NATURE investigates the sometimes exasperating efforts of people and wild animals to adapt to each other when their worlds collide.

For the Pemón, the tepuis are holy places, sacred guardians of the savanna. Each tepui, every waterfall and river in this country has some connection with Pemón mythology -- as their names attest.

It's been described as one of the world's last virgin territories, but how safe is the Lost World from environmental threats?