- 1 year ago
Sanjiangyuan, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the birthplace of China's three major rivers: Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang. Besides playing its unique role as the "water tower" of the world's most populous nation, Sanjiangyuan is also a place of abundant biodiversity. Join us to witness baby otters mustering the courage to take their first swim and Tibetan antelope calves preparing for the rigors of their first migration, as well as other fascinating scenes from this high-altitude cradle of life!
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00:00Water, the source of all life.
00:27Rivers, the well-springs of civilization.
00:35The roof of the world, the vast hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, home to the glaciers
00:42that nourish and sustain three mighty rivers whose waters sustain the lives of more than
00:47a billion people living in six different countries.
00:52Whether you go upstream along the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Lansang River, whether
00:57you cross the Chinese mainland or go up the Indo-Chinese Peninsula, no matter what, the
01:03end point is always the same – Qinghai, China.
01:08And one place in particular, sandwiched between the Tangu-La and Kunlun Mountains, 4,700 meters
01:16above sea level, the source of those three mega-rivers, Samzhenyuan.
01:23Here, from the glaciers, rivers, wetlands, and swamps of this area, some 50 billion cubic
01:31meters of water makes its way into those rivers on a yearly basis.
01:35But Samzhenyuan, in other ways, is a region whose almost unrivaled highland biodiversity is
02:02extremely sensitive to climate change.
02:06Samzhenyuan – 300,000 square kilometers of plateau, home to 370 species of animals,
02:142,200 kinds of plants, and nearly 600,000 people.
02:20Samzhenyuan – a region upon which the health of the great rivers that sustain the lives of
02:26everyone in China, the most populous nation on earth, depends.
02:32Samzhenyuan – by any measure, an important, unique place of the utmost ecological significance.
02:56Samzhenyuan – Göladeindong Peak, towering 6,621 meters above sea level, is the tallest mountain in the Tangu-La Mountains.
03:12But it's just one of twenty snow-capped mountains with altitudes exceeding 6,000 meters.
03:19Samzhenyuan – in this stretch of nearly 1,500 square kilometers of mountain range, 670 square kilometers are covered in ice and snow.
03:27Samzhenyuan – here, the valleys and canyons are home to more than 100 modern glaciers,
03:33Samzhenyuan – the largest one of which, the Janggengdi-Ru glacier, is the source of the Tuo Tuo River, the first stretch of the Yangtze.
03:42Samzhenyuan – Göladeindong – in January. Just now, everything here, even time itself, seems frozen.
04:00But when spring arrives, life will start afresh.
04:10At last, Samzhenyuan's frozen winter has ended.
04:14As the glaciers start to thaw, the young otter mother can't wait to teach the little one two essential life skills – swimming and fishing.
04:24SIRENYANAN
04:28In freshwater ecosystems, otters have few natural enemies
04:57because of their need to prey on a great quantity of fish and shrimp.
05:01The presence of otters is seen as an indicator of river water quality.
05:06Only the purest waters can sustain a population of otters.
05:11But naturally, the baby otter is afraid of water.
05:14It only begins to learn to swim with its mother six weeks after its birth.
05:27And its fur isn't yet thick and smooth enough for it to be about to switch freely between land and water.
05:43Sanjeng Yuan in early spring sees water temperature rise to around zero degrees,
05:48while the temperature on land remains close to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
05:57And its fur is not enough to be able to swim.
06:06Besides the effect of the bone-chilling wind, sunlight also causes the little otter problems.
06:12Wild otters are nocturnal, rarely leaving their burrows during the day.
06:17Seeing its baby begging for mercy, the otter mother has to give up.
06:22Fortunately, otters are naturally restless.
06:24The little otter turns his mind to new sources of fun in next to no time.
06:30The little otter turns his mind to new sources of fun in next to no time.
06:30Another satellite of yellow famous finger
06:32Anfieldеры in next to no time is amateur.
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06:35but will be needed too long.
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06:39Turn the ocean into over the air to yourres.
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06:42does not seem to be prolonged.
06:45The ice minerals in if the air is very shallow.
06:51Namelyte roman士, say,
06:53you can do it.
06:55When black-necked cranes honk, San Zhenyuan enters its short spring.
07:25They are the only cranes that live on the plateau all year round.
07:32Every year, at the end of March, they return to San Zhenyuan in groups from their wintering
07:37grounds.
07:48Also coming back at the same time are bar-headed geese.
07:51They are known for being able to migrate over the Himalayas, always returning to San Zhenyuan
07:57to bring forth the next generation.
08:05But the mating season is brief.
08:07Single black-necked cranes need to hurry up and find a mate.
08:11The prize goes to whoever dances more elegantly and sings more beautifully.
08:20As the temperature continues to rise, the ice and snow continues to thaw, exposing sands,
08:39soil and grass, enlivening the plateau still more.
08:53The white-rumped snow finch is a species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.
08:58But don't let its petite and cute appearance deceive you.
09:03It's very aggressive.
09:05In fact, they're happy to fight with each other till the cows come home.
09:11But though they're good at running and hopping, they can't fly too high.
09:18The world may be vast, but they can only see the opponents right in front of them.
09:33This is a nest of albino Himalayan marmots.
09:36They're also yearning for spring.
09:42For Himalayan marmots, spring is a fleeting affair.
09:46As soon as the seven-month-long hibernation ends, the tense and short mating season starts.
10:01Marmots have a low reproductive rate, only one litter a year, with half of the young dying
10:06during lactation.
10:08Because some female marmots mate with multiple male marmots in the course of a single day,
10:13the mating season is highly competitive.
10:15While two male marmots are busy battling it out, the initiator of the battle basks in the sun
10:41in her front yard.
10:43Marmots are large rodents, with just the same cleft lips as hares.
10:47They also have two pairs of sharp incisors that can easily bite off the roots and stems
10:53of plants and serve as powerful weapons, both for offence and defence.
11:02Look carefully, they're not kissing each other, they're wrestling.
11:19In ancient Chinese mythology, the Kunlun Mountains are holy, the abode of the gods.
11:40In reality, Hoxil, at the southern foot of the Kunlun Mountains, is the source area of
11:46the Chumar River, which flows into the Yangtze from the north.
11:50The Juwanai Lake here, in particular, is a mecca for one species.
12:05All these female Tibetan antelopes are pregnant.
12:08Over a month ago, they set off from all over the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and travelled hundreds
12:13of kilometres to give birth here.
12:17Scientists haven't yet deciphered this phenomenon.
12:19However, in summer, the frozen ground around Juwanai Lake thaws, resulting in muddy roads.
12:26Other animals are seldom seen here.
12:31But that doesn't mean that this place is a safe haven free of predators.
12:37A wolf has followed the antelopes here and killed a newly born.
12:53A long journey has led to a tragic end.
12:58The sad truth is that the birthing season is when wild animals are most vulnerable.
13:12This Tibetan antelope is about to give birth.
13:19It is restless, walking back and forth, frequently sitting down and standing up.
13:25For now, these Tibetan antelopes are remaining very calm.
13:48Their main priority is grazing so as to store up as much energy as they can for the upcoming tug-of-war.
13:55It is an incredible scene.
13:59On this large hillside by the Juwanai Lake, over a thousand Tibetan antelopes are collectively waiting for the most important moment in their lives.
14:07The whole place is unusually quiet amidst the sound of the wind and soft moaning of the antelopes.
14:22The slightest disturbance would spook them.
14:40After half an hour of painful contractions, this female Tibetan antelope is finally ready to give birth.
14:47The calf's head is first to appear.
14:51The doe continues to sit, stand and sit again, using the squatting position to help herself.
14:58The calf's head is second to move the
15:24Ah, let's hope this is the last time she has to stand up.
15:47Finally, the calf is completely free of its mother's body.
15:53But with the odors released by the birthing process filling the air, the risk of attracting
15:58predators is very high.
16:07The doe licks the calf's body constantly, eating the afterbirth and biting off the umbilical
16:13cord.
16:22She needs to help the calf stand up as quickly as possible, teaching it to walk and run.
16:39Usually about 10 minutes after the birth, the little antelope can shakily stand up.
16:45Within half an hour, it can play happily with its mother.
16:56Speaking of the hardships of parenting, let's get to know another great mother.
17:03She might be completely blind in one eye, but this Tibetan fox is still a great hunter.
17:09It's far from common for Tibetan foxes to have a litter of five.
17:16It's far from common for Tibetan foxes to have a litter of five.
17:38The little ones were born in spring.
17:41By early summer, they can finally come out to run, jump and play.
17:50For the mother fox, this creates new challenges.
17:59First of all, with five cubs around, the hole she dug earlier is too small.
18:04It needs to be expanded.
18:07But if she focuses on digging, she won't be able to look after them.
18:11In this vast grassland, danger is lurking everywhere.
18:28Secondly, the little foxes are very aggressive.
18:31So much so that they often beat each other up.
18:42Win or lose, they run to their mother for comfort in the end.
18:53The biggest headache is feeding.
18:55All five cubs are still breastfeeding.
18:59Eating five mouths in turn is quite a heavy burden.
19:16Why is this little guy suddenly stopped eating?
19:18A little bit more.
19:23Better not force it.
19:24Plus, it's time to give this front leg a rest.
19:34And in order to have enough milk to feed the cubs, the mother fox has to eat more food herself.
19:40Her main food sources are small alert animals like marmots and pikas on the grasslands.
19:47But with five playful young cubs playing around, even if prey does present itself, the mother fox
19:53is hardly in any position to do anything about it.
19:56Hang on, don't move.
20:03Here comes a pika.
20:08Seems mom will go hungry again.
20:10Not that the little foxes know anything about that.
20:13Ah, for the carefree days of youth.
20:20Every year, at the turn of spring and summer, the southwest warm and humid airflow driven by the monsoon brings abundant precipitation to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.
20:44That's why San Zheng-Yuan also enters its wet season at this time.
20:49The rain falls on more than 70,000 square kilometers of wetlands here, which serve as a huge reservoir.
20:56These large and small wetlands absorb water from all directions, like soft sponges, and then deliver it to rivers through surface and underground runoff.
21:06In addition to conserving water sources, wetlands are also a cradle of biodiversity, a paradise for a variety of birds, fish, and amphibians.
21:34When July is approaching, a baby black-necked crane sees its parents for the first time.
21:54Black-necked cranes are precocious developers.
21:57Just a single day after hatching, the little crane is ready to leave the nest.
22:02It's covered with yellowdown, completely lacking the elegance and mystery of its parents.
22:08However, taking these two steps does require some talent.
22:14In the breeding season, security is everything, which is why black-necked cranes usually build their nests in wetlands or swamps that are inaccessible to terrestrial animals.
22:34They collect dead branches and grasses to build their nests.
22:38Outside the breeding period, they usually dispense with the need for a nest entirely.
22:43But once a baby crane is born, they instantly transform themselves into devoted nursing parents.
22:50If one parent has to go out for food, the other always stays behind to look after the baby.
23:00This little black-necked crane has now learned to swim.
23:04Next, it'll learn how to fly.
23:06In just over two months, when fall arrives, it'll embark on a long journey with its parents.
23:12In July, the annual breeding season of Tibetan antelopes comes to an end.
23:30The does are ready to leave the mountain foot with the calves, but first they have to wade through the wide, shallow and messy riverbeds of the Chumar River.
23:47The Chumar River is the northern source of the Yangtze River, originating from the mountains in Houxil that constitute the southern Kunlun.
23:55Its upstream stretch flows through the Houxil grasslands, which sit above a minimum altitude of over 4,500 meters.
24:04One of the coldest regions in China, an enormous amount of water is stored here in the snowy mountains and frozen ground along the riverbanks.
24:13But in summer, Houxil is covered in green, abounding with lakes and streams.
24:19A large quantity of water from thawing ice and snow, as well as groundwater, is released into the Chumar River via the southern slopes of the Kunlun Mountains.
24:29This migration route seems to be engraved in the minds of Tibetan antelopes.
24:35Even a newly born calf seems familiar with it.
24:40In fact, this calf looks like it's just waking up from a dream.
24:49It only decides to look for its mother after crossing the river with the majority of the antelopes.
24:55Aged barely a month, and already they have to brace themselves for a long journey ahead.
25:09Right now, the most important thing is to eat as much as possible to build up their strength.
25:14But just as the antelopes are getting ready to go, a wolf turns up.
25:21Blending perfectly into the grassland, the wolf stealthily approaches.
25:26Suddenly, the wolf launches its attack.
25:38The does leading the calves run quickly toward the other side of the river.
25:42The calves can run very fast shortly after birth.
25:45As long as they're not targeted by the wolf, they have a high chance of escaping.
26:04But one calf is not so lucky.
26:10The wolf doesn't intend to enjoy the food alone.
26:13It picks up its prey and runs home.
26:16Midsummer is the most charming season of all in Sanjeng Yuan.
26:36Along the magnificent rivers and beneath the sprawling clouds, trees and grass grow in luxuriance.
26:44It's time for the marmots to put on some weight.
26:47Look, that Himalayan marmot is really getting stuck in, as if it knows that the good stuff won't last for long.
26:54Marmots, the largest of the squirrel family, feed on grass, berries and wild flowers.
27:00In Sanjeng Yuan's summer, grass is tender and juicy.
27:04A genuinely delicious and nutritious treat for these creatures.
27:08It's a golden opportunity for these marmots to build up fat reserves in their bodies for the hibernation season in two months' time.
27:24The cubs of the one-eyed Tibetan fox have now grown up.
27:29Their immature looks giving way to the robust physique and vigilant bearing of adult foxes.
27:35But of the five newborns, only three survived.
27:39What's more, the injured right eye of the mother fox shows no sign of recovery.
27:44Having learned about the harshness of nature, they have to mature earlier than their peers.
28:03For seemingly no reason at all, two plateau peakers are having a fight with each other.
28:13But judging from their chubby bodies and short limbs, their squabble is really nothing but a show of strength.
28:22Peekers are well-known gluttons.
28:27In fact, they are more than capable of devouring half their body weight of grass every day.
28:33But they are experts in burrowing as well as eating.
28:38What's more, the burrows they dig provide shelter for many other small animals like ground-dwelling birds.
28:45As they burrow, they bring large amounts of soft soil to the surface, providing a rare habitat for insects, lizards and other small mammals.
28:55Where you get peekers, you are sure to find plenty of other animals too.
29:02But not all the animals that follow the peekers are welcomed by the peekers themselves.
29:08The peekers might be happy to provide other creatures with a home or habitat.
29:13But they are not so keen to provide them with a meal.
29:18In Sanjeng Yuan, predators, large and small, keep their eyes on the peekers.
29:23Danger for the peekers can come in any direction, including from the air.
29:30To avoid these predators, peekers live in open areas covered with low vegetation.
29:36But that can only provide them limited protection.
29:45This time, the one-eyed mother fox is expanding her burrow.
29:49She's looking for food, or more precisely, looking for peekers.
29:55Despite stuffing its long, thin mouth and half of her body down the hole, she still fails to get hold of the peeker that just appeared.
30:04What a frustrating afternoon!
30:08In Sanjeng Yuan's summer, rain can come at any time.
30:17If the fox is not to starve, she must get whatever food she can before the rain gets heavier.
30:24Once again, she senses her prey and strikes.
30:46But there's no chance for her to enjoy the hard-won prey right away.
30:51There are three cubs weaned and hungry, waiting for her to bring food home.
30:56Of all the foods consumed by the Tibetan fox, 95% are plateau peekers.
31:03Learning to find and hunt peekers is a must for the young Tibetan foxes.
31:20The Tibetan fox is a solitary animal of the canine family.
31:24Outside the breeding and mating season, they are the lone rangers of the plateau.
31:29Soon, the three cubs will have to try to make their own way in the world.
31:34It's been a tough summer, but the mother has managed to raise three babies, even though she only has one eye.
31:43Now she's cherishing the last moment of intimacy with her children.
31:48Autumn comes to Sanjian Yuan suddenly.
32:02The vegetation turning yellowish and the forest becoming colourful seemingly overnight.
32:09Many animals are scrambling to hoard food or to accumulate fat.
32:16Autumn in Sanjian Yuan is very short, and winter is approaching inexorably.
32:22The young black-necked crane is rapidly growing up.
32:31The parents have already taught it to walk, swim, hunt.
32:36Now the time has come to train it to fly.
32:40At last, the young crane makes it.
32:52Now it's ready to follow the flock to fly south.
32:57As the temperature drops, the marshes and wetlands in Sanjian Yuan gradually freeze over,
33:15leaving the water birds less and less space to forage,
33:19and making it easier for land animals such as wolves and foxes to approach them.
33:24Before leaving, the birds huddle in the area that still hasn't frozen over,
33:29searching for food to build up energy reserves for the long journey ahead.
33:34Winter brings life here to a temporary halt.
33:38The first heavy snow of winter in this land usually falls in November.
33:48In winter, the average daily temperature outdoors drops rapidly below zero,
33:53and the highest temperature at noon does not exceed 10 degrees Celsius.
34:00The once vibrant Sanjian Yuan turns cold and quiet.
34:05The water begins to freeze.
34:07In this silent and harsh environment, it's an extreme challenge for the animals to survive,
34:12so much so that even the snow leopard, king of the highlands, is suffering.
34:30Snow leopards are masters of stealth.
34:33Whether they're on the grass, in the jungle, or under cliffs,
34:36the color of their hair provides them with ideal camouflage.
34:40In this shot, a snow leopard is lurking in the grass.
34:56Can you find it?
35:00Can you find it?
35:12It has just hunted a barrel and had its first big meal in days.
35:19Now it's figuring out what to do with the rest of its hard-won bounty.
35:31A red fox is approaching, following the bloody scent.
35:34The smell gets stronger.
35:36The feast is just around the corner.
35:38The red fox spots the leopard.
35:47As the red fox draws close, a magpie flies over.
35:51Chasing snow leopards for scraps of food for most of the year,
35:55they are now emboldened.
36:02The snow leopard has no intention of giving it a share, nor of driving it away.
36:10Until there's another foray on its hard-won prey, that is.
36:17The snow leopard finally loses patience.
36:25Nearby are several vultures, infamous scavengers that live on carcasses.
36:30They, too, are coveting the snow leopard's prey.
36:43Realizing that it is impossible to relish the food in peace,
36:46the snow leopard goes away reluctantly, leaving behind a scene of chaos.
36:52The snow leopard is the most important part of the snow leopard.
37:11Scarcity of food and volatile weather are posing challenges
37:14to all the species in the region.
37:20But for some, it's the most exciting season of the year.
37:24Mating season.
37:32This male white-lipped deer is courting.
37:35No species of deer lives at a higher altitude than the white-lipped deer,
37:39a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
37:42They are large with thick, stocky back hair.
37:45In season, the males usually become very thin due to poor appetite
37:50and their temperament turns fierce.
37:54This male Tibetan antelope is also looking for a mate.
38:13Female Tibetan antelopes spend half the year either giving birth or preparing to.
38:18It is not only the breeding season in winter that males and females begin to mix with each other.
38:31The males strive to win over the largest number of females and create a harem.
38:37Usually, a male Tibetan antelope gathers 10 to 20 females.
38:54But several challenges have been hanging around and the females are unwilling to comply.
39:09The males will have to show each other up to win some hearts.
39:24Tibetan antelope deserves to be called the flagship species of Sanjeng Yuan,
39:29and even the whole Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
39:32Despite living 4,000 meters above sea level with scarce oxygen,
39:36they can run at speeds of up to 80 kilometers an hour, even in the depths of winter.
39:43The first challenger drops out of the race.
39:46But a second challenger soon takes the stage.
39:52Tibetan antelopes have exceptionally wide nasal passages and mouths.
39:57A small sack in each nostril helps them breathe easily in the thin air of the plateau.
40:03The horns of male Tibetan antelopes are about 60 centimeters long,
40:08and covered by thick and tough transverse ridges with tips pointing upwards as their natural weapons.
40:17Driven by male hormones every year, Tibetan antelopes fight to the death in pursuit of mating rights.
40:24Even if they don't die, many break their horns like this.
40:28As a broken horn cannot regenerate, it is safe to say that this Tibetan antelope
40:34will permanently lose the right to mate and reproduce.
40:49The adolescent calf born last year has joined in.
40:52Usually, male Tibetan antelopes must wait until they are at least two and a half years old
40:57before they are mature enough to mate for the first time.
41:00The winner drives the young pretender away.
41:05Now he has fully displayed his masculine charm and bravery.
41:10But the females are still not fully convinced.
41:13The male has to show more.
41:15Just a little more.
41:18On the prairie, the smell of hormones is getting stronger and stronger.
41:40The females are finally conquered.
41:50There it is. Mission accomplished.
41:53Tibetan antelopes have adapted their mating strategy to a cold climate and a habitat surrounded by natural enemies.
42:05Although they only mate for a few seconds at a time, the mating period lasts for more than 20 days.
42:11Males and females mate repeatedly during this period to improve the chances of conception.
42:18At the end of the mating period, the males part with their mates, who, by the following spring, will start migration,
42:28as they have been doing for thousands of years, with new lives in their bellies.
42:34As long as the mountains and rivers remain, the cycle of life will continue in San Zheng Yuan, year after year until the end of time.
42:56The End of Time
43:06The End of Time
43:08The End of Time
43:12To be continued...
43:42To be continued...