1 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,480 (THEME MUSIC) 2 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,200 DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: There are only 14 peaks in the world 3 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,160 that rise to over 8000 metres. 4 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,120 All of them are here in the Himalayas. 5 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,240 Lethally cold, scarred by gales and blizzards, 6 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,360 these mountains are among the most hostile places on Earth. 7 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,960 Yet, a few special animals manage to live here. 8 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:35,680 Snow leopards. 9 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,240 Like all creatures of the high mountains, 10 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:43,800 they have had to adapt both their body and their behaviour, 11 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:45,800 in order to survive. 12 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,040 Life at extreme altitude has shaped 13 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,200 some of the toughest animals on the planet. 14 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:05,640 (SNARLING) 15 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,400 The sun-baked mountains of the Arabian Peninsula. 16 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,520 They may only be a fraction of the height of the Himalayas, 17 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,640 but they are still so dizzyingly steep 18 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,000 that in many places it's almost impossible to get a foothold. 19 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:55,080 Yet, Nubian ibex have made this their home. 20 00:02:58,200 --> 00:02:59,640 (BIRD SQUAWKING) 21 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:11,080 The ibex choose the steepest cliffs to raise their young 22 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,200 in safety, beyond the reach of predators. 23 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,880 But living in this sanctuary comes with a cost. 24 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,240 These nursery slopes are so steep, 25 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,880 there is almost no standing water up here. 26 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:52,080 So, to drink, an ibex family must descend into the valley, 27 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,400 300 metres below. 28 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,800 The mothers pick out the safest way down. 29 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:07,360 With soft cloven hooves that grip better than any climbing shoe, 30 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,200 they are the most accomplished mountaineers. 31 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,760 But the newborn kids are still having to find their feet. 32 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,120 This is their first descent. 33 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,120 One mistake could make it their last. 34 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,280 (BLEATING) 35 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:03,120 Following the adults, the kids finally reach the valley. 36 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,600 But once on level ground, they're vulnerable. 37 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,400 Red foxes lie in wait. 38 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:37,760 At the first sign of danger, 39 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:41,120 the young ibex instinctively run back to steeper ground. 40 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:43,920 (BLEATS) 41 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,080 (TENSE MUSIC) 42 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,320 But heading for this particular rocky outcrop 43 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:58,880 could be a mistake. 44 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,480 It's a ten-metre drop. 45 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:09,000 The fox has them trapped, or so it seems. 46 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,000 This is what ibex were born to do. 47 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,200 Scattering makes it hard for the fox to pick a target. 48 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,480 And it certainly can't follow them up here. 49 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,120 All it can do is wait for one to slip and fall. 50 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,640 But these youngsters are fast learners 51 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,600 and are now almost as sure-footed as their parents. 52 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,960 The fox will have to find its meal elsewhere. 53 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,720 (BIRD SQUAWKING) 54 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,120 It's just not been a good day. 55 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:38,160 Now, at last, the young ibex can drink. 56 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,400 But they'll soon need to return 57 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,960 to the safety of the sheer cliffs. 58 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,160 Mastering precipitous terrain is always challenging, 59 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,480 but there are more fundamental problems for life in the mountains. 60 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:20,080 The Alps, Europe's highest peaks. 61 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:25,160 It's winter, and food is desperately short. 62 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,680 The golden eagle has to spend every daylight hour 63 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:45,200 scanning the slopes for something somewhere to eat. 64 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,080 Her two-metre wingspan allows her to glide effortlessly 65 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,640 for over 100 kilometres in a single day. 66 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,200 Her extraordinary eyes enable her to spot prey 67 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,480 from over three kilometres away. 68 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,680 But she is not the only one who's looking for food. 69 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,960 When she spots a chance, she must move fast. 70 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,080 She can dive at over 300 kilometres an hour, 71 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,240 only a peregrine is faster. 72 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:10,680 (SQUAWKING) 73 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:21,120 During winter, even eagles rely almost entirely on carrion. 74 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:26,440 It's a dead fox, and it could sustain her for days. 75 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:31,800 Other scavengers must defer. 76 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,640 The hungry crows soon regain their courage. 77 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,880 They'll try any trick to steal a morsel. 78 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,880 And they are annoyingly persistent. 79 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,360 (SQUAWKING) 80 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,840 But this mob are the least of her worries. 81 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,840 A bigger eagle takes control. 82 00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:36,800 But this kill is too important to give up, 83 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:40,920 so she must fight. 84 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,800 For the moment, she's won the carcass back. 85 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:04,200 But a kill like this will attract every eagle for miles around. 86 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,400 (TENSE MUSIC) 87 00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:35,640 As ever, the strongest wins the lion's share. 88 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,920 Unable to defend the carcass any longer, 89 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,040 the first eagle must now continue its search. 90 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,680 It may be many days before she feeds again. 91 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,480 Only the most competitive 92 00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:58,440 will survive the perils of the mountain winter. 93 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,160 (THUDDING) 94 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:04,880 (RUMBLING) 95 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,560 An avalanche, nine million tonnes of snow 96 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,560 travelling at 120 kilometres an hour 97 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,720 capable of smashing everything in its path. 98 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,200 The mountains of North America 99 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,760 are hit by thousands of avalanches every year. 100 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,200 Yet, one animal spends the whole winter 101 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:42,000 slumbering within the snow on these avalanche-prone slopes. 102 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,480 And when spring comes, they emerge. 103 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,680 All across these mountains, 104 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,840 grizzly bears make their winter dens up to 3,000 metres high 105 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,440 in the deep snow of leeward slopes. 106 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,680 And while they were half asleep in the depths of winter, 107 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:24,480 their young were born. 108 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,880 Now, these cubs are taking their 109 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,040 first steps into the outside world. 110 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,520 This mother is leading her three youngsters 111 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,080 to a place where they can find food. 112 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:06,880 (RUMBLING) 113 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,120 They need to descend as quickly as possible. 114 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,160 The debris from an avalanche is clear evidence 115 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,760 that this slope is still dangerously unstable. 116 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,480 This is not a place to dawdle. 117 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,120 And they have another reason to keep moving. 118 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:49,200 After five months in the den, these bears are very hungry. 119 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,000 Bears that have hibernated throughout these peaks 120 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,560 now all descend to the valleys, 121 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:01,960 where spring comes earliest. 122 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:14,240 In the Rockies, seasonal change is swift and dramatic. 123 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:30,200 In just a few days, the slopes turn from white to green. 124 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:48,000 (SNIFFING) 125 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:55,760 Meadows that only a few weeks ago were buried beneath the snow 126 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,160 are now full of life. 127 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:02,040 (BEE BUZZING) 128 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,680 (BIRDS CHIRPING) 129 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:20,800 But in these mountains, the good times will not last long. 130 00:19:22,120 --> 00:19:25,000 So the bears must feed as fast as they can. 131 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:30,680 During the summer months, 132 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,880 an adult can put on 180 kilos, gorging on plants. 133 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,400 And if they can catch them... 134 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:39,040 (SHRIEKING) 135 00:19:39,120 --> 00:19:40,480 A marmot or two. 136 00:19:44,360 --> 00:19:48,800 But, just now, the bears have something else on their minds. 137 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,560 It's becoming warmer, 138 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,320 and the bears are keen to shed their thick winter coats. 139 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,120 Mothers show the cubs what to do about this. 140 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,720 They'll soon catch on. 141 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,880 Some trees, it seems, are particularly suitable for rubbing. 142 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,520 Bears have their favourites, 143 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,400 and will travel long distances to visit them. 144 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,560 Some itches just have to be scratched. 145 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,520 There are now around 30 bears in this one valley. 146 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:11,040 As they rub, each leaves an individual and recognizable scent. 147 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,360 So the tree soon carries a list of who's around. 148 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,880 Which might help individuals to avoid a fight. 149 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,760 To best spread their scent. 150 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,960 They really have to put their back into it. 151 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,600 (GRUNTING) 152 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:12,760 But the summer is short. 153 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,480 Itches satisfactorily scratched, 154 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,440 it's time to eat. 155 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:22,880 In a couple of months, 156 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,720 they will have to return to their dens to hibernate. 157 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:28,880 So now they must put on as much weight as they can. 158 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:40,360 Winter in the mountains returns fast and hits hard. 159 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,200 (WHOOSHING) 160 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:59,040 Temperature in the Rockies will drop to -65 degrees. 161 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:04,720 So cold, that moisture in the air freezes into tiny crystals 162 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,320 called diamond dust. 163 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:31,880 This bobcat, 164 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,440 is one of the few hunters to remain active in winter. 165 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:41,800 Most of his prey, is now hidden beneath the snow 166 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,120 that covers his entire territory. 167 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:54,000 He hunts by listening for the faintest sound of movement. 168 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:58,560 And to prevent crunching footsteps from revealing his presence, 169 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,040 he uses boulders as stepping stones. 170 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:22,640 A mouse. 171 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:26,160 But one is not enough. 172 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,280 The deeper the snow, the harder it is to detect prey, 173 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:49,280 and the rewards for the effort can be disappointing. 174 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:54,080 To say the least. 175 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,680 By mid-winter, the snow is so deep, 176 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,480 the bobcats are forced to leave their territories 177 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,080 to try and find easier hunting. 178 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,080 And this bobcat may be in luck, 179 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,640 for this particular valley is blessed. 180 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,280 A river here never freezes. 181 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:53,560 It's fed by a volcanic hot spring that heats these waters 182 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,960 to 50 degrees warmer than the surrounding air. 183 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:06,000 Hungry animals of all kinds come here to feed. 184 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:33,200 Throughout the winter, the river is full of food 185 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,720 for those who know how to catch it. 186 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,400 Here, even the coyotes have become fishermen. 187 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:58,720 But hunting is hard for a cat that's not used in getting its feet wet. 188 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,680 So he must choose his target with care. 189 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:24,840 Goldeneye ducks. 190 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,200 But can he get close enough to pounce? 191 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:54,360 (DUCKS QUACKING) 192 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,080 Perhaps he'll have more luck on the other side. 193 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:23,880 Here, steam from the river warms the surrounding trees. 194 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,680 So, up in the branches, there could be prey. 195 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:33,080 (SQUIRREL SQUEAKING) 196 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:35,640 If only he could get to it. 197 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:38,560 It's six metres up. 198 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:57,720 At last, a squirrel. 199 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,880 Not much, but enough to keep him going. 200 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:10,200 To survive a winter in these mountains, takes tenacity, 201 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,200 and bobcats have that in abundance. 202 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:33,880 Snow on the equator. 203 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:36,680 Unlike the Rockies, 204 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,000 in these mountains there are no marked seasons. 205 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,200 This is Africa's Mount Kenya. 206 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:59,640 It's over 5,000 metres high, which makes its summit 207 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,360 some 30 degrees colder than the surrounding savannah. 208 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:13,480 Giant heathers, lobelias and groundsel grow on its upper slopes. 209 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,760 They all thrive in the tropical sun. 210 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,760 After all, every day is summer. 211 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,160 But once the sun sets, every night 212 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,520 becomes as bitterly cold as winter. 213 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:41,040 The temperature drops to five degrees below freezing... 214 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:45,280 ...turning the mountainside into a garden of ice. 215 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,440 (CRACKLING) 216 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:07,680 Everything freezes. 217 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:12,640 But the cabbage groundsels have a way of protecting themselves. 218 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:23,400 They close up their leathery leaves to form an insulating blanket 219 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:26,200 that shields their vulnerable central bud. 220 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,000 Night comes to an end 221 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,840 and the sunshine returns. 222 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:53,040 The groundsels spread their leaves wide 223 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:55,800 to bask in the sunshine once again. 224 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:17,080 Dawn, in the high Andes... 225 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,520 Here too, the rising sun brings rapid relief 226 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,120 to animals living amongst these volcanic peaks. 227 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:41,000 Mountain viscacha, are up early to claim the best places 228 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,680 to catch the sun's first rays. 229 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:09,280 For others up here, the sunrise is even more welcome. 230 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,120 At over 4,000 metres, 231 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:17,760 this is the highest flamingo colony in the world. 232 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:24,920 At night, it gets so cold that even this salty water freezes over. 233 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:30,080 And now the flamingos are trapped in the ice. 234 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:38,600 Eventually, the sun thins the ice. 235 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:42,920 But it's still a struggle for the flamingos to break free. 236 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:06,600 Walking on thin ice is always risky. 237 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:20,240 And it's hard to retain one's dignity, 238 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:24,160 especially when you are wearing stilts. 239 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,000 At these altitudes, 240 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:44,560 the sun's power can quickly turn from salvation to threat. 241 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:52,840 The atmosphere is so thin, 242 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:56,640 there is very little protection from ultraviolet radiation. 243 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:02,040 By mid-morning, it's risky to linger out in the open. 244 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:08,440 The viscacha are forced to head for the shade. 245 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:16,760 Out on the lake, there is nowhere to hide. 246 00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:26,680 The white crust of the Soda Lake reflects the sun's glare 247 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,640 and increases the impact from its ultraviolet rays. 248 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:39,840 By mid-day, uncovered human skin will burn in four minutes. 249 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:48,520 But this doesn't seem to bother the flamingos. 250 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:52,080 In fact, they are on parade. 251 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:57,480 (SQUAWKING) 252 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:23,920 During the breeding season, 253 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,960 the flamingos perform these peculiar courtship dances 254 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:29,480 even through the hottest time of the day. 255 00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:39,720 They're so eager, they don't even pause to feed. 256 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:02,800 The rules are something of a mystery, but after a month of dancing 257 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:05,240 all the birds will have paired off 258 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:07,520 and will be getting ready to mate. 259 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:17,880 Up here, there are few other creatures to bother the flamingos. 260 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:22,480 But then, few other creatures could even tolerate these conditions. 261 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:28,600 So, for animals that have the endurance, 262 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,200 mountains can be sanctuaries. 263 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:49,680 But rocky peaks, which to us, perhaps, seem a symbol of permanence, 264 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:52,080 are more fragile than they appear. 265 00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:58,320 Today, in the Alps, 266 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:02,440 human encroachment is changing even the higher summits. 267 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:18,360 In the Rockies, rising temperatures 268 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,640 are shortening winter hibernation 269 00:38:20,720 --> 00:38:23,920 and stifling the growth of valuable food plants. 270 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:33,360 And in the Andes, some glaciers have shrunk 271 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:37,480 by 50% in just 30 years. 272 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:49,640 Even the Himalayas are now vulnerable. 273 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,480 With most of the world's tallest peaks 274 00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:58,200 uncovering a million square kilometres, 275 00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:01,480 this is the greatest mountain range of all. 276 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:12,640 And here, temperatures are now rising faster than the global average. 277 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:18,280 As the snow line retreats further and further up these peaks, 278 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:21,960 there is less and less space for wildlife. 279 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:23,760 And that is a challenge 280 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:28,280 for one of the most majestic of all mountain creatures. 281 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:34,040 (WHOOSHING) 282 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:48,240 The snow leopard. 283 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:53,320 Seldom seen. 284 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:56,960 The detail of their lives has long been a mystery. 285 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:02,840 But now at last, helped by the latest remote camera technology, 286 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:06,240 we're getting closer to them than ever before. 287 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:13,360 They're very rare. 288 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:15,960 As few as four of them in a hundred square kilometres. 289 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:20,520 There is simply not enough prey to sustain more. 290 00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:26,160 (SNIFFING) 291 00:40:26,240 --> 00:40:28,800 They live solitary lives. 292 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:31,000 Nonetheless, they are well aware 293 00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:33,760 of the presence and the movements of their neighbours 294 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:37,720 because they leave messages in a few special places. 295 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:43,840 They rub particular rocks with their cheeks. 296 00:40:47,120 --> 00:40:49,160 And then spray them with urine. 297 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:50,520 (SPRITZING) 298 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:55,840 The two perfumes create a unique signature. 299 00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:57,960 (SPRITZING) 300 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:04,920 Any other leopard can know which of its neighbours passed this way, 301 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:08,000 without ever making direct contact. 302 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:15,120 But there are times when snow leopards must come together 303 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:18,040 and the event is often violent. 304 00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:33,560 An adult female and her daughter. 305 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:47,480 She has devoted the last two years to raising her cub, 306 00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:50,160 and very soon, it will be weaned. 307 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:57,240 For now, the cub is still entirely dependent on its mother. 308 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:06,760 But staying together as long as this could cause problems. 309 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:12,960 The female is now in heat again, 310 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:16,520 and any male that smells her signature will know that. 311 00:42:26,920 --> 00:42:30,880 From this moment on, her cub's life is at risk. 312 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:36,680 Males kill cubs that are not their own. 313 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:46,400 But the mother is now driven by an urge that she cannot control. 314 00:42:49,640 --> 00:42:52,920 She lets the males know exactly where she is. 315 00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:06,840 (GROWLS) 316 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,640 From up here, she could be heard from miles around. 317 00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:11,480 (GROWLS) 318 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:33,040 A young male emerges from the wilderness, eager to find her. 319 00:43:36,440 --> 00:43:39,160 Snow leopards meet so infrequently 320 00:43:39,240 --> 00:43:42,400 that there is uncertainty and tension. 321 00:43:42,480 --> 00:43:44,440 (GROWLING) 322 00:43:50,480 --> 00:43:52,320 And it's about to get worse. 323 00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:00,400 (LOW GROWLING) 324 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:03,960 Another bigger male has arrived. 325 00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:16,520 The mother and cub are trapped between the rivals. 326 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:25,200 The cub is now in danger. Mother must act fast. 327 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:29,040 To divert the males' attention from her cub, 328 00:44:29,120 --> 00:44:31,680 she rolls over submissively. 329 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:46,360 With the males fixed on the female, 330 00:44:46,440 --> 00:44:48,840 the cub has a chance to escape. 331 00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:58,240 The males close in on the mother from both sides 332 00:44:58,320 --> 00:45:00,440 keen to claim her for their own. 333 00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:07,120 A fight is inevitable. 334 00:45:10,480 --> 00:45:12,240 (GRUNTING) 335 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:31,640 The female moves to escape and protect her cub. 336 00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:34,080 But the big male follows her. 337 00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:49,960 He will not let her leave until he has mated with her. 338 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:09,280 With the males gone, the female 339 00:46:09,360 --> 00:46:12,320 is at last reunited with her cub. 340 00:46:15,280 --> 00:46:17,840 But, she has been injured. 341 00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:31,360 The cub, however, is alive, thanks to its mother. 342 00:46:41,160 --> 00:46:45,200 Until her injury heals, she won't be able to hunt. 343 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:51,680 Mountain animals survive on the very edge of existence. 344 00:46:55,040 --> 00:46:58,520 Mother and cub were not seen again. 345 00:47:06,480 --> 00:47:09,080 Until, over a month later, 346 00:47:09,160 --> 00:47:12,720 high on a ridge, a remote camera was triggered. 347 00:47:16,680 --> 00:47:18,280 The female cat, 348 00:47:18,360 --> 00:47:22,040 she's no longer limping but she's now alone. 349 00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:32,920 Then an hour after the female has left, the camera is triggered again. 350 00:47:39,160 --> 00:47:42,240 It's her cub, taking her first steps 351 00:47:42,320 --> 00:47:45,880 towards adulthood and independence. 352 00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:50,560 She is unlikely to see her mother again. 353 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:54,360 But every now and then, they will be reunited 354 00:47:54,440 --> 00:47:58,440 through the messages they leave on the marking rocks. 355 00:48:01,360 --> 00:48:04,920 Her mother has succeeded in raising her, 356 00:48:05,000 --> 00:48:08,080 but life ahead will be challenging, 357 00:48:08,160 --> 00:48:11,600 and she will spend nearly all of it, alone. 358 00:48:14,120 --> 00:48:16,840 Only the toughest can survive 359 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:21,520 among the savage beauty of the world's highest mountains. 360 00:48:29,120 --> 00:48:33,200 Next time, we explore the world's jungles. 361 00:48:35,120 --> 00:48:39,800 Places of surprise and invention unrivalled on Earth. 362 00:48:41,160 --> 00:48:44,840 Where the battle for survival is at its most intense. 9999 00:00:0,500 --> 00:00:2,00 www.tvsubtitles.net