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00:00 In Southwest Asia, by the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, a little-known story of life.
00:29 In a land steeped in history and landscapes shaped through millennia, prepare your senses
00:40 for Saudi Arabia's wildest secrets.
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01:54 Above the refreshing waves and under the water, a world of wonder thrives.
02:06 Families of diverse animals live, travel, hunt, and feed in harmony.
02:20 The Red Sea is home to a wealth of marine life.
02:26 Nestled in its southeastern corner, the Ferrison Islands and their waters are a man and biosphere
02:32 program by UNESCO.
02:40 This archipelago of around 180 coral islands is protected for its rich biodiversity.
02:57 Hidden beneath the surface is an abundance of marine life.
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03:57 It's the majestic manta ray, whose wingspan can exceed six meters.
04:11 Possibly one of the most prized sightings underwater is the magnificent whale shark,
04:16 with its delicately spotted markings.
04:19 Despite only feeding on plankton and small fish, they can grow up to 12 meters in length.
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05:00 Sharks, fast and efficient hunters, feared by some, are also crucial to the stability
05:07 of this undersea habitat.
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05:49 Turtles play an important role in the ecological balance of underwater life.
05:54 They feed on a variety of sponges.
05:57 If left alone, the sponges can slow and hinder the growth of coral reefs, as well the continuous
06:05 grazing of seagrass in shallow waters keeps it from growing rampant.
06:10 Healthy seagrass beds are important for oxygenation and carbon reduction.
06:15 Inadvertently, the turtle's diet promotes a healthy ocean life.
06:20 [MUSIC]
06:39 Mangrove forests range the southwestern waters of the Jizan region.
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06:47 Mangroves are an invaluable natural carbon sink,
06:51 sequestering more carbon per square mile than tropical forests.
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06:58 The mangroves also help create sheltered lagoons, and greater flamingos flock here to the shallow
07:03 waters in their hundreds to feed and mate.
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07:11 These are the largest of all flamingos, averaging 1.1 to 1.5 meters tall.
07:20 Flamingos are omnivores, and their diet of algae, shrimp, and crustaceans result in their
07:26 vibrant pink plumage.
07:33 Their method of eating is unique.
07:36 With their heads inverted, they work with their bristly tongues.
07:40 The bent shape of the bill aids in filtering the mud and silt from their food.
07:58 In between their meals, flamingos make their nests of mud.
08:04 These low mounds keep the eggs out of the salt water, and provide slightly cooler temperatures.
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08:45 In the colder seasons, many of the greater flamingos migrate to warmer climates,
08:50 from India to southern Africa.
08:53 Due to global warming and the climatic changes on our planet, their habitats are becoming
08:57 more and more disrupted.
09:00 They are forced to move to more favorable habitats.
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09:37 Arabian gazelles are shy creatures.
09:45 This particular subspecies is endemic and rare.
09:54 They gaze and browse the native plants, adapted perfectly for surviving in this harsh landscape.
10:09 Tempted and persecuted for decades, they are nervous animals, always keeping an eye out for danger.
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11:12 The mangroves are also home to the pink-backed pelican.
11:17 They are gregarious and live in colonies.
11:20 Their nests are strong and durable, often lasting years, and are made in the safety and security of the treetops.
11:48 The pelicans take to the air to find their food and scan with their keen eyesight.
11:53 Their fishing technique is to hunt singly or in groups.
11:57 When on the water, they stab with their beaks at lightning speed to scoop up fish into their pouch,
12:03 which can expand in size.
12:05 They then let the water drain before swallowing their prey.
12:20 With their stomachs full and appetites met, they return to safe roosts.
12:40 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is known for its vast, rocky landscapes, home to the world's largest sand deserts.
12:53 The oryx are Saudi's most iconic species.
12:57 They are the symbol of the desert and are well adapted to live here.
13:03 Their distinctive white fur helps them thermoregulate their bodies by reflecting the harsh sunlight.
13:10 So, despite the desert regularly reaching above 55 degrees centigrade,
13:15 these antelope are able to maintain their body temperatures at around 38 degrees centigrade.
13:23 Oryx are social, and their herds range in size, from single pairs to several dozen animals.
13:31 Outside the breeding season, the males will often live in bachelor herds or on their own,
13:37 roaming the landscape for food, water, and shade.
13:44 Even though they are the world's smallest species of oryx,
13:47 their tall, elegant horns are well-proportioned for their size and reach lengths of 70 centimeters.
13:55 The horns evolved to serve two purposes,
13:58 primarily as protection against predators and secondly for the males to joust in courtship.
14:05 Their lives are nomadic, and their journey is endless.
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14:34 Spring is the prime season for dust sandstorms.
14:39 They are the sculptors of the landscape, ever-changing the terrain over millennia.
14:45 Fast, aggressive winds build and shape rolling dunes, some as high as 250 meters.
14:53 Winds can reach 80 kilometers per hour, carving even the hardest rocks.
15:01 Animals have no choice but to take shelter until they subside.
15:06 The oryx turn their backs and face downwind to protect their eyes.
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15:20 It's impossible to fly during a sandstorm, so birds land and seek refuge amongst the rocks.
15:27 [ Music ]
15:56 Despite their size, desert ants are extremely well-suited to the environment.
16:02 In their thousands, they harvest the scattered seeds dislodged by the storm
16:07 and take them back to their nests underground to stock their larder.
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16:31 Surviving the intensity of the desert is a game of energy conservation.
16:37 [ Music ]
16:43 In the long periods of time between meals, the desert agama soaks up sunlight.
16:48 Cold-blooded reptiles rely on intense heat, retaining the warmth to last them the cool desert nights.
16:56 [ Music ]
16:59 In landscapes where food is abundant, things can be a little more relaxed.
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18:08 Living in the desert is a challenge for all.
18:12 The gazelle cannot withstand the sun for too long.
18:16 It is vital for them to find shade to prevent their bodies from overheating and regulate at healthy levels.
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18:35 The landscape is unforgiving.
18:39 In the summer, food is scarce and hard to find.
18:43 Stamina and energy conservation are essential to lasting in the desert.
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19:18 This is the redneck African ostrich.
19:22 They were brought to Saudi in 1994, replacing the Arabian ostrich that went extinct in 1941.
19:30 They are well-suited for the desert, withstanding hot temperatures and surviving on moisture from the plants they eat.
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19:41 To aid digestion, ostriches eat sand and small stones alongside their diet of seeds and roots, insects and reptiles.
19:52 Their feathers are loose, soft and smooth, which can keep them cool in the heat.
19:58 In small groups, they range the local flora.
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20:41 In the southwest corner of Saudi Arabia stands the Asir Mountains.
20:46 Rising over 9,000 feet above sea level, it's the perfect vantage spot for a bird of prey.
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21:07 The griffon vulture has evolved to be one of the world's most efficient fliers.
21:13 With their broad wingspan of over 2.5 meters, they can soar on thermal updrafts with ease,
21:19 flying all day with barely a wing flap for prolonged periods to spot their next meal.
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21:41 Like other vultures, they are scavengers.
21:44 With their extremely keen eyesight, they can spot a carcass from up to 10 kilometers.
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22:18 Despite it being harsh and dry, the Nubian ibex managed to scrape a living in this challenging environment.
22:26 [ Music ]
22:32 This beige ibex with its distinctive large curved horns grazes and browses on grasses and shrubs.
22:39 And although the ibex needs to drink, they can go days without water.
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23:45 High above the dry deserts rise the Asir Mountains.
23:50 Every day, magic happens here.
23:55 Warm, moist air from the coast condenses as it ascends to the mountaintops.
24:01 Rolling clouds and fog pass through as the temperature drops, providing moisture to the local trees.
24:09 In this rough and rocky range, junipers thrive, even at 9,000 feet above sea level, but not without help.
24:19 Draped over the branches hang curtains of bromeliads.
24:23 The trees provide a frame on which these plants can grow, and in return, the bromeliads capture and share moisture with its host.
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24:38 Native to this region are Hamadryas baboons.
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24:49 Their troops can consist of as many as 100 individuals.
24:54 Together, they navigate the rocky slopes, ascending and descending the mountain, depending on the season and temperature.
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25:06 Baboons are omnivorous and feed on pretty much anything, including buckthorn, acacia, wildflowers, birds' eggs, insects, and reptiles.
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25:47 The youngsters are playful.
25:49 This is how they develop their social skills.
25:52 [ Music ]
26:02 [ Birds chirping ]
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26:18 Living at these altitudes has its advantages.
26:21 [ Music ]
26:29 However, accidents happen.
26:32 One misstep can result in injury.
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26:41 Despite these hardships, like all families, they remain together.
26:46 [ Music ]
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27:33 As the sun starts to set, they climb to sleep in the cliffs.
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28:02 With temperatures increasing globally, it's not only the wildlife that suffers.
28:07 Dry, arid environments can be recipes for disaster in warmer climates.
28:13 Wildfires are a natural phenomena, but are becoming more frequent and severe as temperatures rise and human-induced factors increase.
28:23 Once they start, they are hard to contain, particularly in remote regions, and can ruthlessly decimate landscapes.
28:34 Vast areas of forests can be engulfed in a matter of days, leaving them scorched, black, and bare, habitats scarred, desolate, and barren.
28:48 Charred wood and ash is often all that remains.
28:53 [ Music ]
29:02 Few are lucky to survive the intense heat and harsh flames.
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29:17 However, whilst unfortunate, this is all part of a natural cycle.
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29:27 The seasonal drop in temperatures bring heavy rain and storms, replenishing the parched earth and offering relief to the land.
29:36 Nutrients and moisture are returned.
29:40 [ Music ]
30:09 Life is given another chance to start again, to bounce back and thrive.
30:15 [ Music ]
30:22 Life always finds a way.
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30:30 Deeper in the valleys, all of nature's ingredients come together, the recipe for abundant life.
30:38 The result, an oasis, heaven in a desert.
30:43 Just add water, and plants of all varieties, wildlife of all shapes and sizes thrive.
30:52 [ Music ]
30:58 Traveling through the kingdom, it remains clear that water brings life.
31:04 [ Music ]
31:09 Beneath even the shallow waters of trickling streams, the toad is able to grow, hunt, and mate.
31:17 Their small lives are the result of this delicate balance, much needed for a strong, healthy ecosystem.
31:25 [ Music ]
31:33 On the Shaddah Mountain, honeybees frequent aloe plants for pollen.
31:38 This is to produce honey, food for their colonies.
31:42 [ Music ]
31:49 The Palestine sunbird also visits the floral bounty.
31:54 The male is a flying gem of iridescent colors.
31:58 The bill is long and down-curved, adapted to extract nectar from flowers.
32:05 Birds play a role in forest growth, spreading seeds as they feed.
32:11 The African gray horned owl feasts on the cacti fruit.
32:16 Paddle cactus produce prickly pears, and they are nutritious to the bird.
32:21 [ Music ]
32:26 Rupal weavers skillfully source grass, twigs, and roots to thread pendulous nests in the trees to lay their eggs and raise their chicks.
32:37 [ Music ]
32:48 Camels have long been an integral part of the country.
32:52 Their presence here is as ancient as ours.
32:56 [ Music ]
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33:37 The milk produced by camels is tasty.
33:41 It's high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
33:45 It has long played a part of the Saudi diet.
33:48 [ Music ]
33:56 There's an increased effort to switch to agroecology, a farming discipline that's better at sustaining the land.
34:03 This technique eases the stress on the landscape and reduces the use of water.
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34:14 Fig trees are resilient with deep roots and can survive on sparse amounts of rainfall.
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34:30 Using better farming and cultivation practices means we can enjoy nature's bounty, such as papaya and oranges, while minimizing damage to the planet.
34:44 If we're going to live and survive with nature, we must adapt and strike a balance that sustains local ecosystems.
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35:06 In Asir City, traditional beekeeping practices have been passed down by generations of farmers for centuries.
35:14 There are an estimated 4,000 beekeepers, tending a staggering 700,000 beehives.
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35:25 Our relationship with this insect is symbiotic.
35:29 We provide them a home to colonize, and in return, we harvest their honey.
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35:50 Around 3,500 tons of honey are harvested every year.
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35:59 Approximately 70% of the bees kept here are native apis populations.
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36:25 The chameleon lives among banana plants.
36:28 They feed on flies and insects attracted to the sweet fruit sugars.
36:34 With opposing toes on each foot, they're able to make a firm grasp of the twigs and branches as they climb,
36:41 and can use their prehensile tails as a fifth hand, wrapping it around any shape to anchor their position as they move and hunt.
36:50 Their two eyes can swivel independently, perfect for keeping an eye out for prey as well as avoiding predators.
36:58 [ Music ]
37:10 One of Saudi Arabia's greatest animals is in trouble.
37:15 [ Music ]
37:38 This is the Arabian leopard.
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37:57 Through conservation initiatives, the Royal Commission for Al Ula aims to restore the Arabian leopard population.
38:05 Its final goal, reintroduce the species into the wilderness, to the mountains of Al Ula.
38:11 [ Music ]
38:20 At the center, using CCTV, the caretakers monitor the leopards day and night.
38:26 [ Music ]
38:41 Classified as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,
38:47 it is estimated that fewer than 200 Arabian leopards are left in the wild.
38:53 It's up to us to look after these globally threatened animals.
38:57 [ Music ]
39:07 In the future, we hope to see more of these animals in the wild.
39:12 Meanwhile, it's our duty to ensure their well-being.
39:16 This includes letting them play to get some exercise.
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40:36 These are the fishermen of the Farasan Island.
40:39 There is no industrial fishing here.
40:43 Fishing here is treated as a respectful artisan practice only.
40:47 There is a collective effort to protect the balance of species
40:51 and to not overfish in order to maintain healthy stocks.
40:56 [ Music ]
40:59 Here, men fish with hand-thrown nets.
41:03 Afterwards, they return to the port with their catch,
41:06 where the fish are sold to locals on the coast.
41:09 [ Music ]
41:17 Adult turtles lay their eggs on the beach.
41:21 They have nested on our sandy shores for thousands of years.
41:26 They do so at night in the safety of darkness.
41:30 After the eggs are laid, they return to the water.
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41:55 Once hatched, the baby turtles instinctively move towards the brightest light.
42:00 Usually, this would lead them to the ocean
42:03 as they crawl toward the night sky spanning above.
42:07 Cities and traffic lights confuse them and lead them astray.
42:12 [ Music ]
42:17 These beaches have drastically changed.
42:19 Plastic waste pollutes the once soft sands
42:23 and creates obstacles for the turtles trying to reach the water.
42:28 Humans have made it harder for them to survive,
42:31 and over the years, fewer turtles make it safely to the ocean.
42:36 [ Music ]
42:41 However, our wrongs can be righted.
42:44 In the early morning, rangers patrol the fence between the beach and the city.
42:49 They look for stragglers, the survivors of the night, and bring them to the ocean.
42:54 This small act has saved many turtles,
42:57 but every effort must be made to clean our beaches too.
43:01 Perhaps we should redesign coastal city lighting as to not mislead this vulnerable species.
43:08 Survival should be made easier for the innocent,
43:11 and we have the capacity and compassion to do so.
43:16 This is just one example of many ways we can help wildlife return to some form of normality.
43:23 [ Music ]
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43:50 Plastic in our waters is a huge problem.
43:54 Turtles often confuse plastic carrier bags for jellyfish and die as a result.
44:02 Deaths are also caused by entanglement.
44:08 The short convenience of plastic has a massively long consequence on the environment.
44:16 [ Sound Effects ]
44:22 Efforts have been made to reduce plastic waste from the ocean.
44:26 Recycling, reusing, and upcycling are all methods used to limit pollution and plastic use.
44:33 In the meantime, there is a lot of litter to clean up.
44:37 [ Music ]
44:43 One method of regenerating our landscape is to plant native trees.
44:48 Mangroves are more than a suitable answer.
44:51 They thrive in low-oxygen soil, where slow-moving waters allow sediments to gather.
44:58 In time, as mangrove forests grow and spread, local wildlife will be encouraged to return.
45:05 Here they can feed, nest, and repopulate.
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45:21 At King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, research is being done to save the coral.
45:29 Coral is threatened by climate change, with increasing temperatures causing inhospitable environments.
45:36 Artificial coral bases are 3D scanned and replicas are made.
45:41 A small number of live coral fragments are then applied to these bases.
45:46 These small coral pieces grow faster than larger ones and are quick to join each other on the models.
45:52 [ Music ]
45:56 They are grown further in artificially warmer water than the sea.
46:00 This makes them tougher and more tolerant of higher temperatures.
46:04 A whole variety are cultivated this way to match the over 300 coral species of the Red Sea.
46:11 [ Music ]
46:23 When large enough, they are returned to the ocean and planted amongst the dying coral.
46:30 In time, these coral will grow to be stronger and better suited to withstand an element of climate change.
46:37 Additionally, they'll provide food and shelter for local fish populations and marine life.
46:43 [ Sound Effects ]
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47:01 Flying above the sea, the fishhawk, also known as the osprey, is a resident of the Ferrison Island.
47:08 [ Music ]
47:22 Ospreys are efficient and exceptional hunters.
47:25 They have long legs and large talons, and their feet on the underside are covered with small spines called spicules, which hold their catch securely.
47:36 [ Music ]
47:47 The chicks won't fledge until over seven weeks.
47:50 Until then, they rely on their parents to bring food to the nest.
47:55 The birds have evolved hooked beaks, perfect for tearing the flesh of the fish.
48:00 [ Music ]
48:29 Ospreys are known to pair for life, and their nests, known as an eerie, can be used and added to year on year.
48:38 Some nests are known to be used for over 20 years by the same pair.
48:42 [ Music ]
48:51 The world is not ours alone.
48:54 Whilst we benefit in many ways from what the land and nature provides, we must look after the planet.
49:01 For us to survive, we must learn to live in harmony with nature and change our ways in order to ensure sustained health and well-being for all Earth's inhabitants.
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