention
but like all males eventually he will be
forced from the troop
he will have to find another group of
macaques
and work his way up the hierarchy as his
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father did before him just as the
wildlife of lao has lived alongside the
mekong for generations
so have the people for thousands of
years communities along the mekong basin
have relied on the river
and its resources
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in the hills overlooking the mekong a
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girl from a local village is collecting
mulberry leaves
the cornerstone of an industry that
dates back five
thousand years
the silkworms on her family farm won't
eat anything
else
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[Applause]
silkworms are the caterpillars of the
domesticated silk moth
arguably the most important insect in
asia
the process of making silk starts as the
moths
lay their eggs
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when these hatch the feeding frenzy on
mulberry leaves begins
the caterpillars grow rapidly
25 days and four molts later the larvae
are ready to build their cocoons
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each caterpillar spins a precious cocoon
using saliva glands
and it's the cocoons the farmers are
after
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extracting the silk is a delicate heart
each cocoon is made from a single silk
thread that is between 300 and 900
meters long
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the worms themselves are considered a
delicacy
and sold in local markets alongside some
other
rather unusual food choices
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okay
the la gibbons wake up around sunrise
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the morning call of the adult male lets
everyone know it's time to get
up
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his song can be heard from seven
kilometers away
things might start slowly but the group
will be on the move for most of the day
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breakfast is an immediate priority
they aren't very fussy eaters
fruit is their favorite but they'll
happily eat
leaves insects and even bird's eggs
la gibbons partner for life
they live in small family groups usually
a pair with their offspring
there's no dominance between males and
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females
parents share responsibility for leading
their family group as they
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forage
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it's midday time for an hour's rest
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some take the opportunity to snooze
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others groom each other
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40:54
this pair enjoys a rare moment of peace
the female carefully takes time to
remove pests from her partner's thick
fur he
isn't complaining
his hopes of a little downtime are
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short-lived
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their infant doesn't like being ignored
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his father knows when to admit defeat
and moves aside so mum can turn her
attention to their youngster
with the coast clear the father finds a
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nice spot to stretch out and have a nap
all his son wants to do is wrestle
do
running away doesn't help
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a game of chase is just as fun
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as the afternoon rolls on the gibbons
get back to feeding
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they share the canopy with a number of
other creatures
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and even benefit from the diverse
community
a raptors alarm call stops everyone in
their tracks
gibbons have learned to recognize the
raptors warning for danger
and head over to see what the commotion
is about
a water monitor cruises below
its fork tongue tastes the air
it has picked up their scent
the mail alerts the group
monitors are voracious carnivals and can
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climb trees
the raptor knows its nest is in danger
as the monitor reaches the riverbank the
gibbons become increasingly alarmed
the adults are safe
but if a baby panics and falls it is no
match for a monitor on the ground
his haunting voice that sings each
morning now
serves a greater purpose
others join his attempt to scare off the
reptile
the monitor hesitates
their intimidation works
together this eclectic community sees
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off the danger
while the rest of the group watched the
lizard disappear
the male finally finds the time for a
well
and snooze
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soon the monsoon rains will pass
the young gibbon will become a master of
his treetop environment
the infant macaques will find their
place in the troop hierarchy
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[Music]
and the peacock will find a mate
lao is the unexplored jewel of southeast
asia
the mekong is a nation's central nervous
system
as the river flows the length of the
country it sculpts the environment and
wildlife around it
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it carves out pockets of ancient forest
that provide refuge for some of the most
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endangered creatures on earth
and offers us hope that more might still
be discovered
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you
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