1 00:00:03,715 --> 00:00:05,926 ♪ ♪ 2 00:00:07,636 --> 00:00:08,762 WALDO: Just a heads up, 3 00:00:08,845 --> 00:00:11,723 there is lightning to the northwest, copy that? 4 00:00:11,806 --> 00:00:13,350 BERTIE: Okay, roger that. 5 00:00:13,475 --> 00:00:14,768 [thunder] 6 00:00:14,851 --> 00:00:16,061 WALDO: Whoa, did you see that? 7 00:00:16,853 --> 00:00:18,855 [thunder] 8 00:00:18,980 --> 00:00:23,610 ♪ ♪ 9 00:00:24,152 --> 00:00:25,487 [elephant roaring] 10 00:00:25,570 --> 00:00:27,322 Bertie, get back here now! 11 00:00:27,572 --> 00:00:33,495 {\an8}♪ ♪ 12 00:00:34,788 --> 00:00:37,499 {\an8}♪ ♪ 13 00:00:38,750 --> 00:00:45,674 {\an8}♪ ♪ 14 00:00:46,091 --> 00:00:47,759 BERTIE: As a wildlife filmmaker, 15 00:00:47,842 --> 00:00:50,011 I've worked in some pretty remote places, 16 00:00:51,721 --> 00:00:53,765 but this one is next level! 17 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:57,644 The spot we are here 18 00:00:57,727 --> 00:00:59,646 is actually the border between three countries. 19 00:01:00,522 --> 00:01:02,274 To the boat's left is the Cameroon, 20 00:01:02,357 --> 00:01:04,609 back behind us is the Republic of Congo, 21 00:01:04,818 --> 00:01:08,196 and up ahead, our destination is the Central African Republic. 22 00:01:10,907 --> 00:01:13,493 We're heading to a vast wilderness, 23 00:01:13,577 --> 00:01:15,537 Dzanga-Sangha National Park. 24 00:01:18,623 --> 00:01:21,167 Our goal is to try and track down 25 00:01:21,251 --> 00:01:22,752 the jungle's mightiest resident. 26 00:01:26,881 --> 00:01:28,466 We've got five weeks to film 27 00:01:28,633 --> 00:01:31,553 one of the biggest and rarest elephants in Africa, 28 00:01:32,512 --> 00:01:34,472 a forest elephant tusker, 29 00:01:37,267 --> 00:01:40,562 huge males with tusks that sweep down to the floor. 30 00:01:44,441 --> 00:01:45,775 It won't be easy. 31 00:01:48,486 --> 00:01:50,614 The tuskers' supersized ivory 32 00:01:50,739 --> 00:01:53,199 makes them a prime target for poachers. 33 00:01:55,452 --> 00:01:56,995 In just 12 years, 34 00:01:57,162 --> 00:02:00,332 Africa's forest elephant population was halved. 35 00:02:02,375 --> 00:02:04,586 To have any chance of finding one 36 00:02:04,753 --> 00:02:07,005 we're going to need some expert knowledge. 37 00:02:08,131 --> 00:02:10,467 Well, this is not a jungle you want to walk around in 38 00:02:10,592 --> 00:02:11,968 unless you really know what you're doing, 39 00:02:12,260 --> 00:02:15,013 and I don't know what I'm doing, so up ahead, this is Ngbanda. 40 00:02:15,138 --> 00:02:17,807 Ngbanda's a BaAka, they're an incredible group of people 41 00:02:17,891 --> 00:02:19,851 that have lived in this forest for generations. 42 00:02:19,934 --> 00:02:21,394 So we're in good hands. 43 00:02:21,686 --> 00:02:25,106 ♪ ♪ 44 00:02:27,484 --> 00:02:30,028 [distant roar] 45 00:02:30,111 --> 00:02:31,196 Did you hear that? 46 00:02:31,571 --> 00:02:36,701 ♪ ♪ 47 00:02:36,993 --> 00:02:39,954 [distant roar] 48 00:02:42,165 --> 00:02:45,293 {\an8}♪ ♪ 49 00:03:03,645 --> 00:03:06,398 BERTIE: Ngbanda is leading us to a very special place, 50 00:03:06,815 --> 00:03:09,859 where we'll have the best chance of finding a tusker. 51 00:03:15,115 --> 00:03:16,616 BERTIE: That way? NGBANDA: Oui. 52 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:18,910 ♪ ♪ 53 00:03:19,077 --> 00:03:22,622 [distant grumbling] 54 00:03:22,706 --> 00:03:24,207 BERTIE: Listen to all that noise. 55 00:03:24,290 --> 00:03:29,337 [distant grumbling] 56 00:03:29,421 --> 00:03:30,630 We're getting closer. 57 00:03:30,714 --> 00:03:32,924 [elephant trumpets in distance] 58 00:03:33,007 --> 00:03:38,263 ♪ ♪ 59 00:03:38,346 --> 00:03:41,266 [trumpeting] 60 00:03:41,349 --> 00:03:46,855 ♪ ♪ 61 00:03:46,938 --> 00:03:48,106 Wow. 62 00:03:48,857 --> 00:03:55,739 ♪ ♪ 63 00:03:56,322 --> 00:03:57,699 [groans] 64 00:03:57,782 --> 00:04:00,201 ♪ ♪ 65 00:04:00,285 --> 00:04:01,745 [trumpets] 66 00:04:01,828 --> 00:04:04,914 ♪ ♪ 67 00:04:04,998 --> 00:04:06,207 [trumpets] 68 00:04:06,332 --> 00:04:10,253 ♪ ♪ 69 00:04:10,378 --> 00:04:13,089 This is Dzanga Bai, village of elephants. 70 00:04:13,673 --> 00:04:19,429 ♪ ♪ 71 00:04:19,554 --> 00:04:24,768 ♪ ♪ 72 00:04:25,018 --> 00:04:26,811 Merci, Ngbanda, merci. 73 00:04:27,270 --> 00:04:29,647 ♪ ♪ 74 00:04:29,856 --> 00:04:33,902 This big, open clearing in the forest is known as a bai. 75 00:04:36,780 --> 00:04:39,991 Created by the elephants over decades, 76 00:04:40,074 --> 00:04:42,535 it's the length of five football fields. 77 00:04:44,996 --> 00:04:46,831 This species spends most of their lives 78 00:04:46,915 --> 00:04:48,500 hidden in the forest. 79 00:04:49,918 --> 00:04:53,296 To see this many out in the open is incredible. 80 00:04:56,174 --> 00:05:00,303 If we want to find a big male tusker, this could be our spot. 81 00:05:01,346 --> 00:05:03,139 There is nowhere else on Earth 82 00:05:03,223 --> 00:05:05,809 where forest elephants gather in these numbers. 83 00:05:07,769 --> 00:05:14,025 ♪ ♪ 84 00:05:14,984 --> 00:05:16,486 And the big attraction... 85 00:05:16,986 --> 00:05:21,699 [bubbling] 86 00:05:21,783 --> 00:05:23,535 ...is hidden deep in the mud. 87 00:05:24,327 --> 00:05:28,498 ♪ ♪ 88 00:05:28,873 --> 00:05:30,625 See this female and her little calf, 89 00:05:31,835 --> 00:05:35,380 she's pushing down with her trunk, blowing bubbles. 90 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,133 [bubbling] 91 00:05:39,425 --> 00:05:41,803 It looks like she's just messing about, 92 00:05:41,886 --> 00:05:43,555 but this mud play 93 00:05:44,722 --> 00:05:46,099 is serious stuff. 94 00:05:49,102 --> 00:05:51,896 Their plant-based diet lacks essential minerals 95 00:05:51,980 --> 00:05:54,065 like potassium and calcium. 96 00:05:55,066 --> 00:05:57,610 The minerals that they're after are buried deep underground, 97 00:05:57,694 --> 00:05:59,571 so they've got to mine for them. 98 00:05:59,821 --> 00:06:05,577 ♪ ♪ 99 00:06:05,702 --> 00:06:09,998 ♪ ♪ 100 00:06:10,081 --> 00:06:13,251 They drive their trunks into the mud and blow, 101 00:06:15,962 --> 00:06:18,590 using bubbles to dislodge the minerals. 102 00:06:19,299 --> 00:06:24,929 ♪ ♪ 103 00:06:25,054 --> 00:06:31,978 ♪ ♪ 104 00:06:33,479 --> 00:06:34,939 But it takes some practice. 105 00:06:37,442 --> 00:06:40,445 The elephant's trunk is the most unbelievable thing. 106 00:06:40,653 --> 00:06:42,947 It's got tens of thousands of muscles in it. 107 00:06:46,868 --> 00:06:47,994 And I don't think that little baby 108 00:06:48,077 --> 00:06:49,787 has learnt to fully use it yet. 109 00:06:49,871 --> 00:06:51,789 It just sort flicks it around. 110 00:06:51,873 --> 00:06:57,670 ♪ ♪ 111 00:06:57,754 --> 00:07:00,590 [bird chirps] 112 00:07:02,175 --> 00:07:04,802 Forest elephants live in small family groups. 113 00:07:05,219 --> 00:07:07,764 [squeal] 114 00:07:07,931 --> 00:07:10,350 The bai is a place for these normally shy animals 115 00:07:10,475 --> 00:07:11,809 to socialize. 116 00:07:14,145 --> 00:07:17,607 Up to 200 gather in this clearing every day. 117 00:07:20,401 --> 00:07:22,820 Their heavy footfall has created a habitat 118 00:07:22,904 --> 00:07:25,990 that attracts some of Africa's rarest animals. 119 00:07:27,700 --> 00:07:29,786 From giant forest hogs... 120 00:07:30,328 --> 00:07:33,957 ♪ ♪ 121 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:35,458 ...to bongos... 122 00:07:36,668 --> 00:07:38,252 [moo] 123 00:07:38,836 --> 00:07:40,588 ...and African grey parrots. 124 00:07:41,339 --> 00:07:46,928 ♪ ♪ 125 00:07:47,095 --> 00:07:49,681 Somewhere amongst the crowd I'm hoping I'll spot 126 00:07:49,806 --> 00:07:54,060 the biggest elephant of all, a legendary tusker. 127 00:07:54,477 --> 00:07:57,480 [grumbling] 128 00:07:57,730 --> 00:08:01,651 BERTIE: Ngbanda, elephant in BaAka? 129 00:08:01,734 --> 00:08:02,777 NGBANDA: Njoku. 130 00:08:02,902 --> 00:08:04,487 [elephant roars] 131 00:08:05,697 --> 00:08:06,698 BERTIE: Is it njoku? 132 00:08:06,781 --> 00:08:08,324 NGBANDA: Njoku. BERTIE: Njoku. 133 00:08:09,409 --> 00:08:13,454 BERTIE: What about the big, big elephant, big male? Tusks? 134 00:08:13,788 --> 00:08:14,789 NGBANDA: Njoku wambule. 135 00:08:14,872 --> 00:08:16,457 BERTIE: Njoku wambule. Okay. 136 00:08:20,128 --> 00:08:21,838 We're seeing some njoku wambule, 137 00:08:22,630 --> 00:08:25,800 but none of them are the really big tuskers we're after. 138 00:08:26,009 --> 00:08:30,638 ♪ ♪ 139 00:08:30,722 --> 00:08:33,599 This male here might look big; 140 00:08:33,725 --> 00:08:36,144 they get much, much bigger. 141 00:08:37,812 --> 00:08:40,565 Those tusks can reach all the way down to the ground. 142 00:08:42,233 --> 00:08:43,735 But the bigger the tusks, 143 00:08:44,193 --> 00:08:46,904 the more at risk the elephant is from poaching. 144 00:08:48,406 --> 00:08:51,451 And open areas like this are where forest elephants 145 00:08:51,576 --> 00:08:53,036 are at their most vulnerable. 146 00:08:58,207 --> 00:09:00,043 [roar] 147 00:09:00,126 --> 00:09:01,210 Hang on a second. 148 00:09:01,294 --> 00:09:08,051 [roaring] 149 00:09:09,052 --> 00:09:12,597 I'm not sure what spooked them, but it's really fired them up. 150 00:09:13,681 --> 00:09:16,309 ♪ ♪ 151 00:09:16,392 --> 00:09:23,316 [grumbling] 152 00:09:26,402 --> 00:09:28,071 They're very, very jumpy. 153 00:09:29,614 --> 00:09:30,907 [trumpets] 154 00:09:30,990 --> 00:09:35,286 ♪ ♪ 155 00:09:35,369 --> 00:09:36,454 [trumpets] 156 00:09:38,247 --> 00:09:39,916 [trumpets] 157 00:09:39,999 --> 00:09:42,960 ♪ ♪ 158 00:09:43,086 --> 00:09:44,629 If they come running in our direction, 159 00:09:45,338 --> 00:09:46,964 we'd be in serious trouble. 160 00:09:48,257 --> 00:09:50,676 [trumpeting] 161 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,097 [grumbling] 162 00:09:54,222 --> 00:09:55,723 [trumpets] 163 00:09:55,807 --> 00:10:02,021 ♪ ♪ 164 00:10:02,105 --> 00:10:04,357 It's too dangerous to stay on the ground, 165 00:10:04,941 --> 00:10:07,318 so it's time for plan B. 166 00:10:08,528 --> 00:10:12,073 ♪ ♪ 167 00:10:12,156 --> 00:10:14,200 On the team are rope experts 168 00:10:14,283 --> 00:10:15,493 Waldo Etherington 169 00:10:16,911 --> 00:10:18,162 and Meg Donaldson. 170 00:10:20,123 --> 00:10:22,750 They've worked in remote jungles around the world, 171 00:10:23,376 --> 00:10:26,295 and we're going to need all their tree climbing skills. 172 00:10:26,754 --> 00:10:29,674 ♪ ♪ 173 00:10:29,757 --> 00:10:30,842 [snap] 174 00:10:32,385 --> 00:10:38,391 ♪ ♪ 175 00:10:38,474 --> 00:10:40,476 We don't want to spook the elephants, 176 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:43,479 so the setup needs to be quiet and quick. 177 00:10:43,604 --> 00:10:47,358 ♪ ♪ 178 00:10:47,567 --> 00:10:48,943 Check out the view. 179 00:10:50,695 --> 00:10:53,990 So we're gonna stick the filming platform 180 00:10:54,073 --> 00:10:56,701 on the tree just here, and it's looking good. 181 00:11:00,663 --> 00:11:02,748 Now we've got somewhere to film from. 182 00:11:04,750 --> 00:11:06,878 Next we need somewhere to live. 183 00:11:07,044 --> 00:11:10,882 ♪ ♪ 184 00:11:13,467 --> 00:11:15,469 Just back from the filming platform, 185 00:11:16,220 --> 00:11:18,890 {\an8}Waldo and Meg have found the perfect place 186 00:11:19,056 --> 00:11:21,017 {\an8}to set up a canopy camp. 187 00:11:21,142 --> 00:11:24,896 {\an8}♪ ♪ 188 00:11:25,021 --> 00:11:28,858 This 150-foot sapele tree has a trunk strong enough 189 00:11:28,941 --> 00:11:30,443 to support our whole team. 190 00:11:31,110 --> 00:11:36,782 ♪ ♪ 191 00:11:36,866 --> 00:11:40,328 They make it look easy, but this is an extreme build. 192 00:11:41,287 --> 00:11:48,211 ♪ ♪ 193 00:11:48,628 --> 00:11:50,546 They're rigging a netted living area 194 00:11:53,049 --> 00:11:55,801 and metal-framed tents known as portaledges. 195 00:11:55,927 --> 00:12:01,140 ♪ ♪ 196 00:12:01,224 --> 00:12:04,101 And for safety, there's a nearby bailout tree 197 00:12:04,185 --> 00:12:05,728 for really bad weather. 198 00:12:05,853 --> 00:12:10,483 ♪ ♪ 199 00:12:14,278 --> 00:12:17,323 While Waldo and Meg finish setting up our canopy camp, 200 00:12:17,949 --> 00:12:19,825 I'm excited to show Ngbanda his home 201 00:12:20,284 --> 00:12:21,994 from a totally new perspective. 202 00:12:22,078 --> 00:12:24,830 [drone whirring] 203 00:12:24,914 --> 00:12:28,209 ♪ ♪ 204 00:12:32,296 --> 00:12:38,344 ♪ ♪ 205 00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:42,265 ♪ ♪ 206 00:12:42,598 --> 00:12:43,599 {\an8}C'est bon, Ngbanda? 207 00:12:47,311 --> 00:12:54,235 ♪ ♪ 208 00:13:03,744 --> 00:13:08,958 ♪ ♪ 209 00:13:10,459 --> 00:13:17,174 {\an8}♪ ♪ 210 00:13:40,531 --> 00:13:41,657 BERTIE: From the air, 211 00:13:41,741 --> 00:13:44,493 the scale of their gardening is breathtaking. 212 00:13:47,663 --> 00:13:50,708 And it's not only Ngbanda who's seeing things differently. 213 00:13:54,545 --> 00:13:58,049 Up here, I can see hundreds of routes in and out of the bai 214 00:13:58,174 --> 00:13:59,800 that the tuskers could use. 215 00:14:02,887 --> 00:14:05,973 Secret elephant highways through the forest. 216 00:14:07,058 --> 00:14:09,602 So we need eyes on them at all times. 217 00:14:10,311 --> 00:14:14,565 ♪ ♪ 218 00:14:14,774 --> 00:14:17,651 Our plan is to set up a network of camera traps. 219 00:14:18,194 --> 00:14:21,739 ♪ ♪ 220 00:14:21,822 --> 00:14:25,242 The biggest tuskers never stay in the same place for long. 221 00:14:28,079 --> 00:14:30,873 But Ngbanda knows how to spot their favorite routes. 222 00:14:38,964 --> 00:14:40,633 BERTIE: There's another trail here. 223 00:14:42,718 --> 00:14:43,761 Okay. 224 00:14:47,598 --> 00:14:50,518 This is a camera trap, and we've got 10 of these to put out. 225 00:14:52,144 --> 00:14:54,397 I've brought camera trap specialist Declan Burley 226 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:55,523 to help. 227 00:14:57,066 --> 00:14:59,902 His tech skills paired with Ngbanda's local knowledge 228 00:14:59,985 --> 00:15:01,404 are a powerful combo. 229 00:15:01,487 --> 00:15:02,613 So this is the main one. 230 00:15:02,696 --> 00:15:04,031 DECLAN: Let's focus on that one, then. 231 00:15:04,115 --> 00:15:05,199 BERTIE: Listen to the boss. 232 00:15:05,282 --> 00:15:07,243 DECLAN: Yeah. The man who knows the ways. 233 00:15:12,164 --> 00:15:15,209 BERTIE: Jungle-proof cases will allow us to leave these cameras 234 00:15:15,292 --> 00:15:16,460 for the next few weeks. 235 00:15:24,301 --> 00:15:26,429 So camera's set, and how this is gonna work 236 00:15:26,512 --> 00:15:29,181 is we've set up two invisible laser beams 237 00:15:29,265 --> 00:15:30,808 down either way down the trail, 238 00:15:31,642 --> 00:15:34,228 and when an elephant triggers either beam, 239 00:15:34,311 --> 00:15:37,273 it sends a signal to the camera to turn on and start recording. 240 00:15:40,025 --> 00:15:42,236 [chuckling] 241 00:15:42,319 --> 00:15:47,241 ♪ ♪ 242 00:15:47,324 --> 00:15:49,326 And hopefully the next time this camera triggers, 243 00:15:49,410 --> 00:15:50,995 it'll be an actual elephant. 244 00:15:55,291 --> 00:15:56,459 While we've been away, 245 00:15:57,334 --> 00:16:00,588 Waldo and Meg have completed the ultimate treehouse, 246 00:16:03,591 --> 00:16:06,177 suspended 120 feet in the air. 247 00:16:06,927 --> 00:16:13,809 ♪ ♪ 248 00:16:14,226 --> 00:16:15,978 I think it's time for a bit of a camp tour. 249 00:16:16,061 --> 00:16:17,855 So behind me is the view, you can see the bai 250 00:16:17,938 --> 00:16:19,815 with some of the elephants through the trees there. 251 00:16:20,107 --> 00:16:22,735 If I come over here, Waldo and Meg are making some breakfast. 252 00:16:22,985 --> 00:16:24,695 WALDO: It's looking very good. BERTIE: I'm excited. 253 00:16:24,820 --> 00:16:27,114 In the back there is Drew, the sound department. 254 00:16:27,615 --> 00:16:29,700 And then over here, these are the portaledges, 255 00:16:29,783 --> 00:16:31,076 this is where we sleep. 256 00:16:31,243 --> 00:16:33,496 Waldo and Meg's is further down the trunk below us. 257 00:16:38,792 --> 00:16:42,338 But the coolest part of camp is the commute to work. 258 00:16:42,713 --> 00:16:49,094 ♪ ♪ 259 00:16:49,220 --> 00:16:56,060 ♪ ♪ 260 00:16:57,978 --> 00:17:00,189 A 300-foot highline takes me 261 00:17:00,272 --> 00:17:02,191 straight to the filming platform. 262 00:17:02,816 --> 00:17:08,572 ♪ ♪ 263 00:17:08,656 --> 00:17:13,953 ♪ ♪ 264 00:17:14,036 --> 00:17:16,372 It also keeps my scent off the ground 265 00:17:16,455 --> 00:17:18,374 to avoid disturbing the elephants. 266 00:17:19,333 --> 00:17:26,215 ♪ ♪ 267 00:17:26,632 --> 00:17:29,009 Well, this is the filming platform, 268 00:17:29,093 --> 00:17:31,637 and gonna be spending many, many hours here 269 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,013 over the next few weeks. 270 00:17:35,766 --> 00:17:38,143 This platform is a game-changer. 271 00:17:39,478 --> 00:17:44,024 ♪ ♪ 272 00:17:44,108 --> 00:17:47,319 ♪ ♪ 273 00:17:47,403 --> 00:17:52,700 ♪ ♪ 274 00:17:52,783 --> 00:17:56,412 ♪ ♪ 275 00:17:56,495 --> 00:17:58,080 I've got a clear view 276 00:17:58,163 --> 00:18:00,332 all the way down to the other end of the bai. 277 00:18:00,916 --> 00:18:05,921 ♪ ♪ 278 00:18:06,297 --> 00:18:09,133 It's just elephant pathways from all directions all around us, 279 00:18:09,216 --> 00:18:12,386 so it's gonna be so good to try and spot this big tusker. 280 00:18:17,808 --> 00:18:19,643 [chuckles] 281 00:18:19,727 --> 00:18:23,606 ♪ ♪ 282 00:18:23,814 --> 00:18:26,775 Hidden in the canopy, I have a secret window 283 00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:29,278 into the elephants' day-to-day lives. 284 00:18:32,323 --> 00:18:34,783 I think my favorite thing about this filming platform, 285 00:18:34,867 --> 00:18:37,244 other than the amazing view of the elephants, 286 00:18:37,328 --> 00:18:39,455 is the food delivery service. 287 00:18:40,247 --> 00:18:43,042 [chuckles] 288 00:18:43,208 --> 00:18:44,460 Thank you. 289 00:18:45,169 --> 00:18:51,884 ♪ ♪ 290 00:18:53,052 --> 00:18:54,428 The longer I wait... 291 00:18:54,511 --> 00:18:55,846 [trumpeting] 292 00:18:55,929 --> 00:18:58,932 ...the more I notice all the little family dramas. 293 00:19:00,601 --> 00:19:03,479 [roar] 294 00:19:03,604 --> 00:19:07,566 ♪ ♪ 295 00:19:07,775 --> 00:19:09,276 Most of them are playful, 296 00:19:11,528 --> 00:19:13,322 But things are getting a bit feisty 297 00:19:13,405 --> 00:19:14,948 with some of the younger males. 298 00:19:15,532 --> 00:19:19,995 [roaring] 299 00:19:20,079 --> 00:19:21,538 [grumbling] 300 00:19:21,622 --> 00:19:24,041 [roar] 301 00:19:24,124 --> 00:19:28,045 [grumbling] 302 00:19:30,339 --> 00:19:33,217 [trumpets] 303 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:34,343 Look at that. 304 00:19:34,718 --> 00:19:38,430 [grumbling] 305 00:19:38,514 --> 00:19:41,266 I wonder how they'd act if there was a big tusker here 306 00:19:41,350 --> 00:19:43,060 to remind them who's boss. 307 00:19:43,143 --> 00:19:44,812 [grumbling] 308 00:19:45,062 --> 00:19:47,439 ♪ ♪ 309 00:19:47,523 --> 00:19:51,276 Days turn to weeks. 310 00:19:51,568 --> 00:19:55,197 ♪ ♪ 311 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,241 But still no sign of a tusker. 312 00:19:57,783 --> 00:20:01,495 ♪ ♪ 313 00:20:01,578 --> 00:20:04,248 Poaching may have had an even bigger impact 314 00:20:04,331 --> 00:20:05,457 than I first thought. 315 00:20:06,458 --> 00:20:12,131 ♪ ♪ 316 00:20:12,214 --> 00:20:14,842 To learn more, I'm meeting up with the park's rangers. 317 00:20:17,386 --> 00:20:20,639 Known as ecoguards, they put their lives on the line 318 00:20:20,723 --> 00:20:23,225 to protect the forest from poachers. 319 00:20:24,852 --> 00:20:26,353 BERTIE: Bonjour. TATIANA: Bonjour. 320 00:20:26,562 --> 00:20:27,896 BERTIE: Tatiana Solet 321 00:20:28,147 --> 00:20:30,899 is one of the most experienced rangers on the team. 322 00:20:44,663 --> 00:20:47,166 BERTIE: Dzanga Bai has a dark past. 323 00:21:10,898 --> 00:21:13,650 Poachers target the bigger elephants. 324 00:21:13,901 --> 00:21:16,737 Their tusks sell for more money. 325 00:21:20,491 --> 00:21:22,159 BERTIE: Tatiana wants to show me 326 00:21:22,242 --> 00:21:24,077 what these elephants are up against. 327 00:21:28,207 --> 00:21:33,337 ♪ ♪ 328 00:21:38,050 --> 00:21:41,720 ♪ ♪ 329 00:21:41,804 --> 00:21:43,430 Jeez. 330 00:21:43,514 --> 00:21:47,142 ♪ ♪ 331 00:21:49,061 --> 00:21:50,270 Pff, they're heavy. 332 00:21:53,106 --> 00:21:55,108 27th of November this year. 333 00:21:56,235 --> 00:21:57,611 That was like a week ago. 334 00:21:59,154 --> 00:22:03,408 A week ago this was an elephant 335 00:22:04,326 --> 00:22:05,828 walking round the forest. 336 00:22:06,870 --> 00:22:08,288 Oh, that's depressing. 337 00:22:09,373 --> 00:22:13,418 Wow, 2nd of October last year. 338 00:22:14,545 --> 00:22:16,630 That is unbelievably heavy. 339 00:22:18,924 --> 00:22:20,551 And it's as tall as me. 340 00:22:21,343 --> 00:22:26,431 ♪ ♪ 341 00:22:26,515 --> 00:22:30,060 You can see the cut marks, the machete marks 342 00:22:30,143 --> 00:22:31,728 where it's been cut off the elephant. 343 00:22:32,646 --> 00:22:38,944 ♪ ♪ 344 00:22:39,152 --> 00:22:42,197 Over 12,000 forest elephants are killed 345 00:22:42,281 --> 00:22:44,324 for their ivory every year. 346 00:22:47,911 --> 00:22:49,246 If this continues, 347 00:22:49,454 --> 00:22:52,332 extinction could be less than a decade away. 348 00:22:54,585 --> 00:22:56,128 I guess I didn't expect, 349 00:22:56,587 --> 00:22:58,547 I didn't expect it to be all so recent. 350 00:23:00,591 --> 00:23:04,344 Like, these elephants, you know, they haven't been poached 351 00:23:04,428 --> 00:23:08,599 in the last 10 years, 20 years. 352 00:23:09,683 --> 00:23:11,727 There's an elephant there that was poached last week, 353 00:23:13,186 --> 00:23:18,775 and that absolute beauty less than a year ago. 354 00:23:19,484 --> 00:23:26,325 ♪ ♪ 355 00:23:26,992 --> 00:23:30,495 But Tatiana and the ecoguards are fighting back. 356 00:23:32,247 --> 00:23:33,832 Over the past four years, 357 00:23:34,207 --> 00:23:37,210 poaching incidents have dropped by more than 80%. 358 00:23:40,380 --> 00:23:42,925 It gives me a small glimmer of hope. 359 00:23:44,635 --> 00:23:46,553 Do you think there are any of those males left 360 00:23:46,637 --> 00:23:48,388 whose tusks reach the floor? 361 00:23:56,521 --> 00:23:59,650 BERTIE: Wow, so the big male tuskers do still exist. 362 00:23:59,983 --> 00:24:02,027 Well, please, please wish us luck. 363 00:24:02,110 --> 00:24:04,529 We've got our fingers crossed, and hopefully we get to see one. 364 00:24:05,113 --> 00:24:11,912 ♪ ♪ 365 00:24:11,995 --> 00:24:14,289 The tuskers are out there somewhere, 366 00:24:14,623 --> 00:24:17,334 so I'm determined to make the most of our last week. 367 00:24:19,002 --> 00:24:20,671 [roars] 368 00:24:22,214 --> 00:24:24,633 But the jungle has other ideas. 369 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:28,345 [thunder] 370 00:24:28,428 --> 00:24:30,430 That is a big tropical storm brewing. 371 00:24:30,931 --> 00:24:31,974 [thunder] 372 00:24:32,557 --> 00:24:34,309 Oh, that's a lot of thunder. 373 00:24:35,060 --> 00:24:36,812 [trumpets] 374 00:24:36,895 --> 00:24:38,855 The elephants seem super on edge. 375 00:24:39,481 --> 00:24:41,149 Lots of them have got their trunks in the air. 376 00:24:41,566 --> 00:24:45,278 [trumpeting] 377 00:24:45,362 --> 00:24:46,571 WALDO: For Bertie. 378 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,533 Just a heads-up, there is lightning to the north. 379 00:24:49,658 --> 00:24:50,659 Copy that? 380 00:24:50,742 --> 00:24:52,035 BERTIE: Okay, roger that. 381 00:24:52,494 --> 00:24:54,204 [thunder] 382 00:24:54,287 --> 00:24:56,039 WALDO: Whoa, did you see that? 383 00:24:56,123 --> 00:24:57,249 Another one. 384 00:24:58,709 --> 00:25:00,961 [thunder] 385 00:25:01,044 --> 00:25:03,046 BERTIE: This isn't a great time to be standing 386 00:25:03,130 --> 00:25:05,590 on a metal platform high in a tree. 387 00:25:06,258 --> 00:25:09,928 [thunder] 388 00:25:10,012 --> 00:25:13,140 I need to get back to the team before this sets in. 389 00:25:13,724 --> 00:25:16,226 ♪ ♪ 390 00:25:16,309 --> 00:25:20,188 [thunder] 391 00:25:20,272 --> 00:25:22,441 ♪ ♪ 392 00:25:22,566 --> 00:25:24,609 [thunder] 393 00:25:24,693 --> 00:25:26,653 ♪ ♪ 394 00:25:26,820 --> 00:25:32,284 [thunder] 395 00:25:35,370 --> 00:25:36,788 [rainfall] 396 00:25:36,872 --> 00:25:40,959 Back at camp, conditions go from bad to worse. 397 00:25:44,171 --> 00:25:47,090 [radio chatter] 398 00:25:47,174 --> 00:25:49,634 WALDO: There's some strikes directly to our north, 399 00:25:49,718 --> 00:25:52,179 um, and the west and the east. 400 00:25:52,554 --> 00:25:56,391 It's not directly overhead, but that front is moving this way. 401 00:25:56,933 --> 00:25:58,351 [thunder] 402 00:25:59,561 --> 00:26:01,354 DREW: Agh. 403 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:03,023 BERTIE: Are you having fun, Drew? 404 00:26:03,106 --> 00:26:04,107 DREW: No! 405 00:26:04,775 --> 00:26:06,610 BERTIE: Waldo, what's the plan? 406 00:26:06,693 --> 00:26:08,070 WALDO: So we can't stay in this tree, 407 00:26:08,195 --> 00:26:09,988 there's portaledges and loads of metal, 408 00:26:10,405 --> 00:26:13,909 so the plan is to move down and across into our bailout tree 409 00:26:13,992 --> 00:26:16,453 which is rigged with just rope and no metalwork. 410 00:26:20,290 --> 00:26:22,542 I'll go down and just take my weight off the lines. 411 00:26:22,626 --> 00:26:23,668 BERTIE: Okay. 412 00:26:25,128 --> 00:26:26,254 WALDO: And then you can come down. 413 00:26:26,338 --> 00:26:27,881 BERTIE: Okay, and abseil down on to it, yeah? 414 00:26:27,964 --> 00:26:29,257 WALDO: Yeah, see you on the other side. 415 00:26:29,341 --> 00:26:30,801 BERTIE: Alright, see you on the other side. 416 00:26:30,884 --> 00:26:32,677 [thunder] 417 00:26:32,761 --> 00:26:34,721 Whoa! Big lightning strike. 418 00:26:34,805 --> 00:26:36,056 We've got to get out of here. 419 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:43,605 ♪ ♪ 420 00:26:50,529 --> 00:26:51,655 Time for bed. 421 00:26:58,620 --> 00:27:03,542 [birds and insects chirping] 422 00:27:04,626 --> 00:27:06,002 [unzipping] 423 00:27:06,253 --> 00:27:10,006 I think it has stopped raining. 424 00:27:10,298 --> 00:27:11,550 What do you reckon, Drew? 425 00:27:12,342 --> 00:27:13,552 DREW: Yeah, I think we're good. 426 00:27:18,849 --> 00:27:20,600 BERTIE: The team and our canopy camp 427 00:27:20,684 --> 00:27:22,644 made it through the night in one piece. 428 00:27:22,936 --> 00:27:29,818 ♪ ♪ 429 00:27:31,486 --> 00:27:34,698 But we weren't the only ones run out of town by the storm. 430 00:27:36,283 --> 00:27:38,994 [bird chirping] 431 00:27:39,578 --> 00:27:41,037 The elephants were spooked 432 00:27:41,121 --> 00:27:43,540 and have taken refuge deep in the forest. 433 00:27:47,210 --> 00:27:48,587 Filming is put on hold, 434 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,256 and we reluctantly use the time to rest. 435 00:27:55,510 --> 00:27:58,346 But then, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity 436 00:27:58,471 --> 00:28:00,640 brings a much-needed morale boost. 437 00:28:04,102 --> 00:28:05,520 I've got some very exciting news. 438 00:28:05,604 --> 00:28:08,190 The ecoguards have come across a family of gorillas 439 00:28:08,273 --> 00:28:09,566 while out on patrol. 440 00:28:09,649 --> 00:28:11,318 And I've never seen gorillas before in the wild, 441 00:28:11,401 --> 00:28:12,903 so I'm a little bit excited. 442 00:28:17,824 --> 00:28:20,160 Humans are so similar to gorillas, 443 00:28:20,243 --> 00:28:22,913 we can actually give them our airborne diseases. 444 00:28:23,163 --> 00:28:24,206 Okay. 445 00:28:24,789 --> 00:28:26,917 So we mask-up to keep them safe. 446 00:28:27,584 --> 00:28:34,299 ♪ ♪ 447 00:28:35,050 --> 00:28:37,385 I'm carrying an 80-pound camera. 448 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:40,347 That's 40 kilos. 449 00:28:43,308 --> 00:28:46,061 So it's a struggle to be as stealthy as the trackers. 450 00:28:50,106 --> 00:28:51,691 Okay, here's a clearing. 451 00:28:51,816 --> 00:28:53,068 Thanks, dude. 452 00:28:53,610 --> 00:28:55,445 Oh, my word, the silverback's coming out. 453 00:28:56,196 --> 00:29:01,368 ♪ ♪ 454 00:29:07,374 --> 00:29:09,209 ♪ ♪ 455 00:29:09,459 --> 00:29:11,962 Well, this big boy is called Makumba, 456 00:29:12,045 --> 00:29:15,548 and he was born in 1980, so he's over 40 years old. 457 00:29:16,466 --> 00:29:23,390 ♪ ♪ 458 00:29:24,224 --> 00:29:25,892 How cool is that? 459 00:29:25,976 --> 00:29:29,688 To be so close to such a powerful wild animal. 460 00:29:30,272 --> 00:29:32,941 ♪ ♪ 461 00:29:33,024 --> 00:29:34,609 [grunt] 462 00:29:34,693 --> 00:29:41,574 ♪ ♪ 463 00:29:42,075 --> 00:29:44,452 I love that an animal can get this big 464 00:29:44,828 --> 00:29:48,164 when tiny termites and leaves are his main food source. 465 00:29:48,748 --> 00:29:52,919 ♪ ♪ 466 00:29:53,044 --> 00:29:55,588 The rest of the family can't be far away. 467 00:29:58,633 --> 00:29:59,801 Ha ha, there they are! 468 00:30:00,218 --> 00:30:06,891 ♪ ♪ 469 00:30:07,517 --> 00:30:10,103 The ecoguards believe Makumba has fathered 470 00:30:10,186 --> 00:30:12,314 20 babies in his lifetime. 471 00:30:13,064 --> 00:30:18,361 ♪ ♪ 472 00:30:18,486 --> 00:30:20,030 [chuckles] 473 00:30:20,113 --> 00:30:22,699 The youngest is three-year-old Epolo. 474 00:30:24,659 --> 00:30:26,453 I think that this baby gorilla 475 00:30:27,620 --> 00:30:29,622 thinks he's a silverback already. 476 00:30:30,332 --> 00:30:34,878 ♪ ♪ 477 00:30:34,961 --> 00:30:37,339 Epolo loves playing with his mum, 478 00:30:37,422 --> 00:30:39,132 under Dad's watchful eye. 479 00:30:39,924 --> 00:30:46,056 ♪ ♪ 480 00:30:46,139 --> 00:30:47,891 Whoa. 481 00:30:47,974 --> 00:30:54,356 ♪ ♪ 482 00:30:54,481 --> 00:30:55,774 [thud] 483 00:30:59,319 --> 00:31:01,988 Now that was just a show of aggression 484 00:31:02,072 --> 00:31:04,240 to say, "Just remember I'm in charge." 485 00:31:09,079 --> 00:31:11,081 That might just be our cue to leave. 486 00:31:12,916 --> 00:31:16,920 ♪ ♪ 487 00:31:17,003 --> 00:31:18,463 On the way back to the bai, 488 00:31:19,589 --> 00:31:21,674 we stop off to check the camera traps. 489 00:31:22,133 --> 00:31:28,807 ♪ ♪ 490 00:31:31,226 --> 00:31:32,602 The camera's been triggered. 491 00:31:35,897 --> 00:31:37,440 But it's just a young male. 492 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:42,737 ♪ ♪ 493 00:31:42,821 --> 00:31:45,490 Unfortunately, still no big tuskers. 494 00:31:48,410 --> 00:31:49,619 DECLAN: Good luck, camera trap. 495 00:31:50,245 --> 00:31:56,501 ♪ ♪ 496 00:31:56,668 --> 00:32:01,047 BERTIE: With time running out, our luck finally improves. 497 00:32:02,674 --> 00:32:06,302 [roaring] 498 00:32:08,596 --> 00:32:10,348 The elephants are back! 499 00:32:10,432 --> 00:32:12,225 [trumpets] 500 00:32:13,852 --> 00:32:16,855 The number of elephants has just gone through the roof. 501 00:32:19,190 --> 00:32:21,734 There's got to be more than 100 elephants here now, 502 00:32:22,402 --> 00:32:25,071 and there's just more families arriving all the time. 503 00:32:27,157 --> 00:32:28,700 But just as the number of elephants 504 00:32:28,783 --> 00:32:30,076 are starting to skyrocket, 505 00:32:31,995 --> 00:32:33,204 the light fades. 506 00:32:36,749 --> 00:32:40,253 I'm hoping some fancy tech can help extend the search 507 00:32:40,336 --> 00:32:41,754 into the dark. 508 00:32:45,467 --> 00:32:47,343 Okay, here we go, the moment of truth. 509 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:51,973 [camera whirring] 510 00:32:52,056 --> 00:32:55,393 Wow. Look at all the elephants. 511 00:32:58,188 --> 00:33:02,567 This thermal camera shows white as hot and black as cold 512 00:33:04,611 --> 00:33:07,155 and allows me to see into the pitch black. 513 00:33:10,617 --> 00:33:12,410 That is a lot of elephants. 514 00:33:13,286 --> 00:33:15,788 We definitely didn't see these numbers during the day. 515 00:33:17,123 --> 00:33:19,501 Surely one of them's gonna be a big tusker. 516 00:33:20,251 --> 00:33:21,336 [grumbling] 517 00:33:21,419 --> 00:33:25,006 [trumpeting] 518 00:33:27,217 --> 00:33:30,094 Just when I thought I knew what an elephant looks like, 519 00:33:31,679 --> 00:33:34,057 I can see all this. 520 00:33:34,599 --> 00:33:41,564 ♪ ♪ 521 00:33:43,608 --> 00:33:46,069 Look at the detail on this elephant's ears. 522 00:33:46,778 --> 00:33:48,738 You can see all the blood vessels. 523 00:33:50,740 --> 00:33:52,158 You can see the veins. 524 00:33:52,951 --> 00:33:56,204 ♪ ♪ 525 00:33:56,287 --> 00:33:57,997 That's how elephants keep cool, 526 00:33:58,081 --> 00:34:00,500 they shunt blood to their ears and then flap them. 527 00:34:02,043 --> 00:34:04,337 This camera is so sensitive, 528 00:34:04,420 --> 00:34:08,508 it can pick out a source of heat within 27 miles. 529 00:34:10,468 --> 00:34:12,804 Look at the Hartlaub ducks and their chicks! 530 00:34:15,139 --> 00:34:17,475 It reveals an incredible amount of life, 531 00:34:18,726 --> 00:34:20,353 big and small. 532 00:34:20,436 --> 00:34:24,524 ♪ ♪ 533 00:34:24,691 --> 00:34:27,151 [squeals] 534 00:34:28,778 --> 00:34:30,863 I've just seen a little thing that looks like a cat. 535 00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:33,283 Where did it go? 536 00:34:35,034 --> 00:34:36,244 There it is. 537 00:34:37,870 --> 00:34:39,163 We've got a genet! 538 00:34:41,291 --> 00:34:45,253 Genets are a slim, catlike animal with huge eyes, 539 00:34:46,004 --> 00:34:48,464 especially helpful for hunting at night. 540 00:34:51,301 --> 00:34:53,052 And with all these elephants around, 541 00:34:53,177 --> 00:34:55,680 they can sneak right up on their prey. 542 00:34:56,055 --> 00:35:00,143 ♪ ♪ 543 00:35:00,226 --> 00:35:01,686 Oh, and it's hunting frogs. 544 00:35:02,186 --> 00:35:05,940 ♪ ♪ 545 00:35:06,024 --> 00:35:07,942 Oh, it's crouched really low. 546 00:35:08,151 --> 00:35:14,741 ♪ ♪ 547 00:35:14,824 --> 00:35:17,577 Ha ha. The genet caught a frog. 548 00:35:18,369 --> 00:35:21,289 ♪ ♪ 549 00:35:21,372 --> 00:35:23,499 [distant boom] 550 00:35:23,625 --> 00:35:24,959 [elephants groan] 551 00:35:25,043 --> 00:35:26,252 Was that a gunshot? 552 00:35:27,211 --> 00:35:31,924 [trumpeting] 553 00:35:32,175 --> 00:35:33,801 Oh, they're all looking nervous. 554 00:35:37,513 --> 00:35:38,765 But they've all gone quiet. 555 00:35:41,559 --> 00:35:42,935 [boom, boom] 556 00:35:43,019 --> 00:35:44,520 Yeah, those are gunshots. 557 00:35:44,896 --> 00:35:46,064 There are gunshots. 558 00:35:46,356 --> 00:35:52,236 ♪ ♪ 559 00:35:52,528 --> 00:35:54,030 Waldo, did you hear those gunshots? 560 00:35:54,989 --> 00:35:58,368 WALDO: Yeah, uh, dude, get back to camp ASAP. 561 00:35:58,534 --> 00:36:02,246 ♪ ♪ 562 00:36:18,429 --> 00:36:21,307 BERTIE: The gunshots sent the elephants back to the forest, 563 00:36:23,768 --> 00:36:26,145 and us to our camp in the trees. 564 00:36:29,357 --> 00:36:32,026 It's not how I expected our filming to end. 565 00:36:35,530 --> 00:36:37,907 Now it all comes down to the camera traps. 566 00:36:39,033 --> 00:36:45,998 ♪ ♪ 567 00:36:47,291 --> 00:36:48,835 Right, here we go. 568 00:36:48,918 --> 00:36:51,295 We've collected all of the camera trap memory cards. 569 00:36:51,379 --> 00:36:53,673 So me and Ngbanda are now gonna watch them back 570 00:36:53,756 --> 00:36:54,924 and see if we got anything. 571 00:36:55,341 --> 00:36:56,718 You ready, Ngbanda? 572 00:36:56,801 --> 00:36:58,302 NGBANDA: Okay. 573 00:37:02,682 --> 00:37:03,725 [Bertie gasps] 574 00:37:03,850 --> 00:37:05,059 NGBANDA: Ooh! 575 00:37:06,894 --> 00:37:08,062 BERTIE: Here come the feet. 576 00:37:08,730 --> 00:37:11,899 [grumbling] 577 00:37:11,983 --> 00:37:14,277 [trumpeting] 578 00:37:14,527 --> 00:37:16,362 BERTIE: Njoku sonny. Baby, baby! 579 00:37:16,487 --> 00:37:17,572 NGBANDA: Njoku sonny. 580 00:37:18,197 --> 00:37:21,868 ♪ ♪ 581 00:37:24,787 --> 00:37:31,711 ♪ ♪ 582 00:37:47,143 --> 00:37:53,691 ♪ ♪ 583 00:37:56,444 --> 00:38:00,782 ♪ ♪ 584 00:38:00,990 --> 00:38:03,493 BERTIE: Yeah, he's got really long eyelashes. Sshoo. 585 00:38:04,702 --> 00:38:07,163 But this isn't the only clip on the camera. 586 00:38:07,330 --> 00:38:10,833 ♪ ♪ 587 00:38:11,167 --> 00:38:12,960 [gasps] 588 00:38:14,796 --> 00:38:15,880 Njoku wambule! 589 00:38:15,963 --> 00:38:17,048 NGBANDA: Njoku wambule. 590 00:38:20,676 --> 00:38:21,969 BERTIE: Look at the size of his tusks! 591 00:38:22,053 --> 00:38:23,679 NGBANDA: Ooohhh. 592 00:38:23,763 --> 00:38:29,310 ♪ ♪ 593 00:38:33,231 --> 00:38:35,066 [trumpets] 594 00:38:46,828 --> 00:38:50,122 BERTIE: A tusker this big is an incredibly rare sight, 595 00:38:50,289 --> 00:38:51,666 even for Ngbanda. 596 00:39:05,596 --> 00:39:12,520 {\an8}♪ ♪ 597 00:39:13,187 --> 00:39:15,523 BERTIE: It's magical to think this tusker 598 00:39:15,606 --> 00:39:19,986 has been secretly roaming the forest for over half a century. 599 00:39:20,069 --> 00:39:24,365 ♪ ♪ 600 00:39:24,448 --> 00:39:27,660 Defending his territory and evading poachers. 601 00:39:30,079 --> 00:39:32,957 I hope this species continues to hang on, 602 00:39:33,082 --> 00:39:35,960 because without them, this place would not exist. 603 00:39:36,377 --> 00:39:40,089 ♪ ♪ 604 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:45,344 These elephants aren't just part of the forest, 605 00:39:45,511 --> 00:39:46,596 they are the forest, 606 00:39:47,054 --> 00:39:49,432 you know, they keep it healthy, they shape the landscape. 607 00:39:50,516 --> 00:39:51,559 [grumbling] 608 00:39:51,642 --> 00:39:53,477 I've witnessed the dangers they're up against. 609 00:39:53,561 --> 00:39:56,397 [grumbling] 610 00:39:59,275 --> 00:40:01,652 So I leave this place with a deep respect 611 00:40:01,736 --> 00:40:03,654 not just for forest elephants, 612 00:40:08,075 --> 00:40:11,537 but for the people that dedicate their lives to protecting them. 613 00:40:11,996 --> 00:40:13,915 [trumpets] 614 00:40:14,248 --> 00:40:20,004 ♪ ♪ 615 00:40:21,714 --> 00:40:26,260 ♪ ♪ 616 00:40:33,684 --> 00:40:40,566 ♪ ♪ 617 00:40:45,738 --> 00:40:48,449 ♪ ♪