1
00:00:43,586 --> 00:00:47,715
<i>China is a land
of myth and mystery.</i>

2
00:00:48,341 --> 00:00:52,136
<i>Almost inconceivably vast and diverse.</i>

3
00:00:55,932 --> 00:00:58,184
<i>From the eastern coastal plain...</i>

4
00:00:59,269 --> 00:01:01,980
<i>through mountain ranges and forests...</i>

5
00:01:04,649 --> 00:01:07,652
<i>to the high plateau of Qinghai.</i>

6
00:01:14,576 --> 00:01:16,911
<i>From this magnificent landscape</i>

7
00:01:16,995 --> 00:01:19,205
<i>are born countless lives.</i>

8
00:01:20,957 --> 00:01:24,085
<i>Each of them part
of a much larger story.</i>

9
00:01:28,590 --> 00:01:32,176
<i>An all-encompassing circle of life...</i>

10
00:01:32,343 --> 00:01:34,721
<i>that is fueled by the love...</i>

11
00:01:34,887 --> 00:01:37,599
<i>the losses, and the hopes...</i>

12
00:01:37,765 --> 00:01:39,726
<i>of many different creatures.</i>

13
00:01:58,077 --> 00:02:01,456
<i>Our story takes place far
from the bustling cities...</i>

14
00:02:01,623 --> 00:02:03,833
<i>we often think of as China.</i>

15
00:02:09,714 --> 00:02:12,383
<i>It is a story of cranes...</i>

16
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,344
<i>pandas"...</i>

17
00:02:14,510 --> 00:02:16,054
<i>antelope...</i>

18
00:02:16,220 --> 00:02:17,597
<i>monkeys...</i>

19
00:02:17,764 --> 00:02:19,098
<i>and leopards.</i>

20
00:02:20,266 --> 00:02:24,187
<i>All of whom call China their home.</i>

21
00:02:55,510 --> 00:02:58,721
<i>Among all the creatures
in Chinese mythology...</i>

22
00:02:58,888 --> 00:03:02,266
<i>the crane holds a very special place.</i>

23
00:03:04,977 --> 00:03:07,730
<i>A symbol of longevity
and good fortune...</i>

24
00:03:08,856 --> 00:03:09,899
<i>it is one of the oldest</i>

25
00:03:09,982 --> 00:03:12,735
<i>and most prominent figures
in Chinese art...</i>

26
00:03:12,902 --> 00:03:15,446
<i>dating back thousands of years.</i>

27
00:03:17,281 --> 00:03:20,702
<i>It is said that
when a crane takes flight...</i>

28
00:03:20,868 --> 00:03:24,330
<i>it carries along the spirit
of a departed creature...</i>

29
00:03:25,665 --> 00:03:29,293
<i>from this world to the next.</i>

30
00:03:47,603 --> 00:03:50,231
<i>The Qinghai Plateau in western China...</i>

31
00:03:50,398 --> 00:03:53,317
<i>is the highest
mountain plateau on Earth.</i>

32
00:03:53,484 --> 00:03:56,779
<i>And here, the elusive snow leopard...</i>

33
00:03:56,946 --> 00:03:58,740
<i>rules the range.</i>

34
00:03:59,991 --> 00:04:01,868
<i>This is Dawa.</i>

35
00:04:03,161 --> 00:04:06,414
<i>And this incredible dreamscape
is her home.</i>

36
00:04:09,667 --> 00:04:13,379
<i>At an altitude of
14,000 feet above sea level...</i>

37
00:04:13,546 --> 00:04:16,883
<i>the climate here is
too cold for most mammals.</i>

38
00:04:18,301 --> 00:04:20,845
<i>But Dawa thrives here.</i>

39
00:04:29,145 --> 00:04:32,815
<i>Every part of her body
is designed for this unique terrain...</i>

40
00:04:34,192 --> 00:04:36,110
<i>from her exceptionally long tail...</i>

41
00:04:36,277 --> 00:04:38,362
<i>that helps her maintain balance...</i>

42
00:04:38,529 --> 00:04:40,615
<i>to her gray-dappled fur</i>

43
00:04:40,698 --> 00:04:42,700
<i>that provides the perfect camouflage...</i>

44
00:04:42,867 --> 00:04:45,161
<i>in these rocky surroundings.</i>

45
00:04:47,997 --> 00:04:50,583
<i>Dawa is at the top of her food chain...</i>

46
00:04:51,209 --> 00:04:53,336
<i>and at the top of her game.</i>

47
00:04:54,837 --> 00:04:58,466
<i>She knows every crag
and cranny of this mountain.</i>

48
00:04:59,342 --> 00:05:02,011
<i>This is her turf.</i>

49
00:05:07,058 --> 00:05:09,310
<i>But she's picked up a scent.</i>

50
00:05:10,853 --> 00:05:13,356
<i>An unwelcome visitor.</i>

51
00:05:21,239 --> 00:05:24,283
<i>The intruder knows
she's in Dawa's territory...</i>

52
00:05:25,409 --> 00:05:27,787
<i>but challenges her, nonetheless.</i>

53
00:05:37,255 --> 00:05:40,258
<i>They face off
in a chilling test of nerves.</i>

54
00:05:46,097 --> 00:05:50,935
<i>Dawa must convey strength
or risk a full-on battle.</i>

55
00:06:21,632 --> 00:06:24,218
<i>The intruder finally submits.</i>

56
00:06:31,893 --> 00:06:34,979
<i>Dawa retains her supremacy.</i>

57
00:06:39,734 --> 00:06:41,360
<i>For now.</i>

58
00:06:56,542 --> 00:06:59,420
<i>Dawa is not a feline
to be messed with...</i>

59
00:07:00,922 --> 00:07:04,091
<i>and right now nothing
could shake her resolve.</i>

60
00:07:07,678 --> 00:07:11,015
<i>After all, it's not just
her hunting grounds...</i>

61
00:07:11,182 --> 00:07:12,266
<i>she's protecting.</i>

62
00:07:28,032 --> 00:07:31,410
<i>To her, these two little cubs...</i>

63
00:07:31,577 --> 00:07:33,913
<i>are the most important things on Earth.</i>

64
00:07:36,374 --> 00:07:39,710
<i>Providing for them
and keeping them safe...</i>

65
00:07:39,877 --> 00:07:41,712
<i>is her life's mission.</i>

66
00:07:57,061 --> 00:07:59,438
<i>Far to the east of Dawa...</i>

67
00:07:59,605 --> 00:08:02,775
<i>in the Sichuan mountain
valleys of central China...</i>

68
00:08:02,942 --> 00:08:06,112
<i>a mere 8,000 feet above sea level...</i>

69
00:08:06,612 --> 00:08:10,241
<i>golden snub-nosed monkeys run wild.</i>

70
00:08:13,077 --> 00:08:16,914
<i>Monkeys have long been
figures of rebellion and mischief...</i>

71
00:08:17,081 --> 00:08:18,833
<i>in Chinese folk tales.</i>

72
00:08:19,834 --> 00:08:21,669
<i>And one of the most
mischievous monkeys</i>

73
00:08:21,752 --> 00:08:23,129
<i>on this mountain...</i>

74
00:08:23,295 --> 00:08:24,797
<i>is Tao Tao.</i>

75
00:08:25,756 --> 00:08:28,092
<i>He's the class clown of his troop...</i>

76
00:08:28,259 --> 00:08:31,429
<i>and an aspiring kung fu master.</i>

77
00:08:33,097 --> 00:08:34,098
<i>At two years old...</i>

78
00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,102
<i>Tao Tao no longer needs
to be overseen by his parents.</i>

79
00:08:38,644 --> 00:08:41,188
<i>But he still likes
to come home to his father's side...</i>

80
00:08:41,355 --> 00:08:44,025
<i>after a long day of adventuring.</i>

81
00:08:51,615 --> 00:08:54,618
<i>Tao Tao just loves his dad.</i>

82
00:08:56,954 --> 00:09:00,541
<i>His dad, however,
isn't big on showing affection...</i>

83
00:09:04,128 --> 00:09:08,132
<i>leaving TaoTao feeling
a little unappreciated.</i>

84
00:09:10,551 --> 00:09:11,886
<i>Oh, well.</i>

85
00:09:12,136 --> 00:09:15,556
<i>He can always count on his mother
to shower him with attention.</i>

86
00:09:19,060 --> 00:09:22,063
<i>But the recent arrival
of a new baby sister in the family...</i>

87
00:09:22,813 --> 00:09:26,776
<i>has spoiled some of
that maternal magic on the home front.</i>

88
00:09:30,571 --> 00:09:33,240
<i>While monkey families
only have one father...</i>

89
00:09:33,407 --> 00:09:35,451
<i>they each have several mothers,</i>

90
00:09:35,534 --> 00:09:37,745
<i>who all help one another
care for their young.</i>

91
00:09:47,171 --> 00:09:48,380
Tao Tao misses the days

92
00:09:48,464 --> 00:09:50,674
<i>when he used to be
the center of attention...</i>

93
00:09:52,593 --> 00:09:55,638
<i>despite the danger involved.</i>

94
00:09:56,764 --> 00:10:00,643
<i>He's quickly coming to the realization
that he's no longer...</i>

95
00:10:00,810 --> 00:10:02,561
<i>the darling of his family.</i>

96
00:10:05,231 --> 00:10:09,235
<i>This new little bundle of joy
has taken his place.</i>

97
00:10:10,444 --> 00:10:12,404
<i>It seems so unfair...</i>

98
00:10:12,571 --> 00:10:16,033
<i>when all the comfort and acceptance
you've gotten used to...</i>

99
00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,786
<i>is suddenly stolen from you.</i>

100
00:10:26,418 --> 00:10:28,671
<i>"Fine, forget it, then!"</i>

101
00:10:32,007 --> 00:10:35,970
<i>This is exactly the kind of thing
that makes a monkey turn to mischief.</i>

102
00:10:43,060 --> 00:10:44,979
<i>Right next door to Tao Tao...</i>

103
00:10:45,437 --> 00:10:48,983
<i>in a lush bamboo forest
on the other side of the mountain...</i>

104
00:10:50,234 --> 00:10:54,405
<i>life is decidedly less stressful.</i>

105
00:10:55,322 --> 00:10:57,449
<i>This is Ya Ya.</i>

106
00:10:58,409 --> 00:10:59,743
<i>A giant panda.</i>

107
00:11:01,078 --> 00:11:04,498
<i>Pandas are basically
the opposite of monkeys.</i>

108
00:11:05,082 --> 00:11:07,626
<i>They're not interested
in stirring up trouble.</i>

109
00:11:09,170 --> 00:11:12,256
<i>They just wanna be left alone to eat...</i>

110
00:11:13,924 --> 00:11:15,301
<i>and relax...</i>

111
00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:20,097
<i>and scratch...</i>

112
00:11:22,141 --> 00:11:24,602
<i>various, different areas.</i>

113
00:11:27,813 --> 00:11:30,983
<i>And once Ya Ya has completed
her morning chores...</i>

114
00:11:31,609 --> 00:11:33,944
<i>she returns to her real focus in life...</i>

115
00:11:36,363 --> 00:11:39,617
<i>her newborn daughter, MeiMei.</i>

116
00:11:43,996 --> 00:11:45,789
<i>Outside of raising cubs...</i>

117
00:11:45,956 --> 00:11:50,002
<i>adult female pandas
live almost completely solitary lives.</i>

118
00:11:52,796 --> 00:11:54,173
<i>So, for Ya Ya...</i>

119
00:11:54,965 --> 00:11:58,302
<i>this is the most
treasured time of her life.</i>

120
00:12:08,312 --> 00:12:11,273
<i>These two will be spending
the next several months...</i>

121
00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,692
<i>snuggled up here inside this den.</i>

122
00:12:15,945 --> 00:12:18,697
<i>But then they'll step out
into the world...</i>

123
00:12:20,991 --> 00:12:24,286
<i>and the real journey will begin.</i>

124
00:12:33,712 --> 00:12:36,507
<i>Up in the higher elevations
of western China...</i>

125
00:12:37,091 --> 00:12:40,844
a <i>very different kind
of family roams the plateau.</i>

126
00:12:44,390 --> 00:12:46,016
<i>Chiru antelope are worshipped...</i>

127
00:12:46,183 --> 00:12:48,811
<i>as sacred creatures in this region.</i>

128
00:12:50,521 --> 00:12:52,314
<i>They are the living embodiment...</i>

129
00:12:52,481 --> 00:12:55,401
<i>of nature's back-and-forth,
seasonal cycle.</i>

130
00:12:58,237 --> 00:13:01,323
<i>Every spring,
thousands of female chiru...</i>

131
00:13:01,490 --> 00:13:03,367
<i>embark on an epic journey.</i>

132
00:13:04,285 --> 00:13:06,620
<i>But it's a bittersweet occasion.</i>

133
00:13:06,787 --> 00:13:08,664
<i>They must bid farewell to the males...</i>

134
00:13:08,831 --> 00:13:11,709
<i>who will not see them again
for several months.</i>

135
00:13:19,258 --> 00:13:21,010
<i>In the meantime...</i>

136
00:13:21,844 --> 00:13:24,596
<i>these bucks will have to
make do on their own.</i>

137
00:13:28,434 --> 00:13:31,770
The migration of
<i>these</i> revered creatures...

138
00:13:31,937 --> 00:13:35,524
<i>washes across the mountain plains
of western China...</i>

139
00:13:35,691 --> 00:13:38,235
<i>like an ocean tide.</i>

140
00:13:40,738 --> 00:13:42,573
<i>Their destination?</i>

141
00:13:43,282 --> 00:13:45,993
<i>The legendary Zhuonai Lake...</i>

142
00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,370
<i>in the remote uplands
of the Qinghai Plateau.</i>

143
00:13:58,922 --> 00:14:00,841
<i>Dawa's cubs are now old enough...</i>

144
00:14:01,008 --> 00:14:04,053
<i>to venture outside their cave
into the sunshine.</i>

145
00:14:06,555 --> 00:14:09,683
<i>To them, this vast mountain range...</i>

146
00:14:09,850 --> 00:14:12,644
<i>is just one big rocky playground.</i>

147
00:14:27,409 --> 00:14:28,660
<i>Like pandas,</i>

148
00:14:28,744 --> 00:14:31,413
<i>adult snow leopards
live very solitary lives.</i>

149
00:14:32,539 --> 00:14:35,167
<i>So with no one infringing
on her territory...</i>

150
00:14:35,334 --> 00:14:38,379
<i>no competition
for Queen of the Mountain...</i>

151
00:14:38,545 --> 00:14:40,756
<i>she can focus all her attention...</i>

152
00:14:40,923 --> 00:14:42,341
<i>on her young.</i>

153
00:14:56,730 --> 00:14:59,400
<i>Dawa could not be more content.</i>

154
00:15:00,234 --> 00:15:04,947
<i>Nothing compares to being loved
by the ones you love most.</i>

155
00:15:14,164 --> 00:15:16,083
<i>And while Dawa would
love nothing more...</i>

156
00:15:16,250 --> 00:15:19,628
<i>than to just sit back
and watch them climb and play...</i>

157
00:15:20,504 --> 00:15:23,424
<i>she has other responsibilities.</i>

158
00:15:25,217 --> 00:15:27,469
<i>She needs to hunt.</i>

159
00:15:29,304 --> 00:15:31,640
<i>These yaks offer a bounty of meat...</i>

160
00:15:32,808 --> 00:15:36,103
<i>but are far too powerful and dangerous.</i>

161
00:15:37,855 --> 00:15:40,065
<i>She considers this marmot.</i>

162
00:15:43,110 --> 00:15:44,445
<i>No, she doesn't.</i>

163
00:15:45,070 --> 00:15:47,156
<i>But</i> these glorious creatures?

164
00:15:47,865 --> 00:15:50,826
<i>This is what dinner looks like.</i>

165
00:15:54,538 --> 00:15:57,708
<i>Bharal sheep are Dawa's main prey.</i>

166
00:16:04,548 --> 00:16:06,717
<i>Her intimate knowledge
of her home terrain...</i>

167
00:16:06,884 --> 00:16:09,887
<i>helps her locate her prey
and maneuver them...</i>

168
00:16:10,053 --> 00:16:12,097
<i>into rocky narrows and steep slopes...</i>

169
00:16:12,264 --> 00:16:14,975
<i>where they are
more vulnerable to attack.</i>

170
00:16:17,060 --> 00:16:20,481
<i>Like Dawa, these sheep are
built to survive in these mountains.</i>

171
00:16:22,107 --> 00:16:25,194
<i>Their blanched fur
is the ideal camouflage...</i>

172
00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,363
<i>and their strong legs
make them remarkably fast and nimble.</i>

173
00:16:39,082 --> 00:16:42,294
<i>But Dawa is smarter.</i>

174
00:16:45,672 --> 00:16:49,092
<i>Her cubs will go to sleep
with full stomachs tonight.</i>

175
00:16:50,802 --> 00:16:54,723
<i>This one meal
could tide them over for an entire week.</i>

176
00:16:58,393 --> 00:17:03,440
<i>In Dawa's world,
you must take life to give life.</i>

177
00:17:09,863 --> 00:17:13,158
<i>Tao Tao has become
increasingly dejected...</i>

178
00:17:13,325 --> 00:17:15,494
<i>and has been spending a lot of time...</i>

179
00:17:15,661 --> 00:17:19,331
<i>just trying to avoid his little sister,
and his family.</i>

180
00:17:20,332 --> 00:17:24,002
<i>But today, he's come across
some interesting neighbors...</i>

181
00:17:24,503 --> 00:17:25,837
<i>who could change all that.</i>

182
00:17:29,049 --> 00:17:31,426
<i>These are the Lost Boys...</i>

183
00:17:32,052 --> 00:17:34,429
<i>a gang of young male outcasts...</i>

184
00:17:34,596 --> 00:17:37,224
<i>some of them as young as TaoTao.</i>

185
00:17:39,810 --> 00:17:43,522
<i>These guys know all about rejection.</i>

186
00:17:45,899 --> 00:17:48,986
<i>Being a Lost Boy is sort of
like running away to join the circus...</i>

187
00:17:49,611 --> 00:17:51,738
<i>except with fewer rules.</i>

188
00:17:53,156 --> 00:17:56,243
<i>These kids don't seem
to have a care in the world.</i>

189
00:17:59,371 --> 00:18:01,373
<i>This is Rooster...</i>

190
00:18:03,375 --> 00:18:05,794
<i>the leader of the Lost Boys.</i>

191
00:18:07,879 --> 00:18:09,673
<i>He's been in a lot of battles.</i>

192
00:18:10,424 --> 00:18:12,301
<i>You see that eye?</i>

193
00:18:12,801 --> 00:18:15,470
<i>TaoTao's father had a hand in that.</i>

194
00:18:19,099 --> 00:18:21,852
<i>He's certainly taken notice of Tao Tao.</i>

195
00:18:22,686 --> 00:18:25,939
<i>Maybe Tao Tao reminds him
of himself at that age.</i>

196
00:18:27,190 --> 00:18:31,486
<i>Or maybe he just stares at stuff a lot.</i>

197
00:18:33,155 --> 00:18:34,865
<i>In any case, if Tao Tao
has been looking...</i>

198
00:18:35,032 --> 00:18:37,242
<i>for a way to vent his frustrations...</i>

199
00:18:37,743 --> 00:18:39,745
<i>he's come to the right place...</i>

200
00:18:39,911 --> 00:18:42,331
<i>because on this sunny afternoon...</i>

201
00:18:42,497 --> 00:18:44,291
<i>the Lost Boys have invited him...</i>

202
00:18:44,458 --> 00:18:47,044
<i>to play an ancient
traditional monkey game...</i>

203
00:18:47,836 --> 00:18:50,589
<i>called Let's Break Branches.</i>

204
00:19:11,777 --> 00:19:15,155
<i>This is exactly
what TaoTao needs right now.</i>

205
00:19:17,407 --> 00:19:20,994
<i>Some of their shenanigans, however,
go</i> a <i>little too far for Tao Tao.</i>

206
00:19:23,121 --> 00:19:24,956
<i>Like stealing a baby...</i>

207
00:19:25,123 --> 00:19:26,166
<i>for kicks?</i>

208
00:19:28,877 --> 00:19:29,878
<i>But hey...</i>

209
00:19:30,045 --> 00:19:31,838
<i>it's not like it's his sister.</i>

210
00:19:34,299 --> 00:19:36,426
<i>Being mischievous troublemakers...</i>

211
00:19:36,593 --> 00:19:38,637
<i>is exhausting work.</i>

212
00:19:40,138 --> 00:19:43,600
<i>For TaoTao, though,
life with the Lost Boys seems...</i>

213
00:19:44,226 --> 00:19:45,811
<i>pretty sweet.</i>

214
00:19:46,645 --> 00:19:47,729
<i>Until...</i>

215
00:19:50,232 --> 00:19:51,983
<i>Goshawks are virtually</i>

216
00:19:52,067 --> 00:19:54,528
<i>the only natural predators
these monkeys have.</i>

217
00:19:54,986 --> 00:19:58,573
<i>And they're always on the lookout
for abandoned babies.</i>

218
00:20:17,134 --> 00:20:20,512
<i>In the blink of an eye,
Tao Tee's world is turned upside down.</i>

219
00:20:22,431 --> 00:20:24,266
<i>That came out of nowhere.</i>

220
00:20:24,433 --> 00:20:26,977
<i>Why wasn't anyone
keeping an eye out?</i>

221
00:20:42,701 --> 00:20:45,787
<i>It's</i> a <i>harsh dose of reality for Tao Tao.</i>

222
00:20:45,954 --> 00:20:49,458
<i>That easily could have
been his little sister.</i>

223
00:21:17,068 --> 00:21:18,487
<i>The summer winds,</i>

224
00:21:18,570 --> 00:21:21,031
<i>carrying the warm scent
of fresh pastures...</i>

225
00:21:21,198 --> 00:21:24,367
<i>have led the chiru
to their sacred destination...</i>

226
00:21:25,452 --> 00:21:27,454
<i>Zhuonai Lake.</i>

227
00:21:30,874 --> 00:21:33,794
<i>And the real purpose
of their heroic journey...</i>

228
00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,213
<i>now reveals itself.</i>

229
00:21:43,553 --> 00:21:46,681
<i>The whole fantastic, continuous cycle...</i>

230
00:21:46,848 --> 00:21:48,809
<i>that is chiru existence...</i>

231
00:21:48,975 --> 00:21:51,478
<i>is built on
this first moment of bonding...</i>

232
00:21:51,645 --> 00:21:53,772
<i>between a mother and her baby...</i>

233
00:21:54,523 --> 00:21:56,608
<i>sharing each other's scent.</i>

234
00:22:03,448 --> 00:22:06,159
<i>Miraculously, baby chiru
are able to walk...</i>

235
00:22:06,326 --> 00:22:08,954
<i>within 30 minutes of being born.</i>

236
00:22:12,666 --> 00:22:15,585
<i>It's that "standing still"
part that's so difficult.</i>

237
00:22:32,853 --> 00:22:34,688
<i>Within a few days,</i>

238
00:22:34,771 --> 00:22:37,148
<i>they can run like their mothers.</i>

239
00:23:06,177 --> 00:23:10,473
<i>As mothers and their calves
learn to identify each other by smell...</i>

240
00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:14,144
<i>they're forming the essential,
unbreakable connections...</i>

241
00:23:14,311 --> 00:23:15,770
<i>that bind the herd together</i>

242
00:23:15,854 --> 00:23:19,482
<i>and allow it to survive
its return migration.</i>

243
00:23:20,442 --> 00:23:22,444
<i>Sometimes, it takes a while...</i>

244
00:23:22,611 --> 00:23:25,864
<i>for calves to figure out
whose smell is whose...</i>

245
00:23:26,031 --> 00:23:29,534
<i>and they are gently encouraged
to keep sniffing.</i>

246
00:23:49,971 --> 00:23:52,974
<i>The chiru will stay here
until the calves are capable...</i>

247
00:23:53,183 --> 00:23:55,352
<i>of making their long return journey.</i>

248
00:23:56,478 --> 00:23:59,564
<i>Then their pendulum
will swing back toward home...</i>

249
00:23:59,731 --> 00:24:03,234
<i>where they'll be reunited
with the males they left behind.</i>

250
00:24:14,037 --> 00:24:15,872
<i>Up in the mountains of Sichuan...</i>

251
00:24:16,039 --> 00:24:18,208
<i>the turn of seasons unfurls...</i>

252
00:24:18,375 --> 00:24:21,336
<i>in a breathtaking kaleidoscope of color.</i>

253
00:24:41,898 --> 00:24:46,569
<i>Ya Ya and her baby have finally
emerged from their den of solitude.</i>

254
00:24:48,279 --> 00:24:51,408
<i>It's time for MeiMei to meet the world.</i>

255
00:25:31,406 --> 00:25:34,784
<i>"Well, the baby's been fed...</i>

256
00:25:36,161 --> 00:25:37,954
<i>"and cuddled...</i>

257
00:25:38,997 --> 00:25:40,623
<i>"and put to bed."</i>

258
00:25:44,461 --> 00:25:46,254
<i>"Time for lunch."</i>

259
00:25:58,808 --> 00:26:03,104
<i>Pandas in the wild
eat almost nothing but bamboo.</i>

260
00:26:03,646 --> 00:26:05,857
<i>Up to 40 pounds per day.</i>

261
00:26:09,027 --> 00:26:10,445
40...

262
00:26:10,612 --> 00:26:11,988
<i>pounds...</i>

263
00:26:12,697 --> 00:26:14,491
<i>of bamboo...</i>

264
00:26:14,949 --> 00:26:16,493
<i>per day.</i>

265
00:26:22,957 --> 00:26:25,794
<i>MeiMei, however,
has a belly full of mother's milk...</i>

266
00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:27,629
<i>and is fully rested.</i>

267
00:26:28,963 --> 00:26:31,841
<i>And there's a whole
new world to explore.</i>

268
00:26:39,724 --> 00:26:41,476
<i>Right.</i>

269
00:26:41,643 --> 00:26:43,228
<i>She can't really go anywhere.</i>

270
00:26:43,394 --> 00:26:47,190
<i>At this age, panda cubs
have barely learned to crawl.</i>

271
00:26:50,527 --> 00:26:52,695
<i>But that doesn't diminish
her fascination...</i>

272
00:26:52,862 --> 00:26:55,323
<i>with all these new sights and sounds.</i>

273
00:26:58,827 --> 00:27:00,370
<i>Like this guy.</i>

274
00:27:05,875 --> 00:27:07,544
<i>A red panda.</i>

275
00:27:08,211 --> 00:27:10,672
<i>He's not really a panda at all.</i>

276
00:27:10,839 --> 00:27:13,383
<i>He's actually closer to a raccoon.</i>

277
00:27:14,217 --> 00:27:16,553
<i>MeiMei doesn't care what he is.</i>

278
00:27:16,719 --> 00:27:19,681
<i>She just wants to
climb up there and say hello.</i>

279
00:27:20,348 --> 00:27:23,726
<i>Red pandas spend
almost all their time up in trees...</i>

280
00:27:23,893 --> 00:27:26,604
<i>which makes him
a perfect role model for MeiMei.</i>

281
00:27:27,272 --> 00:27:29,357
<i>Because climbing trees...</i>

282
00:27:29,524 --> 00:27:32,235
<i>is all baby pandas dream about.</i>

283
00:27:38,241 --> 00:27:40,869
<i>There's so much beauty.</i>

284
00:27:43,121 --> 00:27:44,622
<i>It's entrancing.</i>

285
00:27:47,917 --> 00:27:49,919
<i>But behind the beauty...</i>

286
00:27:51,754 --> 00:27:53,381
<i>lurks danger.</i>

287
00:28:06,269 --> 00:28:08,813
<i>"Okay?"</i>

288
00:28:11,941 --> 00:28:14,736
<i>"And here we go again."</i>

289
00:28:33,963 --> 00:28:35,506
<i>"Oh, my gosh.</i>

290
00:28:35,673 --> 00:28:39,260
<i>"That was so embarrassing."</i>

291
00:29:16,547 --> 00:29:20,343
<i>Moms are always there
to pick you up when you fall down.</i>

292
00:29:22,679 --> 00:29:25,890
<i>And to drag you around
by the neck afterward.</i>

293
00:29:36,985 --> 00:29:38,528
<i>If she could...</i>

294
00:29:38,695 --> 00:29:42,198
<i>Ya Ya would stay
in this moment forever.</i>

295
00:29:44,867 --> 00:29:46,703
<i>All she wants to do
is hold onto her baby...</i>

296
00:29:46,869 --> 00:29:49,372
<i>and smother her with love.</i>

297
00:29:55,044 --> 00:29:58,214
<i>But MeiMei has had a taste of freedom.</i>

298
00:30:02,051 --> 00:30:03,761
<i>And she likes it.</i>

299
00:30:22,405 --> 00:30:25,116
<i>Pine nuts are only
available in the fall...</i>

300
00:30:25,283 --> 00:30:27,118
<i>and today Rooster and the Lost Boys...</i>

301
00:30:27,285 --> 00:30:29,704
<i>have found a nice patch
all to themselves.</i>

302
00:30:31,414 --> 00:30:34,917
<i>And Tao Tao is making sure
he gets his fair share.</i>

303
00:30:36,794 --> 00:30:38,087
<i>"Whoops."</i>

304
00:30:40,298 --> 00:30:42,925
<i>He's been spending almost
all his time with the Lost Boys...</i>

305
00:30:43,426 --> 00:30:47,138
<i>ever since his cute little baby sister
swallowed up his family.</i>

306
00:30:55,730 --> 00:30:58,316
<i>But when TaoTao's father shows up...</i>

307
00:30:58,483 --> 00:31:00,401
<i>with the whole family in tow...</i>

308
00:31:00,985 --> 00:31:03,321
<i>the festive mood changes...</i>

309
00:31:04,405 --> 00:31:06,657
<i>to less festive.</i>

310
00:31:17,460 --> 00:31:20,630
<i>Rooster probably still has
a chip on his shoulder...</i>

311
00:31:20,797 --> 00:31:22,799
<i>about that whole eye thing.</i>

312
00:31:30,098 --> 00:31:33,142
<i>Looks like it's time
for some long-awaited payback.</i>

313
00:31:46,155 --> 00:31:47,532
<i>Tao Tao can't believe this.</i>

314
00:31:49,659 --> 00:31:52,662
<i>Why is Rooster
picking a fight with his father?</i>

315
00:31:58,042 --> 00:32:01,879
<i>The females in Tao Tao's family
rally around their man.</i>

316
00:32:09,345 --> 00:32:12,056
<i>Rooster, however, is on his own.</i>

317
00:32:12,682 --> 00:32:15,518
<i>The Lost Boys only
look out for themselves.</i>

318
00:32:16,561 --> 00:32:18,187
<i>With nobody to back him up...</i>

319
00:32:18,646 --> 00:32:20,815
<i>Rooster beats a hasty retreat.</i>

320
00:32:35,621 --> 00:32:37,123
<i>Tao Tao is torn.</i>

321
00:32:38,458 --> 00:32:42,920
<i>These new pals of his are turning out
to be a bunch of self-centered brats.</i>

322
00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:53,764
<i>Is there anybody in this crazy world
you can actually depend on?</i>

323
00:33:04,150 --> 00:33:05,985
<i>Up on the high plains...</i>

324
00:33:06,152 --> 00:33:08,279
<i>the chiru have embarked
on their journey back home</i>

325
00:33:08,404 --> 00:33:09,822
<i>to rejoin the males.</i>

326
00:33:12,283 --> 00:33:16,662
<i>But the smell of young calves
has attracted followers.</i>

327
00:33:31,010 --> 00:33:33,012
<i>This wolf tests the herd...</i>

328
00:33:33,179 --> 00:33:35,264
<i>trying to separate the little ones.</i>

329
00:33:38,351 --> 00:33:40,520
<i>By now, luckily, those baby legs...</i>

330
00:33:40,686 --> 00:33:43,022
<i>are strong and fast,
just like their mothers'.</i>

331
00:33:47,860 --> 00:33:49,487
<i>The chiru are united.</i>

332
00:33:49,654 --> 00:33:53,115
<i>The bonds between moms
and babies hold strong.</i>

333
00:33:53,282 --> 00:33:55,952
<i>Each calf glued to its mother's scent.</i>

334
00:34:04,835 --> 00:34:06,963
<i>The herd is many...</i>

335
00:34:08,297 --> 00:34:10,800
<i>but the herd is one.</i>

336
00:34:29,652 --> 00:34:31,654
<i>The sheer beauty of China...</i>

337
00:34:31,821 --> 00:34:35,366
<i>manifests itself
in so many different ways...</i>

338
00:34:35,533 --> 00:34:38,077
<i>in so many remote corners.</i>

339
00:34:41,664 --> 00:34:44,667
<i>It sometimes feels like another world.</i>

340
00:34:50,715 --> 00:34:52,550
<i>Under Dawa's nurturing...</i>

341
00:34:52,717 --> 00:34:56,095
<i>her cubs are growing into
two impressive young cats.</i>

342
00:34:58,347 --> 00:35:01,350
<i>And she's just had a successful hunt...</i>

343
00:35:01,517 --> 00:35:03,853
<i>which comes none too soon.</i>

344
00:35:04,353 --> 00:35:08,858
<i>Her cubs are now fully weaned
and hungry for some fresh meat.</i>

345
00:35:09,525 --> 00:35:13,529
<i>They've been watching and learning
the ways of the great hunter...</i>

346
00:35:14,864 --> 00:35:16,073
<i>their morn.</i>

347
00:35:16,616 --> 00:35:18,260
<i>But</i> suddenly...

348
00:35:18,284 --> 00:35:21,287
<i>across the valley,
the intruder has returned.</i>

349
00:35:21,954 --> 00:35:25,458
<i>This time, with her three grown sons.</i>

350
00:35:32,381 --> 00:35:35,885
<i>Scarcity of prey has brought them
into Dawa's territory...</i>

351
00:35:36,052 --> 00:35:40,222
<i>and they are more than prepared
to take all that is hers.</i>

352
00:35:46,395 --> 00:35:49,148
<i>Dawa's old rival is
much more emboldened...</i>

353
00:35:49,315 --> 00:35:51,275
<i>now that she has reinforcements.</i>

354
00:35:51,734 --> 00:35:53,986
<i>She and Dawa both know...</i>

355
00:35:54,153 --> 00:35:57,948
<i>Dawa would never survive a fight
against all four leopards.</i>

356
00:36:24,350 --> 00:36:27,687
<i>Dawa can't bring herself
to abandon this precious food, though.</i>

357
00:36:31,190 --> 00:36:35,611
<i>Her cubs must eat,
and when it comes to their survival...</i>

358
00:36:35,778 --> 00:36:37,947
<i>Dawa would fight almost any foe.</i>

359
00:36:44,286 --> 00:36:46,789
<i>The trade-off between life and death...</i>

360
00:36:46,956 --> 00:36:50,126
<i>is sometimes a very difficult calculation.</i>

361
00:37:08,060 --> 00:37:10,312
<i>But then the sons move in.</i>

362
00:37:19,488 --> 00:37:21,991
<i>Outnumbered and out-fanged...</i>

363
00:37:22,158 --> 00:37:25,411
<i>Dawa must retreat to guard her cubs.</i>

364
00:37:33,210 --> 00:37:36,505
<i>Not satisfied with merely
stealing Dawa's kill...</i>

365
00:37:36,672 --> 00:37:40,009
<i>the interlopers
now pursue her to let her know...</i>

366
00:37:40,176 --> 00:37:42,344
<i>they're here to stay.</i>

367
00:37:49,018 --> 00:37:50,686
<i>To save her young...</i>

368
00:37:50,853 --> 00:37:53,689
<i>Dawa must take them
and leave the area.</i>

369
00:38:13,292 --> 00:38:16,378
<i>Expelled from their own home.</i>

370
00:38:34,355 --> 00:38:37,733
<i>When your baby
is the cutest, fuzziest creature...</i>

371
00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:39,401
<i>this side of the Yangtze River...</i>

372
00:38:40,402 --> 00:38:44,156
<i>it's not easy to just leave it alone.</i>

373
00:39:03,926 --> 00:39:05,928
<i>At six months old, MeiMei is thinking...</i>

374
00:39:06,095 --> 00:39:08,764
<i>she's ready to move about on her own.</i>

375
00:39:10,391 --> 00:39:11,767
<i>Her mother is thinking...</i>

376
00:39:12,768 --> 00:39:14,520
<i>"Yeah, not so much."</i>

377
00:39:15,563 --> 00:39:17,231
<i>That's a tall tree.</i>

378
00:39:17,398 --> 00:39:20,067
<i>And MeiMei is no expert climber.</i>

379
00:39:20,568 --> 00:39:21,694
<i>Yet.</i>

380
00:39:36,917 --> 00:39:41,422
<i>"Come on! Mom! I just wanna... Argh!"</i>

381
00:39:48,387 --> 00:39:52,766
<i>Being a helicopter mom
can suffocate a cub's curiosity, though.</i>

382
00:39:52,933 --> 00:39:55,978
<i>For young pandas,
tree climbing is a rite of passage.</i>

383
00:39:56,812 --> 00:39:59,481
<i>When a cub is able to
successfully climb a tree...</i>

384
00:39:59,648 --> 00:40:02,151
<i>it means it can be safe from predators.</i>

385
00:40:04,278 --> 00:40:05,654
<i>A cub that can climb a tree...</i>

386
00:40:06,739 --> 00:40:09,783
<i>is a cub that no longer needs its mother.</i>

387
00:40:13,245 --> 00:40:16,248
<i>"Mom, relax. I got this."</i>

388
00:40:35,601 --> 00:40:36,852
<i>On the plains of Qinghai...</i>

389
00:40:37,353 --> 00:40:40,272
<i>the male chiru stand guard
on the home front...</i>

390
00:40:40,439 --> 00:40:43,943
<i>awaiting the return
of their far-roving females.</i>

391
00:40:55,621 --> 00:40:58,374
<i>The females have
traveled long and far...</i>

392
00:40:58,540 --> 00:41:00,960
<i>to be reunited with their partners.</i>

393
00:41:10,552 --> 00:41:11,637
<i>Unfortunately...</i>

394
00:41:11,887 --> 00:41:15,057
<i>after being away
from each other for so long...</i>

395
00:41:15,224 --> 00:41:18,018
<i>neither the males nor the females...</i>

396
00:41:18,185 --> 00:41:21,313
<i>have the slightest idea
who their partners are.</i>

397
00:41:22,898 --> 00:41:24,483
<i>But not to worry...</i>

398
00:41:25,818 --> 00:41:29,363
<i>the males are more than happy
to impress new females...</i>

399
00:41:29,530 --> 00:41:31,240
<i>and start new families.</i>

400
00:41:37,037 --> 00:41:39,999
<i>They've spent the entire spring
and summer bulking up...</i>

401
00:41:40,165 --> 00:41:42,751
<i>and vying with each other
for supremacy.</i>

402
00:41:42,918 --> 00:41:46,422
<i>And they're raring
to show off their masculinity.</i>

403
00:41:50,718 --> 00:41:52,928
<i>"Problems with wolves, ladies?"</i>

404
00:41:53,887 --> 00:41:56,598
<i>"Fear not. I'll deal with this scoundrel."</i>

405
00:42:03,022 --> 00:42:05,733
<i>One glance at that
imposing male physique...</i>

406
00:42:05,899 --> 00:42:09,403
<i>and this scrappy little predator
is soon sent on his way.</i>

407
00:42:09,570 --> 00:42:11,905
<i>"Hey!</i>

408
00:42:14,616 --> 00:42:16,035
<i>"It's all good."</i>

409
00:42:17,578 --> 00:42:19,913
<i>"The ice causes a bit of a... whoa!"</i>

410
00:42:41,477 --> 00:42:43,729
<i>Regardless of how they accomplish it...</i>

411
00:42:43,896 --> 00:42:48,776
<i>the herd always comes together again
as one great big family.</i>

412
00:42:50,569 --> 00:42:55,240
<i>And the never-ending tide
of chiru life flows on.</i>

413
00:43:08,128 --> 00:43:10,589
<i>As the temperatures begin to plummet...</i>

414
00:43:10,756 --> 00:43:13,342
<i>the once mighty
Queen of the Mountain...</i>

415
00:43:13,509 --> 00:43:16,178
<i>hasn't made a kill in over a week.</i>

416
00:43:16,512 --> 00:43:20,849
<i>Now, she's forced to share
her unfamiliar new territory...</i>

417
00:43:21,016 --> 00:43:23,352
<i>with more successful rivals.</i>

418
00:43:34,738 --> 00:43:36,990
<i>She must survey the area constantly...</i>

419
00:43:37,157 --> 00:43:40,869
<i>to get the lay of the land
and reestablish her dominion...</i>

420
00:43:41,036 --> 00:43:42,538
<i>with scent markings.</i>

421
00:43:45,207 --> 00:43:47,876
<i>But she's been spotted
by this area's male.</i>

422
00:44:02,057 --> 00:44:04,393
<i>She defends her ground bravely...</i>

423
00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:07,229
<i>but is forced to retreat back to her cubs.</i>

424
00:44:15,529 --> 00:44:17,531
<i>Those playful days of summer...</i>

425
00:44:17,698 --> 00:44:20,909
<i>seem very far away to Dawa right now.</i>

426
00:44:31,086 --> 00:44:35,465
<i>If only a family's love
could determine its fate.</i>

427
00:44:53,442 --> 00:44:56,570
<i>YaYa's instinct is to keep her cub safe.</i>

428
00:45:05,162 --> 00:45:08,081
<i>But she can't protect MeiMei forever.</i>

429
00:45:08,790 --> 00:45:10,250
<i>At some point...</i>

430
00:45:10,417 --> 00:45:12,502
<i>she's going to have to let go.</i>

431
00:45:23,889 --> 00:45:25,599
<i>Just... maybe not today.</i>

432
00:45:32,689 --> 00:45:35,359
<i>Winter turns the dense forest...</i>

433
00:45:35,525 --> 00:45:38,862
<i>into a majestic crystal fantasy land.</i>

434
00:45:41,865 --> 00:45:45,619
<i>This is the first snowfall
Tao Tao's sister has ever seen.</i>

435
00:45:46,703 --> 00:45:49,957
<i>Her pure amazement
is a welcome distraction...</i>

436
00:45:50,123 --> 00:45:52,000
<i>from the hardships of winter.</i>

437
00:45:54,044 --> 00:45:56,338
<i>"What is this stuff?"</i>

438
00:46:01,843 --> 00:46:04,805
<i>"Whatever it is, it's cold."</i>

439
00:46:06,181 --> 00:46:08,684
<i>"Must get to higher ground!"</i>

440
00:46:10,727 --> 00:46:12,688
<i>Yes, snow is a bummer...</i>

441
00:46:12,854 --> 00:46:15,565
<i>and it's really cold on your hands.</i>

442
00:46:15,732 --> 00:46:17,067
<i>The one upside is...</i>

443
00:46:17,234 --> 00:46:20,696
<i>it's a perfect excuse to walk like this.</i>

444
00:46:48,849 --> 00:46:50,684
<i>The cold and scarcity of winter...</i>

445
00:46:50,851 --> 00:46:54,021
<i>has brought the various groups
within the troop together again.</i>

446
00:46:54,896 --> 00:46:56,940
<i>They're so hungry...</i>

447
00:46:57,107 --> 00:46:58,567
<i>they'll eat anything.</i>

448
00:47:01,236 --> 00:47:04,906
<i>Rooster certainly
isn't giving Tao Tao any handouts.</i>

449
00:47:05,073 --> 00:47:06,533
<i>Or warmth.</i>

450
00:47:06,950 --> 00:47:08,702
<i>Or support.</i>

451
00:47:12,122 --> 00:47:13,457
<i>This is what you get...</i>

452
00:47:13,623 --> 00:47:15,792
<i>when you're hooked up
with the Lost Boys.</i>

453
00:47:21,590 --> 00:47:22,758
<i>Whoa!</i>

454
00:47:23,592 --> 00:47:25,427
<i>Rooster is scrapping over food again.</i>

455
00:47:30,932 --> 00:47:32,934
<i>And the hostility is spreading.</i>

456
00:47:35,562 --> 00:47:38,565
<i>Before you know it,
Tao Tao gets drawn into the fray.</i>

457
00:47:39,483 --> 00:47:41,943
<i>Even his little sister
gets caught up in it.</i>

458
00:47:44,988 --> 00:47:47,783
<i>She tries to help her brother
and stop them from fighting...</i>

459
00:47:47,949 --> 00:47:50,994
<i>but there's just
no reasoning with these animals.</i>

460
00:47:53,622 --> 00:47:56,666
<i>TaoTao's father
wants nothing to do with it.</i>

461
00:47:57,459 --> 00:48:00,420
<i>There's barely any food here
to fight over anyway.</i>

462
00:48:03,006 --> 00:48:05,133
<i>He packs up his family and heads off...</i>

463
00:48:05,300 --> 00:48:07,511
<i>to lower, warmer territory.</i>

464
00:48:11,848 --> 00:48:14,476
<i>With the cold biting at his bones...</i>

465
00:48:14,643 --> 00:48:17,604
<i>Tao Tao is longing for some comfort.</i>

466
00:48:17,771 --> 00:48:21,691
<i>For someone, anyone,
to just keep him warm.</i>

467
00:48:24,444 --> 00:48:26,488
<i>He misses his family.</i>

468
00:48:27,989 --> 00:48:30,867
<i>Up until now,
he's resisted going back to them.</i>

469
00:48:33,161 --> 00:48:35,664
<i>Maybe he's still bitter about his sister.</i>

470
00:48:36,665 --> 00:48:39,167
<i>Maybe he's trying to
prove something to his father.</i>

471
00:48:39,668 --> 00:48:40,877
<i>Who knows?</i>

472
00:48:44,005 --> 00:48:47,050
<i>Right now, he needs warmth.</i>

473
00:48:49,886 --> 00:48:52,055
<i>He abandons the Lost Boys...</i>

474
00:48:54,558 --> 00:48:56,977
<i>and follows his family.</i>

475
00:49:18,498 --> 00:49:20,709
<i>His sister welcomes him back.</i>

476
00:49:22,752 --> 00:49:25,422
<i>But life isn't always that simple.</i>

477
00:49:31,219 --> 00:49:33,388
<i>His father won't let him in.</i>

478
00:49:35,098 --> 00:49:37,726
<i>TaoTao has no one to turn to.</i>

479
00:49:43,106 --> 00:49:45,066
<i>He's run out of options.</i>

480
00:49:59,623 --> 00:50:01,583
<i>Between winter's wrath...</i>

481
00:50:01,750 --> 00:50:03,668
<i>and plain old bad luck...</i>

482
00:50:03,835 --> 00:50:07,589
<i>Dawa's hunting successes
have been few and far between.</i>

483
00:50:10,091 --> 00:50:12,928
<i>But these sheep,
seeking shelter from the weather...</i>

484
00:50:13,512 --> 00:50:16,139
<i>have just moved within range.</i>

485
00:51:03,853 --> 00:51:06,147
<i>Something terrible happens, though.</i>

486
00:51:15,991 --> 00:51:20,036
<i>The snow has concealed jagged rocks,
and Dawa has injured her paw.</i>

487
00:52:04,748 --> 00:52:09,252
<i>Dawa knows
if she and her cubs are to survive...</i>

488
00:52:09,419 --> 00:52:12,714
<i>she must be
in top physical condition to hunt.</i>

489
00:52:54,172 --> 00:52:56,132
<i>It looks like Tao Tao has finally...</i>

490
00:52:56,299 --> 00:52:59,427
<i>been allowed to rejoin the family furball.</i>

491
00:53:07,018 --> 00:53:10,355
<i>Or more like cling onto the outside of it.</i>

492
00:53:11,940 --> 00:53:14,943
<i>As long as he's willing to help
protect the family against the cold...</i>

493
00:53:15,694 --> 00:53:17,946
<i>his father will let him stay.</i>

494
00:53:19,197 --> 00:53:21,616
<i>It's better than freezing all alone.</i>

495
00:53:23,159 --> 00:53:26,454
<i>At least his little sister
looks happy to see him.</i>

496
00:53:28,998 --> 00:53:33,002
<i>Maybe Tao Tao is finally learning
the true value of family.</i>

497
00:53:35,672 --> 00:53:39,467
<i>Or maybe he's just really cold.</i>

498
00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:23,178
<i>In China...</i>

499
00:54:23,678 --> 00:54:26,055
<i>some believe the panda to be
the living embodiment...</i>

500
00:54:26,222 --> 00:54:28,099
<i>of the yin and yang concept...</i>

501
00:54:28,516 --> 00:54:31,352
<i>the curved black-and-white
patterns of its fur...</i>

502
00:54:31,519 --> 00:54:33,521
<i>mimicking the symbol itself.</i>

503
00:54:38,735 --> 00:54:42,739
<i>This duality of opposing forces
exists everywhere in nature.</i>

504
00:54:46,534 --> 00:54:48,870
<i>But perhaps nowhere more so...</i>

505
00:54:49,037 --> 00:54:53,041
<i>than in the mounting relationship
between Ya Ya and MeiMei.</i>

506
00:54:56,544 --> 00:55:00,048
<i>The push and pull between
freedom and protection...</i>

507
00:55:00,215 --> 00:55:02,217
<i>is coming to a head.</i>

508
00:55:06,095 --> 00:55:08,264
<i>Ya Ya wants so badly...</i>

509
00:55:08,431 --> 00:55:11,392
<i>to hold on to her precious daughter
and keep her safe.</i>

510
00:55:11,893 --> 00:55:14,938
<i>But MeiMei has an uncontrollable...</i>

511
00:55:15,104 --> 00:55:18,566
<i>evolutionary urge to just climb.</i>

512
00:55:22,612 --> 00:55:26,241
<i>And yeah, sure,
the kid has some issues with gravity.</i>

513
00:55:28,159 --> 00:55:30,787
<i>But so what? Life is risky.</i>

514
00:55:30,954 --> 00:55:33,081
<i>She's going to fall down.</i>

515
00:55:39,420 --> 00:55:41,840
<i>And then, she'll get back up.</i>

516
00:55:50,974 --> 00:55:54,519
<i>But at some point,
she has to do it on her own.</i>

517
00:56:01,609 --> 00:56:04,779
<i>And today is that day.</i>

518
00:56:16,666 --> 00:56:19,961
<i>As deep as YaYa's love
for her daughter is...</i>

519
00:56:21,296 --> 00:56:23,298
<i>there is a force that is stronger.</i>

520
00:56:23,464 --> 00:56:25,466
<i>A force of nature.</i>

521
00:56:30,513 --> 00:56:32,557
<i>And it's pulling them apart.</i>

522
00:56:48,740 --> 00:56:50,450
<i>She's going for it.</i>

523
00:57:40,208 --> 00:57:43,169
<i>The day you climb a tree on your own...</i>

524
00:57:44,545 --> 00:57:46,589
<i>without falling out of it...</i>

525
00:57:48,424 --> 00:57:50,718
<i>is a big day.</i>

526
00:58:04,691 --> 00:58:07,986
<i>Ya Ya may be</i>
a <i>slightly overprotective mother...</i>

527
00:58:09,070 --> 00:58:12,573
<i>but she's raised
one extraordinary little panda.</i>

528
00:58:16,703 --> 00:58:18,871
<i>She also knows...</i>

529
00:58:19,038 --> 00:58:21,374
<i>it will soon be time to say goodbye.</i>

530
00:58:26,546 --> 00:58:29,173
<i>The joy a mother receives...</i>

531
00:58:29,340 --> 00:58:32,093
<i>from raising a cub from birth, however...</i>

532
00:58:32,260 --> 00:58:35,263
<i>is worth a thousand farewells.</i>

533
00:58:50,319 --> 00:58:52,822
<i>Springtime means more food.</i>

534
00:58:58,077 --> 00:58:59,537
<i>More fleas.</i>

535
00:59:04,917 --> 00:59:06,502
<i>And more babies.</i>

536
00:59:12,383 --> 00:59:14,218
<i>Which, in turn, means...</i>

537
00:59:14,719 --> 00:59:16,679
<i>more baby fever.</i>

538
00:59:36,032 --> 00:59:39,827
<i>Though Tao Tao is getting along better
with his family lately...</i>

539
00:59:39,994 --> 00:59:43,706
<i>he's understandably been spending
less time around his father.</i>

540
00:59:45,124 --> 00:59:47,919
<i>And a lot more time by himself.</i>

541
00:59:54,050 --> 00:59:56,385
<i>Tao Tao's sister is growing up, too.</i>

542
01:00:01,307 --> 01:00:04,268
<i>She's starting to
show off her own personality.</i>

543
01:00:20,451 --> 01:00:23,496
<i>She's at an age now
where her mother can leave her alone...</i>

544
01:00:23,663 --> 01:00:25,414
<i>to go forage for food.</i>

545
01:00:27,125 --> 01:00:29,752
<i>Or for someone else's baby.</i>

546
01:00:34,924 --> 01:00:37,343
<i>But wherever there are little babies...</i>

547
01:00:38,427 --> 01:00:41,180
<i>goshawks are not far away.</i>

548
01:00:47,645 --> 01:00:50,022
<i>Tao Tao spots the predator
and sounds the alarm.</i>

549
01:00:52,400 --> 01:00:54,735
<i>The troop scrambles for cover.</i>

550
01:00:56,571 --> 01:00:58,156
<i>All little ones are accounted for.</i>

551
01:00:59,365 --> 01:01:01,784
<i>Except for one. Tao Tao's sister.</i>

552
01:01:05,788 --> 01:01:07,915
<i>But Tao Tao has been
keeping an eye on her...</i>

553
01:01:08,082 --> 01:01:09,917
<i>and leaps into action.</i>

554
01:01:19,427 --> 01:01:22,221
<i>He reaches her just in time.</i>

555
01:01:37,612 --> 01:01:40,531
<i>Tao Tao has never felt so valued.</i>

556
01:01:40,698 --> 01:01:44,535
<i>He acted on pure instinct
to protect his sister.</i>

557
01:01:44,702 --> 01:01:48,289
<i>And that brave act
has made him realize...</i>

558
01:01:48,789 --> 01:01:50,458
<i>that he's grown up.</i>

559
01:01:50,625 --> 01:01:51,626
<i>A lot.</i>

560
01:01:53,294 --> 01:01:57,048
<i>His dad is definitely happy
to have him back in the fold.</i>

561
01:02:00,218 --> 01:02:02,845
<i>The young outcast
without a care in the world...</i>

562
01:02:03,596 --> 01:02:06,849
<i>has grown up into the family hero.</i>

563
01:02:10,269 --> 01:02:13,564
<i>He's certainly a hero
in his sister's eyes.</i>

564
01:02:33,668 --> 01:02:35,753
<i>Back up on the high plateau...</i>

565
01:02:35,920 --> 01:02:39,215
<i>the winter snow
lingers well into spring...</i>

566
01:02:41,217 --> 01:02:44,845
<i>and Dawa is still fighting
to provide for her cubs.</i>

567
01:02:49,350 --> 01:02:50,768
<i>The injury to her foot</i>

568
01:02:50,851 --> 01:02:52,937
<i>has greatly hampered
her hunting ability...</i>

569
01:02:53,104 --> 01:02:56,190
<i>and she no longer has the speed
to chase down prey...</i>

570
01:02:56,357 --> 01:02:58,359
<i>as fast as these wild sheep.</i>

571
01:03:07,034 --> 01:03:09,245
<i>But an opportunity arises.</i>

572
01:03:11,539 --> 01:03:14,417
<i>In springtime,
domesticated yaks are released...</i>

573
01:03:14,583 --> 01:03:17,211
<i>to graze in the higher elevations.</i>

574
01:03:19,797 --> 01:03:22,800
<i>These beasts are
10 times as heavy as Dawa...</i>

575
01:03:23,634 --> 01:03:27,805
<i>and one blow from
those powerful horns could be fatal.</i>

576
01:03:30,808 --> 01:03:34,228
<i>Going up against
a whole herd is like attacking an army.</i>

577
01:03:36,564 --> 01:03:39,066
<i>But her cubs are relying on her.</i>

578
01:03:51,454 --> 01:03:53,956
<i>It's now or never.</i>

579
01:04:14,518 --> 01:04:17,271
<i>The calf's mother
rallies to save her baby.</i>

580
01:04:22,777 --> 01:04:24,987
<i>Dawa refuses to let go.</i>

581
01:04:25,488 --> 01:04:27,656
<i>She knows this is her last chance.</i>

582
01:04:35,122 --> 01:04:37,625
<i>But a yak mother's will
to protect her young...</i>

583
01:04:37,792 --> 01:04:39,627
<i>is just as strong as Dawa's.</i>

584
01:04:46,008 --> 01:04:49,470
<i>The yak strikes Dawa
hard with her horns.</i>

585
01:04:55,643 --> 01:04:57,395
<i>Dawa is injured badly.</i>

586
01:05:09,073 --> 01:05:11,992
<i>One mother's brave rescue
of her baby...</i>

587
01:05:13,911 --> 01:05:17,248
<i>is another's tragic failure to feed hers.</i>

588
01:07:24,792 --> 01:07:28,462
<i>In Chinese mythology,
when a life ends...</i>

589
01:07:29,171 --> 01:07:31,549
<i>a crane carries that soul...</i>

590
01:07:31,715 --> 01:07:35,302
<i>to rejoin the cycle of birth and rebirth.</i>

591
01:07:40,891 --> 01:07:44,019
<i>From the end to the beginning.</i>

592
01:07:51,569 --> 01:07:54,822
<i>Time pushes this cycle ever forward.</i>

593
01:07:59,577 --> 01:08:01,829
<i>The young become adults.</i>

594
01:08:03,539 --> 01:08:05,666
<i>The adults grow old.</i>

595
01:08:06,834 --> 01:08:10,087
<i>And the old are reborn.</i>

596
01:08:14,675 --> 01:08:17,177
<i>Death is not the end.</i>

597
01:08:18,178 --> 01:08:22,391
<i>It is merely a waypoint
in a circle that continues endlessly.</i>

598
01:09:48,102 --> 01:09:50,437
<i>Every creature plays its part...</i>

599
01:09:50,604 --> 01:09:53,607
<i>in this great cyclical symphony.</i>

600
01:09:57,778 --> 01:09:59,113
<i>Each life lived...</i>

601
01:09:59,279 --> 01:10:03,158
<i>is just one beat
in the larger beautiful rhythm.</i>

602
01:10:14,795 --> 01:10:19,550
<i>This vast land breeds
both love and hardship.</i>

603
01:10:20,801 --> 01:10:23,011
<i>But in the hardship...</i>

604
01:10:23,554 --> 01:10:25,347
<i>there is hope.</i>

605
01:10:34,648 --> 01:10:36,734
<i>This is where they live.</i>

606
01:10:44,658 --> 01:10:47,244
<i>This is where they die.</i>

607
01:10:54,251 --> 01:10:56,503
<i>This is where they grow.</i>

608
01:11:30,871 --> 01:11:34,208
<i>This is where they are born.</i>

609
01:11:37,211 --> 01:11:39,087
<i>In China.</i>

610
01:12:11,662 --> 01:12:14,998
We tried to take
some time-lapses of the landscape.

611
01:12:15,582 --> 01:12:17,668
As you might see right now...

612
01:12:17,835 --> 01:12:20,420
the light is not very interesting.

613
01:12:20,671 --> 01:12:23,048
But the good thing is...

614
01:12:23,215 --> 01:12:26,009
the weather is changing
every half an hour.

615
01:12:26,176 --> 01:12:28,720
So, if you don't like
the weather or the light...

616
01:12:28,887 --> 01:12:29,906
you just have to wait a little bit

617
01:12:29,930 --> 01:12:31,932
and everything changes again.

618
01:12:35,686 --> 01:12:38,063
Got a snow leopard
sneaking up on blue sheep.

619
01:12:38,230 --> 01:12:39,940
It doesn't get any better than this!

620
01:13:00,586 --> 01:13:02,546
Now it's hailing.

621
01:13:02,713 --> 01:13:06,466
Perhaps in half an hour,
it will be beautiful sunshine.

622
01:13:06,633 --> 01:13:09,261
So, it's just a waiting game.

623
01:14:01,188 --> 01:14:02,332
I'm done With it.

624
01:14:02,356 --> 01:14:03,583
Go ahead.

625
01:14:03,607 --> 01:14:04,667
Hello?

626
01:14:04,691 --> 01:14:05,692
Okay.

627
01:14:06,526 --> 01:14:08,862
He's looking at the monitor.

628
01:14:12,532 --> 01:14:14,576
Oh! The camera moves.

629
01:14:25,212 --> 01:14:27,047
Okay, it's, again,

630
01:14:27,172 --> 01:14:28,173
half an hour later.

631
01:14:28,715 --> 01:14:30,634
And now it's snowing.

632
01:14:30,801 --> 01:14:34,388
We have rolling mist
and a proper thunderstorm.

633
01:14:35,472 --> 01:14:39,184
But I'm still convinced that
if we wait another half an hour...

634
01:14:39,351 --> 01:14:42,646
we will have
best conditions for my time-lapse.

635
01:15:05,002 --> 01:15:07,421
It's really wonderful
getting so intimate...

636
01:15:07,587 --> 01:15:11,675
with the early family life
of such a rare and beautiful bird.