Episode 1

WOMAN, VOICE-OVER: INDIA.

A VIBRANT, BUSTLING WORLD, HOME TO OVER A BILLION PEOPLE.

BUT IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, THE MOST SPECTACULAR WILDLIFE... [GROWLS] [CHATTERING] ANCIENT CULTURES... AND EXTREME LANDSCAPES CAN BE FOUND.

I'M LIZ BONNIN.

I'M HERE TO EXPLORE INDIA'S SPECTACULAR WILDLIFE IN ONE OF THE MOST BIODIVERSE PLACES ON EARTH.

I'VE SPENT YEARS STUDYING WILDLIFE, BUT EVERY TIME I RETURN TO INDIA, I DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW.

[ROARS] I COMPLETELY UNDERESTIMATED HOW EXTRAORDINARY AND EYE-OPENING THIS IS GOING TO BE.

ACTOR FREIDA PINTO WAS BORN HERE.

RAWR!

SHE WANTS TO SHARE THE REMARKABLE BOND BETWEEN INDIA'S PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

PINTO: YOU ALWAYS SEE THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN MAN AND ANIMAL.

WOW!

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: AND FROM THE HIGHEST PEAKS ON EARTH, MOUNTAINEER JON GUPTA EXPLORES INDIA'S MOST EXTREME LANDSCAPES.

MY PASSION IS MOUNTAINS, AND THERE IS NOWHERE IN THE WORLD LIKE THE HIMALAYAS.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: WE'RE TRAVELING THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THIS SUBCONTINENT TO REVEAL THE HIDDEN WONDERS OF INDIA'S NATURAL WORLD.

[ANIMALS CALLING] BONNIN: INDIA IS A PLACE THAT'S CAPTIVATED ME EVER SINCE MY FIRST VISIT, AND I SUPPOSE IT'S MADE ALL THE MORE SPECIAL BECAUSE I HAVE A FAMILY CONNECTION.

MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS CAME FROM INDIA, AND EVERY TIME I RETURN I KNOW I'M GOING TO DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW THAT WILL STAY WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I WANT TO START THIS JOURNEY WITH ONE OF INDIA'S BIGGEST SURPRISES.

IT COMES IN THE FORM OF ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S MOST ICONIC ANIMALS...

THE BIG CATS.

INDIA MAY BE KNOWN AS THE LAND OF THE TIGER, BUT UP UNTIL 1970, ANOTHER BIG CAT WAS THE NATIONAL ANIMAL OF THIS COUNTRY--THE LION.

INDIA IS HOME TO THE WORLD'S ONLY ASIATIC LIONS.

A RARE SUBSPECIES THAT ONCE RANGED FROM HERE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.

HUNTING AND POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS HAVE RESULTED IN THEIR DISAPPEARANCE EVERYWHERE EXCEPT INDIA.

I'VE TRACKED TIGERS ACROSS INDIA BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ASIATIC LION.

THIS IS THE HOME OF INDIA'S LAST REMAINING ASIATIC LIONS-- THE GIR FOREST.

A NATIONAL PARK THAT'S 580 SQUARE MILES OF BROAD LEAF SCRUB IN THE NORTHWEST OF THE COUNTRY.

AT ONE TIME THERE WERE SAID TO BE AS FEW AS 12 LIONS LEFT.

PARK DIRECTOR DR. SANDEEP KUMAR AND HIS TEAM HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT THE NUMBER IS NOW OVER 500 AND RISING.

AFTER TWO HOURS ON THE ROAD, I GET MY FIRST SIGHT.

TWO YOUNG MALES, SOAKING UP THE EARLY MORNING SUN.

LOOK AT THAT, LOOK AT THAT.

OH.

THEY ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL.

SO, IMMEDIATELY YOU CAN SEE TWO OF THE MAIN FEATURES THAT DIFFERENTIATE THE ASIATIC TO THE AFRICAN LION, THE, THE BELLY FOLD.

KUMAR: YEAH.

AND THE MANE IS MUCH SHORTER, ISN'T IT, AND IT DOESN'T SURROUND THE FACE IN THE SAME WAY.

YEAH.

BONNIN: THE BELLY FOLD IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO IDENTIFY ASIATIC LIONS.

IT SERVES NO PURPOSE BUT IS A TRAIT THAT WAS RETAINED IN THOSE LIONS THAT TRAVELED HERE FROM AFRICA.

AT 3 TO 4 YEARS OLD, THESE MALES ARE NOT QUITE ADULT YET.

THEY'VE ONLY RECENTLY LEFT THEIR MOTHER AND THEY MUST NOW DISPLAY THEIR OWN STRENGTH AND INDEPENDENCE.

[ROARING] [ROARING] BONNIN: WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

BASICALLY THEY ARE TELLING NOW, IF THERE IS ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO CHALLENGE ME, PLEASE COME.

YEAH.

THEY ARE BEGINNING TO ASSERT THEMSELVES.

ESTABLISHMENT, ESTABLISHMENT.

[BOTH ROARING] BASICALLY THEY WILL NOT COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER.

BOTH OF THEM WILL TRY TO FIGHT WITH THE OTHER PAIRS OF OTHER LIONS.

BONNIN: AFRICAN LIONS CAN FORM COALITIONS LIKE THIS, TOO.

WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT THEIR TERRITORY AND THE PRIDES THEY CAN ASSOCIATE WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT THESE TWO WILL NEVER LIVE WITH A PRIDE.

FOR ASIATIC MALES, IT'S ALL ABOUT PROTECTING TERRITORY.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FEMALES?

IF WE CAN FIND THEM, WE MIGHT EVEN SEE CUBS.

IN AFRICA, THEY WOULD BE IN PRIDES UP TO 30 STRONG.

THEY HAVE TO BE, TO TAKE DOWN LARGE PREY LIKE WILDEBEEST.

BUT HERE WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALLER GROUP SINCE THEIR PREY IS USUALLY SMALLER.

KUMAR: NOW YOU CAN SEE THERE, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE CUBS AND THE LIONESS.

BONNIN: WHERE?

JUST IN FRONT OF THIS TREE HERE.

OH, WOW.

HOW OLD ARE THE CUBS?

THEY ARE JUST 4 MONTHS OLD.

BONNIN: THIS IS TYPICAL OF LIONS IN INDIA.

A COUPLE OF FEMALES WITH A FEW CUBS.

BONNIN: THE CUB IN THE MIDDLE IS PASSED OUT, HE IS NOT BUDGING.

KUMAR: THESE TWO ARE THE MALES.

OK, THE TWO AWAKE ONES.

AND THE SLEEPING ONE IS A FEMALE.

OK. BASICALLY, MALE CUBS, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL KEEP ON BEHAVING LIKE A SMART GUY ON, YOU KNOW, MOVING HERE AND THERE.

THEY'RE MORE ACTIVE, MORE CURIOUS.

YEAH, MORE ACTIVE, YEAH, YEAH.

THEY'RE MORE FOOLISH, PROBABLY.

I NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT ASIATIC FEMALES.

THESE LIONESSES ARE INCREDIBLY MUSCULAR AND POWERFUL.

AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE TO HUNT THEIR PREY.

IN THIS DENSE FORESTED HABITAT, THE FEMALES DON'T NEED TO CHASE THEIR PREY ANY GREAT DISTANCE.

THEY'RE BUILT TO TAKE THEM DOWN QUICKLY.

NOT THAT THESE LIONS SHOW ANY INTEREST IN ANYTHING MORE THAN KEEPING OUT OF THE SUN.

BUT IN AN INSTANT, EVERYTHING CHANGES.

AND THESE REMARKABLE HUNTERS BECOME OPPORTUNIST AMBUSH PREDATORS.

A LARGE INDIAN ANTELOPE CALLED A NILGAI HAS UNWITTINGLY STRAYED A LITTLE TOO CLOSE.

THE FEMALES ARE ON THE ALERT.

THE LIONS ARE USING THE TERRAIN TO THEIR ADVANTAGE, CREEPING INTO A DRY RIVERBED, HOPING TO AMBUSH THE NILGAI.

THIS TIME, THE NILGAI ESCAPES.

NEXT TIME, IT MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY.

THIS HAS BEEN A FASCINATING TRIP.

I WASN'T SURE I'D EVEN SEE ASIATIC LIONS, LET ALONE GET CLOSE TO THEM OR WITNESS THEM IN ACTION.

THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO GET SO CLOSE TO THESE EXTREMELY RARE ANIMALS.

WITH SANDEEP AND HIS TEAM DEDICATED TO HELPING THEM, THESE LIONS, ONCE THE SYMBOL OF INDIA, WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A HOME HERE.

PINTO, VOICE-OVER: 2,000 MILES AWAY IN THE NORTHEAST OF INDIA, THE STATE OF ASSAM HOLDS ANOTHER SURPRISE.

I'M NOT HERE TO SEE INDIA'S CHEEKY MONKEYS, BUT ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PRIMATE FAMILY.

ONE OF OUR CLOSER RELATIVES, AND INDIA'S ONLY APE, THE HOOLOCK GIBBON.

I DID NOT KNOW APES ACTUALLY EXISTED IN INDIA.

BUT MORE PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT THESE ENDANGERED ANIMALS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN ENCHANTING SKILL.

EVERY MORNING, THEY SING.

THEIR SANCTUARY IS ONLY 8 SQUARE MILES.

FOR JUST OVER 100 GIBBONS, IT'S A TINY SEMI-EVERGREEN FOREST ISLAND...

SURROUNDED BY THE MODERN WORLD, TEA PLANTATIONS, AND TOWNS.

I'VE COME TO MEET DEBEN BORAH, A WARDEN HERE.

HE HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PROTECTING THIS SMALL GIBBON POPULATION.

[SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] DEBEN HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1985 AND HE'S BEEN WORKING IN THE FOREST RIGHT SINCE THAT TIME, SO, NO WONDER HE'S OUR MAN, HE'S OUR EXPERT.

I'M TRAVELING WITH WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN SANDESH KADUR.

HE AND DEBEN HAVE COLLABORATED TO FILM THESE GIBBONS FOR YEARS.

SANDESH'S CAMERA IS THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO GET A CLOSE LOOK AT THESE GIBBONS AS THEY LIVE HIGH IN THE CANOPY.

KADUR: DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE GREAT VIEW RIGHT HERE?

AAH.

GIBBONS ARE THE ONLY APES THAT SING.

EVERY MORNING, THIS FOREST COMES ALIVE WITH A COMPLEX RANGE OF CALLS.

DEBEN KNOWS EVERY ONE.

[SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [IMITATES CALL] [IMITATES CALL] PINTO, VOICE-OVER: HOOLOCK GIBBONS ARE MONOGAMOUS.

THIS IS A FAMILY WITH A 3-YEAR-OLD.

THE BABIES ARE BORN PURE WHITE.

THEY TURN BROWN AND DARKEN TO BLACK IF THEY ARE MALES LIKE THIS ONE.

FEMALES STAY GOLDEN BROWN, LIKE HIS MOTHER.

[PINTO SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] AND THE GIBBONS ALSO RECOGNIZE HIM.

HE'S PART OF THE FAMILY.

BEFORE THE GIBBONS SING, THEY HAVE BREAKFAST.

FEEDING OFF THE FRUITS AT THE TOP OF THE TREES.

WHEN THIS FAMILY NOTICE US, THEY SWING OVER.

THEY MAY REGARD DEBEN AS ONE OF THE FAMILY, BUT THEY'D STILL LIKE US TO GIVE THEM SPACE.

KADUR: OH, IT DID POOP ON YOU.

[LAUGHTER] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] TOTALLY GROSSED OUT.

THIS IS GIBBON POO, AND GUESS WHAT, IT'S ALL VEGETARIAN, IT'S ONLY FRUIT.

HOOLOCKS SPEND THEIR LIVES UP TO 100 FEET HIGH IN THE CANOPY.

THEY HAVE SPECIALLY ADAPTED JOINTS FOR GRIPPING AND SWINGING.

THEY ARE THE FASTEST NON-FLYING ANIMALS IN THE FOREST.

THEY CAN MOVE THROUGH THE TREES AT 35 MILES PER HOUR.

SO, WHEN THEY SET OFF TO FIND OTHER FRUIT TREES, IT'S A STRUGGLE JUST TO KEEP UP.

SO, WE'RE FOLLOWING THE GIBBONS NOW.

THEY'RE TAKING US FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A WALK.

THEY'RE REALLY MAKING US WORK VERY HARD FOR THE SINGING.

ACROSS THE NORTHEAST, FORESTS HAVE MADE WAY FOR HOMES, INDUSTRY, AND ROADS.

THE NUMBER OF GIBBONS HAS FALLEN TO 2,600.

BUT DEBEN'S FOREST HAS BEEN PROTECTED FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

IN 1997, IT BECAME THE ONLY SANCTUARY NAMED AFTER GIBBONS.

THE HOOLLONGAPAR GIBBON SANCTUARY.

PINTO: AND THERE SHE IS.

IT'S THE MOTHER WHO'S EASIEST TO SPOT.

IT JUST NEEDS ONE FAMILY TO START SINGING AND THE OTHERS WILL ALL JOIN IN.

DEBEN AND I DECIDE TO TRY AND GET THEM GOING.

[BOTH IMITATING GIBBON] [IMITATING GIBBON] [LAUGHTER] PINTO, VOICE-OVER: OUR GIBBONS CHOOSE TO IGNORE US.

JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER, SOMETHING QUITE EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENS.

[GIBBONS SINGING] OH, WOW.

THAT'S AMAZING.

COME ON.

THE FOREST STARTS TO FILL WITH THE SOUND OF THE OTHER GIBBON FAMILIES SINGING.

KADUR: IT'S A CRESCENDO.

[GIBBONS SINGING] PINTO, VOICE-OVER: LOCALS CALL THIS THE SINGING FOREST.

IT'S THANKS TO DEBEN AND HIS COLLEAGUES THAT INDIA CONTINUES TO HEAR THE SONGS OF HER ONLY APE.

GUPTA, VOICE-OVER: 1,000 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST, IT'S LIKE BEING IN ANOTHER WORLD.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLLISION OF CONTINENTS.

THIS IS WHERE THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT CRASHED INTO ASIA 40 MILLION YEARS AGO, PUSHING THE SEA BED UP.

ABSORBING THE IMPACT OF THIS IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CRUMPLE ZONE-- THE HIMALAYAS.

I'M 13,000 FEET UP IN THE AIR AND THESE ARE JUST THE FOOTHILLS.

WHEN I CLIMBED EVEREST, I WAS 29,000 FEET ABOVE THE SEA.

THIS RANGE IS THE ROOF OF THE WORLD AND ITS WINDS AND WATERS TOUCH EVERY PART OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT.

IT IS THE YOUNGEST AND THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN RANGE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I'VE CLIMBED THE HIMALAYAS MANY TIMES IN NEPAL...

BUT I'VE NEVER VISITED THE INDIAN SIDE.

THERE'S A REASON I NEEDED TO COME HERE.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN SHIMLA, A TOWN FURTHER ALONG THE HIMALAYAS.

FOR ME TO FINALLY BE HERE, SEEING WHAT HE WOULD HAVE SEEN GROWING UP AS A CHILD, IS REALLY SPECIAL TO ME.

SO, FOR MY FIRST VISIT TO INDIA, I WANT TO SEE HOW THESE MOUNTAINS HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON ITS NATURAL WONDERS, AND SHAPE LIFE ACROSS THE WHOLE SUBCONTINENT.

THE WORD "HIMALAYA" MEANS "THE ABODE OF SNOW."

IT'S A GOOD NAME.

THESE MOUNTAINS BESTOW A PRECIOUS GIFT UPON INDIA--WATER.

THIS IS THE SOURCE OF FRESH WATER FOR 1/5 OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE WORLD.

15,000 GLACIERS FEED 5 OF THE LARGEST RIVERS IN ASIA.

BUT FOR MILLIONS OF INDIANS, ONE STANDS ABOVE ALL OTHERS.

OVER THERE IS CHAUKHAMBA, WHICH MEANS 4 PILLARS.

IT LIES AT THE HEAD OF THE GANGOTRI GLACIER, WHICH FEEDS THE RIVER GANGES.

IF THE MOUNTAINS ARE THE DRIVING FORCE OF INDIA, THE GANGES IS ITS ENGINE.

THE RIVER GANGES ORIGINATES IN THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN RANGE ON EARTH AND ENDS IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST RIVER DELTA.

ALMOST HALF A BILLION PEOPLE DEPEND UPON ITS LIFE-GIVING WATERS.

AND COUNTLESS SPECIES OF ANIMALS WOULD PERISH WITHOUT IT.

NO WONDER HINDUS WORSHIP THE RIVER.

MILLIONS FLOCK TO HOLY PLACES ALL ALONG HER BANKS.

VARANASI IS CONSIDERED THE MOST SACRED.

IT'S SAID THE GODDESS GANGA WAS CALLED TO EARTH TO PURIFY MANKIND.

GANGA FELL FROM HEAVEN WITH SUCH FORCE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE EARTH.

SO, ANOTHER GOD CAUGHT THE DELUGE IN HIS HAIR, DISTRIBUTING IT INTO GENTLE STREAMS.

BUT AS THE STREAMS GROW, THE POWER OF THE WATER BEGINS TO EXERT ITSELF.

THIS IS TRULY A FORCE OF NATURE.

I'M JUST SAT HERE, I'M GETTING BUFFETED BY THE WIND AND ABSOLUTELY DRENCHED.

THE WATERS CUT PATHS THROUGH THE HIMALAYAN ROCK, SHAPING THIS LANDSCAPE.

BUT THESE WATERS DO NOT YET CARRY THE NAME GANGES.

EACH TIME ONE RIVER JOINS ANOTHER, IT'S MARKED AS A HOLY PLACE.

THESE SACRED CONFLUENCES ARE CALLED PRYAGS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IS HERE.

THIS PLACE IS CALLED DEV PRYAG AND IT MEANS GOD'S CONFLUENCE.

THESE TWO RIVERS EITHER SIDE OF ME COMING TOGETHER JUST HERE TO START THE BEGINNING OF THE RIVER GANGES.

IT IS THE LIFELONG AMBITION OF EVERY HINDU TO BATHE IN THE GANGES.

THE WATER HERE IS HOLY AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SWIM HERE TO PURIFY THEIR SOUL AND GET RID OF THEIR SINS.

SO, I THINK I SHOULD GIVE IT A GO, TOO.

WHOO!

IT'S PRETTY CHILLY, UH, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY INCREDIBLY REFRESHING AND IT FEELS WONDERFUL.

THIS IS HOW INDIANS PREPARE FOR A JOURNEY-- BY WASHING.

FOR HINDUS, THE GANGES CONNECTS INDIA'S PAST AND PRESENT.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN PAY HOMAGE TO THEIR ANCESTORS.

MANY PEOPLE SCATTER THE ASHES OF RELATIVES IN THE RIVER.

OTHERS MAKE OFFERINGS OF PETALS AS A MARK OF GRATITUDE.

MY GRANDFATHER LEFT THESE MOUNTAINS FOR BRITAIN.

THESE ARE FOR HIM.

I'M GRATEFUL TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AND FINALLY SEE THE MOUNTAINS AND RIVER THAT ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE HERE.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: THE HIMALAYAS AREN'T INDIA'S ONLY MOUNTAINS.

I'M TRAVELING FAR SOUTH TO INDIA'S OTHER GREAT RANGE, THE WESTERN GHATS.

THESE LOWER, FORESTED HILLS STRETCH FROM MUMBAI ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY.

THEY ONLY REACH 4,900 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, BUT THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST BIODIVERSE PLACES ON EARTH.

INDIA IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS TEA.

ASSAM AND DARJEELING ARE HOUSEHOLD NAMES.

IT PRODUCES OVER A MILLION TONS OF IT A YEAR.

A QUARTER OF ALL INDIAN TEA GROWS HERE.

THOUSANDS WORK IN THE PLANTATIONS THAT CARPET THESE SLOPES.

BUT THIS PART OF THE WESTERN GHATS IS CALLED THE ANNAMALI.

IT MEANS "ELEPHANT HILLS."

FOR CENTURIES, THE FORESTS HERE HAVE PROVIDED A SAFE HOME TO INDIA'S LARGEST LAND ANIMAL.

I'VE COME HERE TO DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE OF INDIA'S ICONIC ANIMALS HAS TO SHARE THIS LAND WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE TEA INDUSTRY.

THERE'S ELEPHANT DROPPINGS ALL OVER THIS ROAD.

ASIAN ELEPHANTS ARE EASILY DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR SMALLER EARS, DENTED FOREHEADS, AND THE FACT THAT ONLY THE MALES HAVE TUSKS.

[ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING] THE WESTERN GHATS ARE HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF ELEPHANTS IN INDIA, AROUND 10,000.

BUT AS TREES HAVE MADE WAY FOR TEA, SO THE FOREST HAS BECOME FRAGMENTED.

THE ELEPHANTS STILL NEED TO GET FROM ONE PATCH OF FOREST TO THE NEXT TO FIND FOOD...

WHICH GIVES RISE TO ONE OF INDIA'S UNIQUE SIGHTS, SOMETHING I'VE WANTED TO SEE FROM THE MOMENT I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT.

ELEPHANTS IN THE TEA.

I THINK THERE SHE IS.

WHERE, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE?

LOOK THERE, TO THE LEFT THIS SWAMP IS HERE.

SWAMP, YES.

YOU SEE RIGHT THERE?

NO.

YES.

ELEPHANT.

THERE SHE IS.

MY GUIDE IS GANESH RANGUNATHAN.

HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE ELEPHANTS HERE FOR 3 YEARS.

WE NEED TO APPROACH THIS ELEPHANT CAREFULLY.

SHE SEEMS CALM BUT IF WE STARTLE HER, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.

WE'VE BEEN UPWIND OF HER, BUT THE WIND IS JUST CHANGING DIRECTION, SO, WE'VE GOT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL THAT ONCE SHE FIGURES OUT WE'RE HERE THAT SHE DOESN'T GET STRESSED.

AH, SHE'S A BEAUTY.

SO THE ELEPHANTS DON'T DESTROY THE TEA PLANTATIONS, DO THEY, THEY DON'T FEED ON THE TEA?

NO, THEY DON'T FEED ON THE TEA.

THEY WALK ALONG THESE PATHS.

IN FACT IF YOU LOOK AT THESE PATHS THAT ARE HERE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ELEPHANTS HAVE WALKED ON FOR A LONG TIME.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: ELEPHANTS HAVE FIXED TRAVEL ROUTES TO SOURCE FOOD AND WATER, USING TRACKS ESTABLISHED LONG BEFORE THE TEA PLANTATIONS APPEARED.

THIS IS A LANDSCAPE THAT THESE ELEPHANTS HAVE BEEN MOVING THROUGH FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR HABITS, THEY'VE SORT OF ADAPTED TO, TO HOW THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED.

THE ELEPHANTS DO THIS EVERY DAY, AND WHEREVER THEY APPEAR, PEOPLE KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE.

THEIR MIGRATION ROUTES ARE SO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN A HERD, PASSED ON FROM THE ELDER INDIVIDUALS TO THE YOUNGEST.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE.

GANESH IS PART OF A TEAM TRACKING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ELEPHANTS THAT LIVE IN SEVERAL HERDS AROUND THE TEA.

THE MORE THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR BEHAVIOR, THE MORE THEY CAN KEEP ELEPHANTS AND PEOPLE APART.

BONNIN: IS SHE THE MATRIARCH?

RANGUNATHAN: YES, SHE IS THE MATRIARCH.

HOW OLD IS SHE?

DEFINITELY OVER 40 YEARS OF AGE.

AND HOW OLD IS HE THEN?

HE'S ABOUT 7 TO 10 YEARS OF AGE.

AND WHERE, SO, WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE HERD RIGHT NOW?

THEY'RE HEADED THAT WAY, IN THIS DIRECTION.

DO THEY OFTEN SEPARATE?

YEAH, THEY DO THAT VERY OFTEN.

WHY, WHY IS THAT?

IT'S BECAUSE, SEE AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL FRAGMENTS OF FOREST, RIGHT, SO, THIS HERD IS ABOUT 23 IN NUMBER.

THE PLACE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ALL OF THEM TO FORAGE IN ONE PLACE.

SO, THEY BREAK UP, THEY GO IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, BUT THEY REGROUP VERY SOON AS WELL.

RIGHT.

OH, LOOK, SHE'S NUDGING HIM.

SHE'S NUDGING HIM.

GET INTO THAT FOREST.

BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ELEPHANTS AND PEOPLE DO MEET.

THOUSANDS WORK HERE.

THE PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS] [INDISTINCT CHATTER] A STARTLED ELEPHANT CAN CHARGE AND ATTACK.

THEY'VE EVEN KILLED PEOPLE.

RANGUNATHAN: THIS HAPPENED MOSTLY AFTER SUNDOWN.

SO, PEOPLE WOULD WALK BACK HOME FROM THE BUS STOPS, LIKE THE BUS STOP THAT WE HAVE HERE.

YEAH.

AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CLUE ABOUT WHERE THESE ELEPHANTS WERE AND IT WAS MOSTLY A SURPRISE ENCOUNTER.

SINCE 1994, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 41 PEOPLE WHO'VE LOST THEIR LIVES HERE.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: BUT THERE IS A DETERMINATION TO MAKE COHABITATION WORK.

GANESH WORKS FOR THE NATURE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION.

THEY'VE COME UP WITH AN ELEPHANT WARNING SYSTEM.

THE LOCAL TELEVISION CHANNEL SHOWS NEWS FLASHES EVERY AFTERNOON AND UP-TO-THE-MINUTE ALERTS ARE SENT USING MOBILE PHONES.

ALMOST 10% OF PHONE USERS HAVE SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE GROUP TEXTS.

RANGUNATHAN: SO, THAT'S A FACILITY WHERE YOU CAN SEND OUT ONE SINGLE TEXT MESSAGE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

SO, RIGHT NOW I CAN SEND OUT ABOUT 1,500 TEXT MESSAGES TO ABOUT 1,500 PEOPLE IN A SPAN OF ONE SECOND OR SO.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: AND JUST AS VITAL ARE THE TEXTS GANESH RECEIVES OF UP-TO-THE-MINUTE ELEPHANT SIGHTINGS EVERY DAY.

SO, HOW LONG HAS THIS SYSTEM BEEN UP AND RUNNING AND HAVE YOU NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN THE FATALITIES?

THERE USED TO BE AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 3 PEOPLE WHO USED TO LOSE THEIR LIVES TO ELEPHANTS.

EVERY YEAR?

UH-HUH.

EVERY YEAR.

AND NOW I THINK THAT'S DROPPED TO ABOUT 1.5, WHICH IS HALF OF IT.

BONNIN: WHEN YOU STARTED, DID YOU ANTICIPATE IT WOULD BE SUCH A SUCCESS?

NO, NO.

REALLY?

NO, WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE ANYTHING SINCE WE STARTED.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: GANESH AND THE PROJECT HE'S WORKING ON ARE PROOF OF HOW MODERN INDIA IS LEARNING TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ITS NATURAL WORLD.

ELEPHANTS ARE COMPLEX AND INTELLIGENT ANIMALS.

DESPITE THEIR SIZE, THEY CAN BE INCREDIBLY DELICATE AND GENTLE.

THIS IS THEIR HOME AND THANKS TO THE PASSION OF THE PEOPLE HERE, THESE HILLS CAN CONTINUE TO CARRY THE NAME OF ELEPHANT HILLS.

PINTO, VOICE-OVER: BUT NOT ALL ELEPHANT STORIES ARE STORIES OF CO-EXISTENCE.

I'VE COME TO KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK, THE LARGEST NATIONAL PARK IN ASSAM, WHERE ELEPHANTS ARE THE BEST WAY OF GETTING AROUND.

IT GIVES ME A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.

ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT INDIAN WILDLIFE IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE SURPRISED WITH SOMETHING NEW, AND I JUST FOUND OUT THAT A BABY WAS BORN JUST A MONTH AGO AND I AM GOING TO SEE IT RIGHT NOW.

ELEPHANTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ANIMALS IN INDIA FOR 4,000 YEARS, HAULING LUMBER AND CARRYING HEAVY GOODS.

IN KAZIRANGA, THEY'RE THE BEST WAY FOR BOTH TOURISTS AND RANGERS TO GET AROUND.

THEY'RE ALMOST PART OF THE FAMILY.

ONE OF KAZIRANGA'S WORKING MOTHERS IS WILLING TO SHARE HER FAMILY WITH ME.

I'M ACCOMPANIED ONCE MORE BY WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN SANDESH KADUR.

HIS KNOWLEDGE WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO APPROACH THE MOTHER AND HER INFANT.

KADUR: JUST LET HER COME TO YOU, LET HER COME TO YOU.

BABY'S NAME IS RUPOHEE.

PINTO: RUPOHEE.

BEAUTIFUL ONE.

RUPOHEE.

THERE, SEE, SHE'S COMING.

THE MOTHER'S COMING.

SHE KNOWS YOU HAVE BANANAS, SO NOW YOU CAN, YOU CAN PROBABLY FEED HER.

DO I GIVE HER ONE?

YEAH.

GIVE HER ONE AT A TIME.

GO AHEAD.

OK.

I'M TRYING TO BREAK THEM.

THERE YOU GO, MUMMY.

JUST KEEP GIVING HER ONE.

LOOK, LOOK, AND SHE LIFTS HER LEG SO SHE DOESN'T TRAMPLE THE...

THE BABY.

YES, BECAUSE YOU COULD REALLY GET THE BABY CLOSE TO YOU.

COME, COME AROUND ME ON MY RIGHT.

ON YOUR RIGHT?

YEAH.

BECAUSE THEN... PINTO, VOICE-OVER: THE GESTATION PERIOD FOR A BABY ELEPHANT IS 18 TO 22 MONTHS.

THE CALF WILL ACTUALLY BE FULLY DEVELOPED BY THE 19TH MONTH, BUT IT NEEDS TO STAY IN THE WOMB SO IT CAN GROW TALL ENOUGH TO REACH ITS MOTHER TO FEED.

THEY ARE DEPENDENT ON THEIR MOTHER'S MILK FOR 3 TO 4 YEARS.

PINTO: OH, THEY'RE WALKING.

KADUR: THEY'RE READY TO GO TO THE WATER NOW.

PINTO, VOICE-OVER: ELEPHANTS ARE NOT JUST PART OF WORK.

THEY'RE ALSO PART OF WORSHIP.

ALL OVER INDIA YOU SEE EVIDENCE OF HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

FOR HINDUS, THE GOD GANESH HAS THE HEAD OF AN ELEPHANT.

HE'S A SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND THE REMOVER OF OBSTACLES.

WHICH MEANS HINDUS PLACE HIS LIKENESS EVERYWHERE, HOPING HE'LL HELP.

THERE IS EVEN ONE IN MY JEEP!

TO ME, ELEPHANTS ARE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF HOW IMPORTANT ANIMALS IN THE NATURAL WORLD ARE TO THE CULTURE OF INDIA.

THIS IS WHY GETTING TO MEET THIS PRECIOUS NEWBORN IS SO EXCITING.

THANK YOU, MUMMA.

HI.

I CAN ONLY GET THIS CLOSE BECAUSE THE MOTHER HAS DECIDED TO TRUST ME.

AND RUPOHEE IS SO YOUNG, HER TRUNK CAN'T HURT ME.

IF ONLY SHE'D TAKE MY HAND.

WOW!

THIS IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOTHER/BABY EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD, THIS UP CLOSE.

TO HAVE THE BABY JUST TRUST YOU AND TO COME AND WRAP ITS LITTLE TRUNK AROUND YOU, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO ACCEPT YOU AS ITS PLAYMATE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IN KAZIRANGA, THE WORKING ELEPHANTS LIVE ALMOST LIKE WILD ELEPHANTS.

WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING, THEY'RE FREE TO ROAM.

IT PROVIDES A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE QUALITY THAT BONDS PEOPLE TO THE WILDLIFE HERE--RESPECT.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: FROM AN ANIMAL YOU CAN GET CLOSE TO, TO AN ELUSIVE AND MYSTERIOUS PREDATOR.

ONE THAT HAS ALWAYS CARRIED WITH IT A DEEP, CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.

THE TIGER IS THE GUARDIAN OF THE FOREST.

HE CREATED THE RAINS, REGENERATES LIFE, BRINGS FERTILITY.

NO OTHER ANIMAL HAS QUITE SO MUCH ATTRIBUTED TO IT.

AND PERHAPS THAT'S BECAUSE, UNLIKE MUCH OF HER WILDLIFE, TIGERS CAN BE FOUND ACROSS ALMOST THE WHOLE OF INDIA.

INDIA HAS 48 TIGER RESERVES, BUT THE TIGER IS AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL.

THERE ARE JUST OVER 2,000 BENGAL TIGERS LEFT IN THE WILD.

THEY'RE AN ANIMAL I CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT, AND FOR ME, THERE IS NO GREATER SIGHT THAN SEEING ONE HUNT.

THE DEER GET AWAY, BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

ABOUT ONE IN 10 HUNTING ATTEMPTS IS A SUCCESSFUL KILL.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT I'M SOMEWHAT OBSESSED WITH TIGERS AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING ONE IN THE WILD, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO EMULATING THE SPIRIT OF THE TIGER, SOUTH INDIA IS THE PLACE TO BE.

SOUTHERN INDIA IS HOME TO A SPECTACULAR CELEBRATION.

THE PULI KALI, THE TIGER DANCE.

AS SOMEONE WHO IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT TIGERS, I SIMPLY HAVE TO SEE IT.

NO ONE'S QUITE SURE HOW THIS LOCAL TRADITION STARTED, BUT SOME SAY IT BEGAN OVER 200 YEARS AGO WHEN A MAHARAJA WANTED A DANCE TO CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF THE WILD.

AND THERE'S NO ANIMAL THAT EMBODIES THAT BETTER FOR INDIANS THAN THE TIGER.

SO, HOW MANY PAINTERS IN TOTAL GET THE HONOR OF MAKING THESE WONDERFUL WORKS OF ART?

[MEN SPEAKING AT ONCE] 30 PEOPLE ARE THERE.

JUST 30.

A-HA.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT?

HOW MANY YEARS?

10 YEARS.

10, 10 YEARS.

AND IS IT DIFFICULT?

WHEN YOU STARTED, WAS IT LIKE OH... SHAKING, MORE SHAKING.

THE WOBBLY BELLY.

AND DO YOU DEVELOP YOUR OWN STYLE TO BE DISTINCT FROM THE OTHER ARTISTS?

THIS PORTION.

SO, THIS IS DIFFERENT TO THE OTHER MOUTH BECAUSE...HE'S BIGGER.

YEAH.

SO, YOU MAKE THE MOUTH BIGGER.

[LAUGHS] I KNEW THE BELLY WAS IMPORTANT.

THE BIGGER THE BELLY, THE BETTER THE TIGER.

I EVEN GET THE CHANCE TO HAVE A GO MYSELF.

SO BEAUTIFULLY DONE THAT I DON'T WANT TO LET THE SIDE DOWN.

GET TO PAINT A TIGER ON SOMEONE'S BELLY.

WE'RE PERFORMING IN THE GROUNDS OF A TEMPLE SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECEIVE A BLESSING BEFORE GOING AHEAD WITH THE DANCE.

LIMBERED UP, PAINTED UP, LOOKING THE PART.

I THINK WE'RE READY FOR THE DANCE.

[BELLS JINGLING] I'VE SEEN TIGERS HUNT, I'VE SEEN THEM PROWL, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM QUITE LIKE THIS.

THE DANCE IS A SEASONAL EVENT, PERFORMED ONCE A YEAR AT THE HARVEST FESTIVAL OF ONAM AROUND THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER.

THE BIGGEST CAN HAVE UP TO 900 DANCERS AND THEY CAN DANCE FOR HOURS ON END.

I FELL UNDER THE SPELL OF THE TIGER ON MY FIRST VISIT TO INDIA.

THE FEMALE I SET EYES ON THEN HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON ME THAT WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I TOOK UP MY STUDIES IN WILD ANIMAL BIOLOGY.

TIGERS HAVE BEEN PART OF MY LIFE EVER SINCE.

[BELLS JINGLING, PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS PLAYING] THEY'RE CLEARLY A PART OF THE LIVES OF THESE DANCERS, TOO.

[GROWLS] THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

IT'S JUST SO LOVELY TO SEE SO MUCH DEDICATION, SO MUCH PASSION, SO MUCH ENERGY IN A DANCE LIKE THIS.

[BELLS JINGLING] AND WHEN YOU THINK THE TIGER, YOU KNOW, IS ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, IT'S SO HEART-WARMING TO SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE SO DEDICATED TO REVERING, CELEBRATING, AND PROTECTING THE TIGER HERE.

IT'S BRILLIANT.

THIS IS A CELEBRATION WITH ANIMALS AT ITS HEART, AND FINALLY THERE MAY BE REAL CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.

SOME STUDIES ARE REPORTING THAT TIGER NUMBERS SEEM TO BE RECOVERING.

PINTO, VOICE-OVER: BACK IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY, I'VE COME TO A LAND THAT IS FAMOUS FOR ITS CLIMATE THROUGHOUT INDIA.

A PLACE I'VE KNOWN ABOUT SINCE I WAS A 7-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLGIRL... MEGHALAYA.

WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL IN INDIA, I LEARNT ABOUT THIS LITTLE TOWN IN THE NORTHEAST OF INDIA, IN THE STATE OF MEGHALAYA CALLED CHERRAPUNJII, AND THE INTERESTING FACT OF THIS PLACE WAS THAT IT RAINED ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] MY GEOGRAPHY TEXTBOOK WOULD PROUDLY TELL ME THAT CHERRAPUNJII HOLDS THE WORLD RECORD FOR MOST RAIN IN A CALENDAR MONTH, OVER 30 FEET.

CHERRAPUNJII CAN GET MORE RAIN IN A MONTH THAN SEATTLE GETS IN A YEAR.

OF COURSE IT DOESN'T RAIN EVERY DAY, BUT THIS IS A LAND CARVED OUT BY WATER.

THE RIVERS HERE CAN RISE BY OVER 6 FEET.

IT MAKES IT HARD TO GET AROUND.

BUT INDIANS HAVE ALWAYS WORKED WITH NATURE, USING WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES.

SO, THIS IS HOME TO A WONDER THAT DATES BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS YET IS STILL IN DAILY USE.

LIVING BRIDGES MADE FROM THE ROOTS OF TREES.

BY THE WAY, THIS IS ONE SINGLE TREE.

NOT, NOT JUST THIS, THIS AND THIS.

ONE SINGLE TREE.

HARD TO BELIEVE, RIGHT?

THE TREES ARE FIG TREES, CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY PRODUCE A SERIES OF SECONDARY ROOTS FROM HIGHER UP THE TRUNK.

THESE ACT AS ADDED SUPPORTS FOR THE TRUNK.

THE ROOTS GROW QUICKLY, STABILIZING IN THIN SOIL AND AROUND ROCKS.

THEY ARE IDEAL TREES FOR THESE BRIDGES.

THERE ARE QUITE SIMPLY MORE ROOTS TO USE.

I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR THINGS NATURE HAS EVER SHOWN TO ME.

DON'T THINK I HAVE STOOD ON A BRIDGE THAT IS MADE OUT OF ROOTS OF A TREE THAT IS 400 YEARS OLD.

IN MEGHALAYA, YOU HAVE THESE ROOT BRIDGES ALMOST EVERYWHERE, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY GROWN BY MAN IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGE OF CROSSING THE RAGING RIVERS, THE RAGING TORRENTS, TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER.

FOR TRADE, FOR EXAMPLE.

UNLIKE THE BRIDGES I KNOW OF, IT IS A VERY, VERY STRONG BRIDGE AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET STRONGER IN TIME.

AS A TREE GROWS, THE ROOTS THAT FORM THE BRIDGE GET THICKER AND STRONGER.

NEW ROOTS ARE USED TO MAINTAIN THE BRIDGE.

THIS SKILL MAY BE ANCIENT, BUT THE LOCAL VILLAGERS STILL USE IT TO MAINTAIN OLD BRIDGES AND EVEN GROW NEW ONES.

IT'S A SKILL THEY PROUDLY PASS ON TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

LIKE BATSKHEM WAHLANG, WHO GREW UP IN THE LOCAL VILLAGE AND WAS TAUGHT BY THE ELDERS.

BATSKHEM, MY FRIEND, I HEAR YOU'RE AN EXPERT AT TRAINING THE ROOTS OF THESE LIVING BRIDGES.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS FOR?

NOT LESS THAN 5, 6 YEARS.

I LEARNED FROM THE VILLAGERS AND FIRST OF ALL THE PEOPLE HAVE TO PLANT THE TREE FIRST AND WHEN THE ROOTS COME OUT, THAT MEAN THEY JUST TRAIN THE ROOTS TO COME IN THE OUTSIDE OF THE RIVER.

SO, ONE MINUTE, YOU SAID THEY PLANT THE TREE FIRST?

YES.

THEY DON'T JUST PICK A TREE THAT ALREADY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE THE ROOTS THAT THEY COULD TRAIN?

NO, NO.

THAT'S A LOT OF DEDICATION.

OK, SO, THEY PLANT THE TREE, THE ROOTS START GROWING, THEN WHAT'S THE NEXT PHASE?

WHAT DO THEY DO NEXT?

THEY TRAIN IT BY PUTTING THIS BETEL NUT TRUNK.

SO, THIS IS A BETEL NUT TRUNK?

YEAH, THIS IS BETEL NUT TRUNK.

AND BECAUSE IT'S HOLLOW, IT'S USEFUL TO PASS THE ROOT ALONG.

YEAH, IT'S USEFUL, YEAH.

THAT--THAT'S INTERESTING.

SO, THESE ARE BETEL NUT TREES.

YEAH, THAT'S ONE BETEL NUT THERE, YEAH.

PINTO, VOICE-OVER: BY USING BETEL NUT TRUNKS TO TRAIN THE ROOTS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THE STRUCTURE OF THE BRIDGE IS BROUGHT TO LIFE.

IT TAKES SKILL, BUT MOST OF ALL IT TAKES PATIENCE.

AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR IT TO BECOME THIS?

MAYBE AROUND 10, 15 YEARS IT'LL BECOME.

WOW.

MAYBE THEN I SHOULD TRY ONE, RIGHT?

YEAH, YOU CAN DO IT.

SO, LET'S TAKE THE THIN ONE, LIKE THIS ONE'S GOOD?

YEAH, THE THIN ONE.

OK. KEEP INSIDE.

KEEP IT INSIDE.

ALL THE WAY THROUGH, RIGHT?

YEAH, ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

THAT SAFE AND SECURE NOW?

YEAH.

OK, 10 YEARS, I'LL BE BACK IN 10 YEARS.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING PUZZLING ME ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BRIDGE.

I WONDERED WHY THEY NEEDED TWO BRIDGES.

IT TOOK 400 YEARS TO TRAIN AND GROW THE FIRST ONE, SO, WHY SPEND ANOTHER 200, 300 YEARS TO BUILD A SECOND ONE?

WELL, SIMPLY BECAUSE IN, IN THE MONSOON SEASON, WHICH IS JUNE TO OCTOBER, THE LOWER PART OF THE BRIDGE IS ACTUALLY FULLY SUBMERGED.

IT'S UNDERWATER.

BUT OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE OF THESE VILLAGES NEEDED THE SECOND BRIDGE TO CONTINUE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES.

THIS HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

TO SEE HOW INVENTIVE PEOPLE ARE.

HOW THEY WORK WITH NATURE TO CREATE SOLUTIONS.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: FROM THE FAR REACHES OF THE NORTH, TO THE VERY SOUTH OF INDIA, FOR THE LAST OF OUR NATURAL WONDERS.

AN ICONIC BIRD OF THE RAINFOREST, WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY BREEDING BEHAVIOR.

THE BEST TIME TO SEE IT IS IN THE SPRING.

THE CRACK OF DAWN AND WE'VE COME TO A COFFEE PLANTATION TO TRY AND SPOT ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC, BIZARRE, AND SPECTACULAR BIRDS OF THE RAINFOREST, AND JUST AS WE WERE WALKING UP THIS TRACK, WE SPOTTED THE MALE THAT'S NOW IN THAT TREE JUST AHEAD OF ME.

THE BIRD I'M HERE TO SEE IS THE GREAT PIED HORNBILL.

HORNBILLS MAKE A SPECIAL NEST.

TO PROTECT THEIR EGGS, THEY CHOOSE A HOLLOW IN A TREE.

THE FEMALE IS SEALED UP USING DUNG.

SHE'LL STAY THERE FOR 4 MONTHS.

TWICE A DAY, THE MALE WILL BRING FOOD FOR HER AND THEIR YOUNG.

HORNBILLS MATE FOR LIFE.

THEIR NESTS CAN BE HARD TO FIND, UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN STUDYING THEM FOR 15 YEARS, LIKE DIVYA MUDAPPA.

THEY'RE SUCH BIG BIRDS.

I MEAN, I KNOW, I KNEW THEY WERE BIG, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THEM WITH YOUR OWN EYES.

LOOK AT THAT!

THEIR COLORINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLY PERFECT, FOR SOMETHING NATURAL.

THE SHADINGS OF YELLOW AND THEN THE BLACK AND WHITE FEATHERS ARE JUST SO BEAUTIFUL.

HE'S ON THE MOVE.

HE'S GOING TO GO ACROSS TO THE NEST.

DOES HE HAVE FOOD IN HIS BILL?

IN HIS GULLET.

IN HIS GULLET.

SO, HE REGURGITATES IT FOR THE FEMALE?

THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.

I DON'T EVEN NEED THE BINOCULARS.

HE'S SO BIG ONCE HE FLIES OVER.

THERE HE IS, THERE HE IS.

OH!

WHOA!

HE'S REGURGITATING.

SO, HOW CAN YOU TELL WHAT HE'S REGURGITATING?

JUST BY WATCHING IT AND LOOKING AT THE SHAPE OF THE FRUIT ON THE TIP OF THE BILL.

WE SAW IT IN THE BILL.

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: THESE ARE MAGNIFICENT CREATURES.

THEIR WINGSPAN CAN FULLY EXTENDED TO 5 FEET.

EACH NEST WILL NORMALLY CONTAIN ONE OR TWO YOUNG.

THEY'RE NOT BORN WITH THE DISTINCTIVE CASQUES ON THEIR BILLS.

THESE TAKE ABOUT 5 YEARS TO FULLY DEVELOP.

THE BRIGHT YELLOW COLOR LOOKS ARTIFICIAL, BUT IT COMES FROM A PREEN GLAND SECRETION, WHICH THE MALE SPREADS ONTO ITS PRIMARY FEATHERS, GIVING THEM THEIR DISTINCTIVE COLOR.

THE MALE BRINGS ALL SORTS OF FRUITS TO THE NEST, BUT HE'LL ALSO SEEK OUT SMALL INSECTS AND OTHER FLYING CREATURES.

THIS ONE EVEN HAS A BAT IN ITS BEAK.

I CAN SEE THE BILL OF THE FEMALE.

THEY CLOSE UP THE ENTRANCE YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

TO PROTECT FROM PREDATORS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE, ISN'T IT?

SHE DOESN'T GET TO STRETCH HER WINGS FOR LIKE MONTHS.

IN FACT, SHE MIGHT MOLT WHEN SHE'S SITTING IN THERE AND GET A NEW SET OF FEATHERS.

THAT'S DEDICATION FOR YOU.

[LAUGHS] THIS REALLY UNUSUAL GROWTH ON TOP OF THE BILL, IT'S HOLLOW AND IT'S VERY LIGHTWEIGHT.

IT'S MADE OF HOLLOW CELLS SUPPORTED BY TWO WALLS AND IT ACTS AS AN AMPLIFICATION CHAMBER, SO THAT WHEN THEY CALL IN THE FOREST, THE SOUND TRAVELS EVEN FURTHER.

AND JUST BEFORE MATING SEASON, SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE MALES BUTTING, OR CLASHING THEIR CASQUES TOGETHER IN MIDAIR SO THAT THEY CAN WIN THE FEMALE.

IT MAKES FOR THEIR NAME, THE HORNBILL, AND THERE'S NO QUESTION IT'S QUITE A BIZARRE STRUCTURE.

THESE MAGNIFICENT BIRDS ARE OFTEN CALLED THE GARDENERS OF THE RAINFOREST BECAUSE THEY PLAY SUCH A VITAL ROLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM AS SEED DISPERSERS.

THEY FEED ON SO MANY OF THE FRUIT TREES AROUND THE FOREST AND AS THEY FLY, THEY DROP ALL OF THE SEEDS ALL ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.

OH, I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF HIS HEAD.

THE UNUSUAL CASQUE, THE SHAPE OF THE BEAK, THE SHADINGS.

THEY'RE SUCH STUNNING CREATURES.

OH, HE'S OFF.

[INDISTINCT] THE SOUND OF THE WINGS THROUGH THE FOREST AT DAWN.

I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING MORE GLORIOUS, IS THERE?

YES.

NO.

MY HAIR STANDS ON END EVERY TIME I HEAR IT.

I GOT COMPLETE SHIVERS AS HE SOARED ACROSS THE SKY.

THIS IS A LAND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL.

FROM THE UNEXPECTED LIONS OF THE GIR FOREST AND THE PEOPLE'S INTIMATE CONNECTION WITH THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE HERE.

WOW!

BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: TO THE MAGNIFICENT HIMALAYAS THAT SHAPE BOTH THE LANDSCAPE AND ITS LIFE.

THESE ARE THE NATURAL WONDERS OF INDIA.

AND WE'VE ONLY JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE.

ANNOUNCER: STAY TUNED FOR MORE FROM "DANCIN BONNIN, VOICE-OVER: NEXT TIME... BONNIN: THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.

IT MAKES YOU EMOTIONAL, RIGHT?

GUPTA: IT'S JUST LITERALLY POPPED OUT OF A HOLE AND IT'S JUST LOVELY TO WATCH.

PINTO: AH.

AH.

THIS BEAUTIFUL FEMALE BEHIND ME.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

SEE YOU LATER.

AAH!

ANNOUNCER: India Nature's Wonderland is available on DVD.

TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

Also available on iTunes.