1 00:00:15,222 --> 00:00:18,022 The islands between Australia and Asia 2 00:00:18,052 --> 00:00:21,612 are among the biologically richest on Earth. 3 00:00:21,642 --> 00:00:28,062 ♪ 4 00:00:28,097 --> 00:00:33,477 They are home to the beautiful... 5 00:00:33,516 --> 00:00:35,546 and the bizarre. 6 00:00:35,587 --> 00:00:45,147 ♪ 7 00:00:45,183 --> 00:00:52,713 This is a world where birds hatch from active volcanoes, 8 00:00:52,742 --> 00:00:56,262 pigs box, 9 00:00:56,297 --> 00:01:01,987 and kangaroos climb trees. 10 00:01:02,027 --> 00:01:07,897 A wealth of life shaped by nature's most violent force, 11 00:01:07,929 --> 00:01:10,519 the power of the Earth. 12 00:01:10,553 --> 00:01:21,773 ♪ 13 00:01:25,706 --> 00:01:30,776 Over eons, volcanoes have forged a land like no other. 14 00:01:30,814 --> 00:01:36,794 ♪ 15 00:01:36,820 --> 00:01:42,520 A place where, to survive, life must adapt. 16 00:01:42,550 --> 00:01:55,220 [rumbling] 17 00:01:55,253 --> 00:01:58,953 Volcano birds lead one of the most extreme lives 18 00:01:58,980 --> 00:02:00,740 in the natural world. 19 00:02:00,775 --> 00:02:09,335 [rumbling] 20 00:02:09,370 --> 00:02:18,100 Each day, dozens of birds gather in an act of apparent madness. 21 00:02:18,138 --> 00:02:29,248 [rumbling] 22 00:02:36,225 --> 00:02:40,915 In a deadly realm of bellowing ash and toxic gas... 23 00:02:44,785 --> 00:02:47,615 The volcano birds are uniquely adapted 24 00:02:47,650 --> 00:02:51,410 to turn devastation into an opportunity. 25 00:02:51,447 --> 00:02:57,377 ♪ 26 00:02:57,418 --> 00:03:02,628 Temperatures around the volcano are sweltering. 27 00:03:02,665 --> 00:03:05,185 But it's this warmth they're after. 28 00:03:05,219 --> 00:03:14,159 ♪ 29 00:03:14,194 --> 00:03:19,274 Volcano birds have enormous feet, perfect for digging. 30 00:03:19,302 --> 00:03:38,672 ♪ 31 00:03:38,701 --> 00:03:41,361 They search for spots around the volcano 32 00:03:41,393 --> 00:03:43,783 where the temperature is just right... 33 00:03:43,809 --> 00:03:47,259 a balmy 91 degrees Fahrenheit. 34 00:03:47,296 --> 00:03:51,606 ♪ 35 00:03:51,645 --> 00:03:55,295 These coveted spots are worth fighting for. 36 00:03:55,338 --> 00:04:15,288 ♪ 37 00:04:15,324 --> 00:04:17,814 And this is why. 38 00:04:17,843 --> 00:04:23,193 ♪ 39 00:04:23,228 --> 00:04:28,098 Her only act of parenthood is this offering to the volcano. 40 00:04:28,129 --> 00:04:38,999 ♪ 41 00:04:39,037 --> 00:04:43,077 The heat of the slopes will incubate the egg for her. 42 00:04:43,110 --> 00:04:50,430 ♪ 43 00:04:50,462 --> 00:04:53,332 The egg takes a long time to hatch, 44 00:04:53,362 --> 00:04:55,712 among the longest of any bird. 45 00:04:55,743 --> 00:05:11,973 ♪ 46 00:05:12,001 --> 00:05:16,731 But when it does, the chick is flying within an hour. 47 00:05:16,764 --> 00:05:25,194 ♪ 48 00:05:25,221 --> 00:05:28,981 With an active volcano as the only parent it will ever know, 49 00:05:29,018 --> 00:05:32,398 the chick is on its own from day one. 50 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:58,770 [rumbling] 51 00:05:58,806 --> 00:06:02,496 Here, the Earth's violent power has driven the evolution 52 00:06:02,534 --> 00:06:06,954 of an astonishing array of species. 53 00:06:06,987 --> 00:06:11,057 This is the front line in a story that has been unfolding 54 00:06:11,094 --> 00:06:13,234 for millions of years. 55 00:06:13,269 --> 00:06:16,999 And one that continues to this day. 56 00:06:19,206 --> 00:06:21,416 Around 25 million years ago, 57 00:06:21,450 --> 00:06:24,450 Australia, surging north into the tropics, 58 00:06:24,487 --> 00:06:27,867 began to collide with Southeast Asia. 59 00:06:30,769 --> 00:06:32,219 At the tip of the continent, 60 00:06:32,253 --> 00:06:35,813 New Guinea was thrust up amidst the carnage. 61 00:06:35,843 --> 00:06:42,233 ♪ 62 00:06:42,263 --> 00:06:45,093 The island's ancient connections to Australia 63 00:06:45,128 --> 00:06:48,988 are evident in the animals in its forests... 64 00:06:49,029 --> 00:06:56,069 some of which have undergone a dramatic lifestyle change. 65 00:06:56,105 --> 00:07:00,765 [squawking] 66 00:07:03,146 --> 00:07:07,426 Kangaroos aren't exactly known for climbing trees. 67 00:07:07,461 --> 00:07:13,261 ♪ 68 00:07:13,294 --> 00:07:16,304 But with lots of leaves and few others to eat them, 69 00:07:16,332 --> 00:07:19,992 it was an opportunity they couldn't miss. 70 00:07:20,025 --> 00:07:33,965 ♪ 71 00:07:34,005 --> 00:07:36,865 Australia's shift north was so quick, 72 00:07:36,904 --> 00:07:41,984 tree kangaroos haven't had long to adjust to life in the canopy. 73 00:07:42,013 --> 00:07:51,543 ♪ 74 00:07:51,574 --> 00:07:53,654 Their arms have become stronger, 75 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,100 but it's obvious they were originally built 76 00:07:56,130 --> 00:07:58,790 for hopping over open plains. 77 00:08:08,488 --> 00:08:11,418 Kangaroos may hold sway in the treetops, 78 00:08:11,456 --> 00:08:12,626 but for the most part, 79 00:08:12,664 --> 00:08:16,054 New Guinea is an island of birds. 80 00:08:25,815 --> 00:08:28,295 The largest is the cassowary. 81 00:08:28,335 --> 00:08:31,095 It's from an ancient lineage that's roamed the Earth 82 00:08:31,131 --> 00:08:33,821 since the time of the dinosaurs. 83 00:08:51,427 --> 00:08:53,047 [squawking] 84 00:08:53,084 --> 00:08:58,614 But most extraordinary of all are the birds of paradise. 85 00:08:58,641 --> 00:09:02,581 [squawking] 86 00:09:02,611 --> 00:09:04,441 The very story of New Guinea 87 00:09:04,474 --> 00:09:08,694 is written in their profusion of plumes. 88 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:13,040 [chirping] 89 00:09:13,069 --> 00:09:19,249 [whistling] 90 00:09:19,282 --> 00:09:24,392 Birds of paradise all descend from one Australian ancestor. 91 00:09:28,084 --> 00:09:31,164 But the mountain ranges created by the continental collision 92 00:09:31,191 --> 00:09:35,091 separated populations from one another. 93 00:09:35,126 --> 00:09:40,786 So the birds have evolved into several dozen different species. 94 00:09:40,821 --> 00:09:48,421 ♪ 95 00:09:48,449 --> 00:09:51,449 There's such an abundance of food in the tropical forest, 96 00:09:51,487 --> 00:09:55,627 the males aren't needed to help raise chicks. 97 00:09:55,664 --> 00:10:01,884 They put all their effort into one thing: winning a female. 98 00:10:01,911 --> 00:10:05,091 ♪ 99 00:10:08,021 --> 00:10:11,301 This male bird of paradise has one focus: 100 00:10:11,334 --> 00:10:14,614 a perfect performance. 101 00:10:14,648 --> 00:10:18,888 The female's focus is to choose the best possible mate. 102 00:10:18,928 --> 00:10:21,788 Her inspection is thorough. 103 00:10:21,828 --> 00:10:34,978 ♪ 104 00:10:35,013 --> 00:10:36,843 Females are so critical, 105 00:10:36,877 --> 00:10:41,677 that every step of his routine has been selected and perfected 106 00:10:41,710 --> 00:10:44,780 over countless generations. 107 00:10:44,816 --> 00:10:55,686 ♪ 108 00:10:55,724 --> 00:10:57,734 It's this ability to choose 109 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:02,250 that drives the evolution of new species. 110 00:11:02,282 --> 00:11:08,672 ♪ 111 00:11:08,702 --> 00:11:12,292 And it's led to very different displays. 112 00:11:16,330 --> 00:11:19,300 From bizarre shape-shifting... 113 00:11:21,922 --> 00:11:26,512 ...to spectacular plumage shown off at group gatherings. 114 00:11:26,547 --> 00:11:32,757 [squawking] 115 00:11:32,795 --> 00:11:38,965 All this beauty is the result of New Guinea's violent beginning. 116 00:11:39,008 --> 00:11:44,188 But this is a young island, as the tree kangaroos show. 117 00:11:44,220 --> 00:11:48,880 ♪ 118 00:11:48,915 --> 00:11:51,535 Giant feet once perfect for hopping 119 00:11:51,572 --> 00:11:55,232 take a long time to adapt for climbing. 120 00:11:58,027 --> 00:11:59,267 They have a long way to go 121 00:11:59,304 --> 00:12:02,894 before mastering the tropical treetops. 122 00:12:11,765 --> 00:12:14,385 The islands at the opposite end of the chain 123 00:12:14,423 --> 00:12:17,633 have a very different tale to tell. 124 00:12:17,667 --> 00:12:32,437 ♪ 125 00:12:32,475 --> 00:12:34,545 These western isles are home 126 00:12:34,581 --> 00:12:38,071 to some of the greatest tree climbers on Earth, 127 00:12:38,102 --> 00:12:40,482 the primates. 128 00:12:40,518 --> 00:12:44,798 ♪ 129 00:12:44,833 --> 00:12:50,533 [whooping] 130 00:12:52,841 --> 00:12:57,291 The gibbon is the true master of the treetops. 131 00:13:01,470 --> 00:13:05,030 They reach top speeds of 30 miles an hour, 132 00:13:05,060 --> 00:13:09,270 and clear nearly 50 feet in a single swing. 133 00:13:12,861 --> 00:13:15,731 They're the ultimate canopy specialists, 134 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:20,210 equipped with hooked hands and extra-long arms. 135 00:13:24,010 --> 00:13:37,020 [whooping] 136 00:13:37,057 --> 00:13:43,477 The contrast with New Guinea's kangaroos is crystal clear. 137 00:13:43,512 --> 00:13:46,722 Gibbons have had an enormous head start. 138 00:13:46,756 --> 00:13:49,686 [whooping] 139 00:13:49,725 --> 00:13:51,615 Their home has been in the tropics 140 00:13:51,658 --> 00:13:55,798 for more than 100 million years. 141 00:13:55,835 --> 00:14:05,945 ♪ 142 00:14:05,983 --> 00:14:10,573 Gibbons have had plenty of time to master the high life. 143 00:14:10,608 --> 00:14:25,278 [whooping] 144 00:14:29,144 --> 00:14:31,534 These western islands are all part 145 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,530 of the same continental shelf. 146 00:14:36,668 --> 00:14:39,908 During past ice ages, when sea levels were lower, 147 00:14:39,948 --> 00:14:41,638 species from mainland Asia 148 00:14:41,673 --> 00:14:47,373 crossed freely to Borneo, Sumatra and Java. 149 00:14:50,682 --> 00:14:53,062 These forests are filled with mammals, 150 00:14:53,099 --> 00:14:56,479 most of which simply walked here. 151 00:14:56,516 --> 00:15:12,076 ♪ 152 00:15:12,118 --> 00:15:16,918 The Sumatran rhinoceros is a rare sight. 153 00:15:21,955 --> 00:15:25,885 Fewer than 100 are thought to remain in the wild. 154 00:15:35,003 --> 00:15:39,183 Bizarrely, she's the world's hairiest rhino. 155 00:15:42,148 --> 00:15:45,048 It's a feature retained from her mainland relatives, 156 00:15:45,082 --> 00:15:47,292 the now-extinct woolly rhinoceros 157 00:15:47,325 --> 00:15:50,945 that roamed Asia during the last ice age. 158 00:15:57,094 --> 00:16:00,174 A hairy rhino in a hot, humid rain forest 159 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,200 may seem out of place. 160 00:16:09,209 --> 00:16:12,139 But her hair has a purpose. 161 00:16:12,178 --> 00:16:18,868 ♪ 162 00:16:18,908 --> 00:16:22,528 Sumatran rhinos love a good mud bath. 163 00:16:26,502 --> 00:16:31,652 This hole left behind by a fallen tree is the ideal spot. 164 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:37,240 ♪ 165 00:16:37,272 --> 00:16:42,972 She bathes every day, dipping herself for hours at a time. 166 00:16:43,002 --> 00:16:47,112 ♪ 167 00:16:51,148 --> 00:16:55,048 But these mud treatments don't come easily. 168 00:16:55,083 --> 00:16:57,783 She has to work to keep her tub open, 169 00:16:57,809 --> 00:17:01,399 so it collects as much rainfall as possible. 170 00:17:05,541 --> 00:17:11,271 Here in her mud bath, the reason for all her hair becomes clear. 171 00:17:16,173 --> 00:17:18,873 It helps the mud stick to her skin, 172 00:17:18,899 --> 00:17:21,829 keeping her cool in the heat. 173 00:17:28,150 --> 00:17:30,980 With their impressive range of Asian animals, 174 00:17:31,015 --> 00:17:34,115 these rain forests are some of the biologically richest 175 00:17:34,156 --> 00:17:37,746 on the planet. 176 00:17:37,780 --> 00:17:41,750 But they, too, were forged by fire. 177 00:17:41,784 --> 00:17:49,554 [rumbling] 178 00:17:53,313 --> 00:17:57,083 Volcanoes have ruled the islands between Asia and Australia 179 00:17:57,110 --> 00:17:59,390 for millions of years. 180 00:18:02,150 --> 00:18:06,360 Their unpredictable nature controls all life here. 181 00:18:06,395 --> 00:18:14,225 ♪ 182 00:18:14,265 --> 00:18:18,605 When the giants stir, they create deadly realms. 183 00:18:21,790 --> 00:18:25,690 This is Ijen on the island of Java. 184 00:18:25,725 --> 00:18:31,035 ♪ 185 00:18:31,075 --> 00:18:34,315 Its crater is a cauldron of acid. 186 00:18:34,354 --> 00:18:41,714 ♪ 187 00:18:41,741 --> 00:18:47,091 Alongside it, toxic gas howls from beneath the earth. 188 00:18:47,126 --> 00:18:53,196 ♪ 189 00:18:53,235 --> 00:18:57,405 Reaching temperatures around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 190 00:18:57,446 --> 00:19:02,826 some of the gas condenses into streams of liquid sulfur. 191 00:19:02,865 --> 00:19:06,585 There is beauty in this poisonous landscape, 192 00:19:06,628 --> 00:19:10,178 increasing as darkness falls. 193 00:19:10,218 --> 00:19:23,328 ♪ 194 00:19:23,369 --> 00:19:26,889 When the gas collides with oxygen, it catches fire, 195 00:19:26,924 --> 00:19:29,964 burning with a soft blue light. 196 00:19:29,996 --> 00:19:34,896 ♪ 197 00:19:34,932 --> 00:19:40,592 The liquid sulfur continues to burn, creating rivers of fire. 198 00:19:40,627 --> 00:19:49,147 ♪ 199 00:19:49,188 --> 00:19:54,158 Ijen's blue flames dance only in the darkness. 200 00:19:56,781 --> 00:20:02,201 A sight so fleeting, that as day dawns, they vanish. 201 00:20:02,235 --> 00:20:13,515 ♪ 202 00:20:13,557 --> 00:20:16,277 While Ijen's crater is a toxic world, 203 00:20:16,318 --> 00:20:20,318 other volcanoes rule with extreme violence. 204 00:20:20,357 --> 00:20:24,977 ♪ 205 00:20:25,016 --> 00:20:28,806 At 60 miles long and 1,600 feet deep, 206 00:20:28,848 --> 00:20:31,088 Lake Toba is all that remains 207 00:20:31,126 --> 00:20:35,576 of the most powerful volcanic eruption in human history. 208 00:20:35,613 --> 00:20:39,483 ♪ 209 00:20:39,514 --> 00:20:46,734 [rumbling] 210 00:20:46,762 --> 00:20:52,942 Toba erupted 75,000 years ago, 211 00:20:52,975 --> 00:20:57,005 ash clouds soaring into the sky. 212 00:20:57,048 --> 00:21:09,098 [rumbling] 213 00:21:09,129 --> 00:21:17,309 ♪ 214 00:21:17,345 --> 00:21:19,825 Despite Toba's violent destruction, 215 00:21:19,864 --> 00:21:24,804 a land of incredible biodiversity lies in its wake. 216 00:21:24,835 --> 00:21:31,945 ♪ 217 00:21:31,980 --> 00:21:36,300 Volcanic ash is rich in minerals. 218 00:21:36,329 --> 00:21:41,709 Over time, they break down, making the soil very fertile. 219 00:21:41,748 --> 00:21:51,998 ♪ 220 00:21:52,034 --> 00:21:54,834 Today, the forests around Lake Toba 221 00:21:54,865 --> 00:21:58,895 are among the richest ecosystems on Earth. 222 00:22:00,836 --> 00:22:03,596 Over 10,000 different plant species 223 00:22:03,632 --> 00:22:07,402 grow on these fertile volcanic soils. 224 00:22:15,955 --> 00:22:28,925 ♪ 225 00:22:28,968 --> 00:22:31,968 There are so many different fruiting trees, 226 00:22:32,005 --> 00:22:37,285 the orangutans who live here are spoiled for choice. 227 00:22:37,321 --> 00:22:46,231 ♪ 228 00:22:46,261 --> 00:22:50,201 Individuals develop favorite fruits and unique diets 229 00:22:50,230 --> 00:22:53,270 that they pass on to their offspring. 230 00:22:53,302 --> 00:23:00,242 ♪ 231 00:23:00,275 --> 00:23:03,545 As this baby grows, he will learn the locations 232 00:23:03,589 --> 00:23:07,139 and fruiting times of this setur tree. 233 00:23:07,178 --> 00:23:13,938 ♪ 234 00:23:13,978 --> 00:23:17,738 So while mom's favorite fruits will form much of his diet, 235 00:23:17,775 --> 00:23:22,435 nearby, another youngster could be raised on different fruits. 236 00:23:22,470 --> 00:23:25,440 Today, it's rambutan. 237 00:23:25,473 --> 00:23:31,823 ♪ 238 00:23:31,858 --> 00:23:34,928 These orangutans have the volcanoes to thank 239 00:23:34,965 --> 00:23:38,795 for the sheer variety of fruits on the island. 240 00:23:38,831 --> 00:23:42,901 ♪ 241 00:23:42,938 --> 00:23:48,118 On Sumatra, young volcanic soil supports an abundance of life. 242 00:23:48,150 --> 00:23:52,570 But as soil ages, it becomes less fertile. 243 00:23:52,603 --> 00:23:57,233 ♪ 244 00:23:57,263 --> 00:23:59,583 Borneo is an ancient island, 245 00:23:59,610 --> 00:24:05,860 much of its rock thrust up tens of millions of years ago. 246 00:24:05,892 --> 00:24:08,142 Without fresh volcanic ash, 247 00:24:08,170 --> 00:24:11,800 some plants have had to take extreme measures 248 00:24:11,829 --> 00:24:14,489 to find nutrients. 249 00:24:16,834 --> 00:24:20,014 They've become carnivores. 250 00:24:28,397 --> 00:24:31,917 These are carnivorous pitcher plants. 251 00:24:31,953 --> 00:24:34,853 Their traps are modified leaves. 252 00:24:34,887 --> 00:24:38,857 As the blade opens, the large vein in the center of the leaf 253 00:24:38,891 --> 00:24:42,381 continues to extend outward. 254 00:24:46,036 --> 00:24:49,756 Over several weeks, the tip inflates. 255 00:24:49,798 --> 00:25:08,918 ♪ 256 00:25:08,955 --> 00:25:14,335 Finally, the deadly trap is revealed. 257 00:25:14,374 --> 00:25:20,554 A liquid-filled chamber with no escape. 258 00:25:20,588 --> 00:25:23,488 With more than 30 species of pitcher plants, 259 00:25:23,522 --> 00:25:26,702 Borneo is their heartland. 260 00:25:32,392 --> 00:25:35,152 Sizes and positions of traps vary, 261 00:25:35,188 --> 00:25:41,438 but all share a common goal: 262 00:25:41,470 --> 00:25:44,340 lure in prey with nectar. 263 00:25:44,370 --> 00:25:53,690 ♪ 264 00:25:53,724 --> 00:26:00,354 A slippery rim sends the prey plummeting into the pitcher, 265 00:26:00,386 --> 00:26:04,796 where digestive fluids dissolve the victims' bodies. 266 00:26:08,981 --> 00:26:13,161 Beyond this basic method, some have even more astonishing ways 267 00:26:13,192 --> 00:26:17,612 to get the nutrients they need. 268 00:26:17,645 --> 00:26:22,195 A few pitcher plants engage in remarkable relationships 269 00:26:22,235 --> 00:26:25,925 that stretch beyond carnivory. 270 00:26:31,106 --> 00:26:34,966 The broad, exposed back wall of the pitcher plant hemsleyana 271 00:26:35,007 --> 00:26:39,527 has evolved to reflect the sonar of a small bat. 272 00:26:44,913 --> 00:26:46,643 After a night on the wing, 273 00:26:46,674 --> 00:26:50,784 the pitcher is an ideal resting spot. 274 00:26:52,887 --> 00:26:56,507 It's a perfect fit, just wide enough to stop the bat 275 00:26:56,545 --> 00:27:00,095 from slipping down into the digestive fluids. 276 00:27:02,690 --> 00:27:06,450 ♪ 277 00:27:06,486 --> 00:27:08,966 The traps provide a parasite-free 278 00:27:09,006 --> 00:27:11,486 and cool place to sleep. 279 00:27:11,526 --> 00:27:15,766 ♪ 280 00:27:15,806 --> 00:27:18,326 It's a great arrangement for the bat, 281 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:20,570 but how the hemsleyana benefits 282 00:27:20,604 --> 00:27:24,754 isn't clear until evening arrives. 283 00:27:24,781 --> 00:27:33,071 ♪ 284 00:27:33,099 --> 00:27:38,859 As it stirs, the bat pays its way in poo, 285 00:27:38,898 --> 00:27:43,348 supplying nutrients the plant can't get from the soil. 286 00:27:48,874 --> 00:27:53,644 This hemsleyana has become a bat toilet. 287 00:27:53,672 --> 00:27:57,262 Just one of the many ways nature has adapted life 288 00:27:57,296 --> 00:28:00,226 on Borneo's ancient soils. 289 00:28:09,860 --> 00:28:11,660 The violent, shifting earth 290 00:28:11,690 --> 00:28:15,590 ensures that change is the only certainty 291 00:28:15,624 --> 00:28:19,214 on the islands between Asia and Australia. 292 00:28:19,249 --> 00:28:27,079 ♪ 293 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:31,989 To survive, life must adapt and seize opportunities. 294 00:28:32,020 --> 00:28:36,960 ♪ 295 00:28:36,991 --> 00:28:39,271 And nothing presents an opportunity 296 00:28:39,303 --> 00:28:42,763 quite like an entirely new island. 297 00:29:17,825 --> 00:29:19,585 With new land to colonize, 298 00:29:19,619 --> 00:29:23,109 species just need a way of getting there. 299 00:29:26,488 --> 00:29:30,798 Plants are the obvious early colonizers of any island. 300 00:29:34,255 --> 00:29:37,255 Grasses, their seeds blown on the wind, 301 00:29:37,292 --> 00:29:41,432 are some of the very first to arrive. 302 00:29:41,469 --> 00:29:45,679 ♪ 303 00:29:45,714 --> 00:29:49,104 Others take to the sea to make the crossing. 304 00:29:49,132 --> 00:29:58,072 ♪ 305 00:29:58,106 --> 00:29:59,826 Coconuts can still germinate 306 00:29:59,867 --> 00:30:03,867 after a couple months of floating in the open ocean. 307 00:30:06,218 --> 00:30:10,498 Liquid inside the coconut helps the young plant get a foothold 308 00:30:10,532 --> 00:30:13,572 beneath the baking tropical sun. 309 00:30:20,266 --> 00:30:25,196 ♪ 310 00:30:25,237 --> 00:30:28,717 Animals swim these tropical waters, too. 311 00:30:28,757 --> 00:30:34,517 ♪ 312 00:30:34,556 --> 00:30:37,456 With its streamlined body and flattened tail, 313 00:30:37,490 --> 00:30:42,010 monitor lizards can swim between the islands. 314 00:30:42,047 --> 00:30:59,787 ♪ 315 00:30:59,823 --> 00:31:02,243 As a scavenger and a carnivore, 316 00:31:02,274 --> 00:31:06,734 they're well equipped to find the food they need to survive. 317 00:31:06,761 --> 00:31:26,131 ♪ 318 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,270 By air and by sea, 319 00:31:28,300 --> 00:31:35,030 new islands are soon filled with a rich diversity of life. 320 00:31:35,065 --> 00:31:38,335 And some animals play an important role 321 00:31:38,379 --> 00:31:42,759 in turning a few trees into a rain forest. 322 00:31:42,797 --> 00:31:44,697 [chirping] 323 00:31:46,870 --> 00:31:49,250 [chirping] 324 00:31:49,286 --> 00:31:53,666 Fruit bats can bring new life to distant worlds. 325 00:31:57,260 --> 00:32:01,990 As evening approaches, the roost stirs. 326 00:32:02,023 --> 00:32:12,073 ♪ 327 00:32:29,361 --> 00:32:33,121 Under cover of darkness, they leave their new island home 328 00:32:33,158 --> 00:32:36,128 and fly miles across the water to the mainland 329 00:32:36,161 --> 00:32:38,891 in search of fruiting trees. 330 00:32:38,922 --> 00:32:58,052 ♪ 331 00:32:58,079 --> 00:33:02,529 By dawn, the bats return to the safety of their island roost, 332 00:33:02,566 --> 00:33:05,186 bellies full of fruit. 333 00:33:05,224 --> 00:33:15,134 [chirping] 334 00:33:15,165 --> 00:33:17,645 And now, in their droppings, 335 00:33:17,685 --> 00:33:22,685 they deliver the seeds of those fruits to the island... 336 00:33:22,724 --> 00:33:24,934 literally. 337 00:33:27,591 --> 00:33:31,041 The bats deliver large batches of seeds each day, 338 00:33:31,078 --> 00:33:34,048 with their own dose of fertilizer. 339 00:33:34,081 --> 00:33:40,981 [chirping] 340 00:33:41,019 --> 00:33:48,469 ♪ 341 00:33:48,509 --> 00:33:53,029 Turning a handful of trees into a thriving rain forest. 342 00:33:53,065 --> 00:34:01,105 ♪ 343 00:34:01,142 --> 00:34:03,082 Cut off from their mainland kin, 344 00:34:03,110 --> 00:34:07,700 inhabitants of these islands evolve into new species. 345 00:34:07,735 --> 00:34:13,465 ♪ 346 00:34:13,499 --> 00:34:15,919 Long isolation defines the islands 347 00:34:15,950 --> 00:34:19,370 that lie between Australia and Asia. 348 00:34:22,129 --> 00:34:24,549 Separated by deep water channels, 349 00:34:24,579 --> 00:34:28,509 these islands belong to neither realm. 350 00:34:28,549 --> 00:34:31,759 Some were born of fire. 351 00:34:31,793 --> 00:34:35,493 Others were torn away as the continents collided, 352 00:34:35,521 --> 00:34:40,291 carrying animals with them. 353 00:34:40,319 --> 00:34:44,569 On the island of Halmahera, the forests are home to a stowaway, 354 00:34:44,599 --> 00:34:48,639 cut adrift for some 11 million years. 355 00:34:51,917 --> 00:34:54,577 Before dawn, the males gather. 356 00:34:54,609 --> 00:34:58,269 [chirping] 357 00:35:02,479 --> 00:35:06,549 The standardwing bird of paradise. 358 00:35:06,587 --> 00:35:08,997 [chirping] 359 00:35:09,037 --> 00:35:17,147 ♪ 360 00:35:17,184 --> 00:35:21,774 Their aerial display is totally unique, 361 00:35:21,809 --> 00:35:25,709 as are their translucent feathers. 362 00:35:25,744 --> 00:35:40,724 [squawking] 363 00:35:45,764 --> 00:35:50,154 Very little is known about these peculiar creatures. 364 00:35:50,182 --> 00:36:00,052 ♪ 365 00:36:00,088 --> 00:36:02,678 [squawking] 366 00:36:02,712 --> 00:36:06,722 Their display seems to be a bizarre mix of the gatherings 367 00:36:06,750 --> 00:36:12,650 and dances of New Guinea's birds of paradise. 368 00:36:12,687 --> 00:36:15,857 They're adorned like the plumed dancing birds. 369 00:36:15,897 --> 00:36:20,067 But daylight also reveals an iridescent breast shield, 370 00:36:20,108 --> 00:36:22,768 much like the shape-shifters. 371 00:36:22,801 --> 00:36:31,711 ♪ 372 00:36:31,741 --> 00:36:37,991 Standardwings are perhaps the most unusual bird of paradise. 373 00:36:43,546 --> 00:36:47,166 But on the island of Sulawesi, Halmahera's neighbor, 374 00:36:47,205 --> 00:36:50,375 lives even stranger stowaways. 375 00:36:50,415 --> 00:36:56,455 ♪ 376 00:36:56,490 --> 00:37:01,530 Sulawesi is made up of land from both Australia and Asia 377 00:37:01,564 --> 00:37:03,574 and is home to a mix of animals 378 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:07,600 that evolved on the two completely different continents. 379 00:37:07,639 --> 00:37:13,369 ♪ 380 00:37:13,403 --> 00:37:17,273 This mineral spring, hidden deep in the rain forest, 381 00:37:17,304 --> 00:37:21,344 sets the stage for a bizarre cast. 382 00:37:26,934 --> 00:37:29,734 There are creatures on the island of Sulawesi 383 00:37:29,764 --> 00:37:33,944 that have been isolated here since the ancient past. 384 00:37:42,846 --> 00:37:48,296 The true stars are the shy and seldom-seen babirusas. 385 00:37:48,335 --> 00:37:53,745 ♪ 386 00:37:53,788 --> 00:37:56,518 The babirusa is a type of pig, 387 00:37:56,550 --> 00:37:58,480 cut off from their Asian relatives 388 00:37:58,517 --> 00:38:01,997 for as long as 20 million years. 389 00:38:04,247 --> 00:38:07,907 They've evolved into unique pigs. 390 00:38:07,940 --> 00:38:14,400 ♪ 391 00:38:14,430 --> 00:38:18,950 Their piglets lack stripes and are born in ones and twos, 392 00:38:18,986 --> 00:38:21,506 rather than large litters. 393 00:38:21,540 --> 00:38:32,520 ♪ 394 00:38:32,551 --> 00:38:35,731 Babirusas emerge from the forest in family groups, 395 00:38:35,761 --> 00:38:39,421 with dozens visiting the spring each day. 396 00:38:43,079 --> 00:38:49,809 So many come to drink that it soon gets overcrowded. 397 00:38:49,844 --> 00:38:53,644 Much to the frustration of the local macaques. 398 00:38:56,817 --> 00:38:59,267 As strange a spectacle as this is, 399 00:38:59,302 --> 00:39:03,792 nothing quite compares to the male babirusa. 400 00:39:08,794 --> 00:39:13,144 Its tusks grow through the roof of its mouth. 401 00:39:16,008 --> 00:39:17,698 According to local lore, 402 00:39:17,734 --> 00:39:22,534 males use them to hang from branches while sleeping. 403 00:39:22,567 --> 00:39:24,567 No one seems to know for sure, 404 00:39:24,603 --> 00:39:27,123 but they're apparently not for fighting. 405 00:39:27,157 --> 00:39:29,747 [squealing] 406 00:39:29,781 --> 00:39:32,341 When male babirusas face off, 407 00:39:32,370 --> 00:39:35,930 the conflict is settled by boxing. 408 00:39:35,959 --> 00:39:57,599 ♪ 409 00:39:57,636 --> 00:40:02,016 Another unique creature joined the boxing babirusas on Sulawesi 410 00:40:02,054 --> 00:40:06,064 when the island collided with yet another land mass. 411 00:40:08,267 --> 00:40:18,587 ♪ 412 00:40:18,623 --> 00:40:20,253 Like the babirusa, 413 00:40:20,279 --> 00:40:23,899 the bear cuscus has been confined to Sulawesi 414 00:40:23,938 --> 00:40:26,348 for some 20 million years. 415 00:40:26,389 --> 00:40:32,709 ♪ 416 00:40:32,740 --> 00:40:36,610 Its prehensile tail acts like an extra hand, 417 00:40:36,641 --> 00:40:40,541 helping it move through the rain forest trees. 418 00:40:40,576 --> 00:40:46,816 ♪ 419 00:40:46,858 --> 00:40:50,448 But the bear cuscus is actually a marsupial. 420 00:40:50,482 --> 00:40:54,972 It drifted here all the way from Australia. 421 00:40:55,004 --> 00:41:08,644 ♪ 422 00:41:08,673 --> 00:41:11,813 Northern Sulawesi, a land of fire, 423 00:41:11,848 --> 00:41:15,398 tells a different story. 424 00:41:15,438 --> 00:41:26,168 ♪ 425 00:41:26,207 --> 00:41:27,857 Thanks to the volcanoes, 426 00:41:27,899 --> 00:41:34,149 the rain forests here are more robust than those further south. 427 00:41:34,181 --> 00:41:42,221 ♪ 428 00:41:44,881 --> 00:41:50,061 So these crested macaques have a rich and varied diet. 429 00:42:03,590 --> 00:42:05,350 There's so much fruit 430 00:42:05,384 --> 00:42:10,084 that they can live in troops over 100 strong. 431 00:42:18,777 --> 00:42:21,227 With so many living side by side, 432 00:42:21,262 --> 00:42:26,132 communication is an essential part of keeping the peace. 433 00:42:32,929 --> 00:42:36,279 Each expression conveys a different message, 434 00:42:36,312 --> 00:42:38,352 so others know how they're feeling, 435 00:42:38,383 --> 00:42:43,223 be it threatened, aroused, or submissive. 436 00:42:43,250 --> 00:42:48,570 [chattering] 437 00:42:50,878 --> 00:42:55,428 These are the most sociable macaques in the world. 438 00:42:57,644 --> 00:43:00,894 They can spend hours grooming each other. 439 00:43:00,923 --> 00:43:16,183 ♪ 440 00:43:16,214 --> 00:43:20,844 Sulawesi is this region's most extraordinary island. 441 00:43:20,874 --> 00:43:34,204 ♪ 442 00:43:34,232 --> 00:43:36,652 It's an ancient land of stowaways 443 00:43:36,683 --> 00:43:42,003 torn from different worlds, ruled by the Earth's raw power. 444 00:43:51,352 --> 00:43:52,942 Over millions of years, 445 00:43:52,975 --> 00:43:56,005 the power of fire has turned these islands 446 00:43:56,047 --> 00:43:58,457 between Asia and Australia 447 00:43:58,497 --> 00:44:02,607 into some of the biologically richest places on our planet, 448 00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:08,060 and created a home for some incredibly unique creatures.