[ROLLING THUNDER].
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NARRATOR: SOME PLACES ON EARTH ARE SPECIAL.
THEY'RE INSTINCTIVELY IMPORTANT TO US AS HUMANS.
LIFE TAKES ON A DIFFERENT PACE... A DIFFERENT RHYTHM... A DIFFERENT SCALE.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IS ONE OF EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE LARGEST LIVING STRUCTURE ON THE PLANET, COULD BE BUILT BY SOMETHING SO MINUTE.
LIFE FLOURISHES IN ASTONISHING DIVERSITY.
DEADLY PREDATORS PLY ITS WATERS.
AND SOMETIMES, DISASTER STRIKES.
REPORTER: THE CATEGORY FIVE CYCLONE HAS UNLEASHED ITS FURY ON NORTH QUEENSLAND.
NARRATOR: FOR THE HUMANS THAT LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, AND EXPLORE HERE, LIFE IS SHAPED BY THE FORCES OF NATURE.
RESCUE MAN: IT'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE IN YOUR HANDS.
NARRATOR: THIS IS THE BLUE FRONTIER.
JASON: THERE'S TWO RAFTS IN THE AREA.
NARRATOR: WHERE MAN MEETS WILD.
MAN: OUT, OUT.
MAN 2: IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD DOWN THERE, THERE'S PLENTY OF FIRE.
NARRATOR: AND NATURE CALLS THE SHOTS.
IT'S JULY.
WINTER IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
A TIME WHEN LIGHT TRADE WINDS BLOW AND THE WEATHER IS NEARLY ALWAYS PERFECT.
HUMPBACK WHALES HAVE JUST MADE THE LONG JOURNEY TO THE REEF TO ESCAPE THE ANTARCTIC WINTER.
THEY'RE HERE TO CALVE IN THE WARM TROPICAL WATERS.
MUM GIVES HER NEWBORN A HELPING HAND SO SHE CAN BREATHE EASY.
THE CALF GAINS CONFIDENCE BY MIMICKING HER MOTHER.
IN THE FIRST WEEK OF HER LIFE, THE CALF WILL DRINK AROUND ELEVEN GALLONS OF MILK A DAY, PUTTING ON 4 POUNDS AN HOUR.
THEY'LL SPEND A FEW MONTHS ON THE REEF SO BABY CAN BUILD UP HER STRENGTH, BEFORE HEADING DOWN TO THE COLD WATERS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN.
IT'S ONE OF THE LONGEST MIGRATIONS IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
AUSTRALIA'S EAST COAST HUMPBACK POPULATION WAS HUNTED TO NEAR EXTINCTION BY THE 1960'S.
LESS THAN 500 INDIVIDUALS SURVIVED THE SLAUGHTER.
MANY BELIEVED THEN THAT THE HUMPBACKS WERE TOO FAR GONE.
SINCE PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS BEGAN, THESE 40 TON GIANTS HAVE MADE A STEADY RECOVERY.
THE POPULATION APPEARS TO BE GROWING BY ABOUT 10% A YEAR.
THIS YEAR AROUND 20,000 HUMPBACKS HAVE MADE THE JOURNEY TO THE REEF.
THEY ARE THE LARGEST SPECIES IN AN ECOSYSTEM PULSING WITH THE OCEAN'S GREATEST BIODIVERSITY.
AT ALMOST ONE AND A HALF THOUSAND MILES IN LENGTH, AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF IS THE LARGEST REEF SYSTEM ON THE PLANET: EQUIVALENT IN LENGTH TO THE AMERICAN COASTLINE FROM VANCOUVER TO MEXICO.
IT'S ONE OF JUST A FEW BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES VISIBLE FROM SPACE.
THE ISLANDS THAT RISE FROM THESE WATERS PROVIDE HOME AND HABITAT FOR NESTING TURTLES, SEABIRDS, AND THE ODD REPTILIAN RESIDENT.
IT'S ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SOUGHT AFTER TOURIST DESTINATIONS.
NEARLY TWO MILLION VISITORS A YEAR COME TO EXPERIENCE THE INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF LIFE.
AND ALONG THE IDYLLIC COASTLINE, RANGERS WORK TOGETHER WITH RESCUE CREWS AND SCIENTISTS TO SAFEGUARD THE FRAGILE REEF AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND ANIMALS THAT INHABIT THIS ICONIC WORLD HERITAGE MARINE PARK.
DIVE INSTRUCTOR PADDY COLWELL WAS DRAWN TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF TWENTY YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE SPENT HIS LIFE TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE TO US AND ITS INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY.
PADDY: AUSTRALIA'S JUST NUTS.
I MEAN, PEOPLE GROWING UP HERE DON'T REALIZE HOW CRAZY IT IS.
I GREW UP IN IRELAND AND WHEN I LEFT IRELAND I COULD IDENTIFY THE SMALLEST BIT OF ANY WEED YOU GAVE ME, I COULD IDENTIFY IT, ALL OF THE SPONGES I KNEW THEM BY HEART, 14 DIFFERENT SPECIES.
YOU COME HERE TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, YOU'VE GOT 2,000 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SPONGES.
YOU'VE GOT THE HIGHEST DIVERSITY OF CORALS IN THE WORLD.
EVERY YEAR WE FIND NEW STUFF.
IT'S THE SOUL OF THE EARTH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY TOUCHES MY HEART.
NARRATOR: HE'S TRAVELLING NORTH TO OSPREY REEF, ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE AND UNTOUCHED PLACES ON THE PLANET.
OSPREY SITS ALONE IN DEEP WATER, 120 MILES OFFSHORE.
PADDY: OSPREY REEF JUST HAS SHEER DROP-OFFS.
IT'S SUCH A SILENT WORLD, ALL YOU CAN HEAR IS YOUR BUBBLES.
IT JUST LETS YOU REALIZE HOW BIG THE WORLD IS AND HOW TINY WE ARE IN IT.
NOTHING BUT BLUE AND OUT OF THAT CANVAS THIS SPOT COMES IN, THAT'S A BIG SHARK COMING IN.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU ARE OR HOW OFTEN YOU'VE SEEN IT, IT IS QUITE SPECTACULAR.
I DON'T FEEL SCARED, IT'S JUST A GREAT FEELING OF JUST KNOWING WHERE YOU FIT IN THIS PLANET.
NARRATOR: OSPREY REEF SITS ATOP AN EXTINCT VOLCANO.
OVER TIME, THE VOLCANO HAS BEGUN TO SINK AND SEA LEVEL HAS RISEN.
THE CORAL HAS KEPT UP WITH THE SEA SURFACE, BUILDING HUGE SUBMARINE CLIFFS THAT PLUNGE 3,000 FEET INTO THE ABYSS.
FOR CORAL TO GROW, A DELICATE BALANCE OF OCEANOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS NEED TO ALIGN.
THEY NEED A HARD SURFACE TO GROWN ON, BATHED IN CLEAR, NUTRIENT-POOR SALT WATER THAT RANGES FROM ABOUT 73 TO 78 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
IT ALL STARTS WITH A TINY CREATURE THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR THE LAST 500 MILLION YEARS.
PADDY: THE ANIMAL IS ACTUALLY VERY CLOSELY RELATED TO A JELLYFISH AND HE LANDS UP ON HIS BACK, GLUES TO THE BOTTOM, LITTLE TENTACLES GOING UP COLLECTING MAINLY PLANT NUTRIENTS IN THE WATER.
A BIG LUMP OF FISH'S POO IS GOOD FOR THEM AND WITHIN THE ANIMALS FLESH ARE THE PLANTS WHICH ARE BROWN DULL COLORED ALGAE, BUT THE ANIMALS FLESH THEN TWISTS THIS BROWN COLOR INTO LOTS OF OTHER COLORS AND FROM THIS TINY LITTLE ANIMAL GROWS BIG, BIG MOUNDS.
IT'S JUST MAGIC.
NARRATOR: THE CORAL SKELETONS CREATE THE REEF STRUCTURE, BUT A MYRIAD OF OTHER CREATURES THEN COLLABORATE TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY REEF.
PADDY: SPONGES ARE THE BIG DESTROYERS OF THE REEF.
THEY GET INTO CRACKS AND DAMAGES ON THE SURFACE, AND THEY ROT THE LIMESTONE LOOKING FOR BITS OF FOOD, AND THEY CAUSE CRACKS IN THE CORAL, AND THEY CAUSE CAVES, AND ALL THE CAVES AND FLOW-THROUGHS ARE BUILT BY THE SPONGES.
BUT DURING THE DAYTIME, THESE CAVES HOLD COLD WATER AND KEEP THE SURFACE OF THE REEF COOLER, AND AT NIGHTTIME, THESE CAVES HOLD WARMER WATER AND KEEP THE SURFACE OF THE REEF WARMER, KEEPS THE TEMPERATURE NICE AND STABLE, AND WITHOUT STABLE TEMPERATURE, YOU CAN'T KEEP CORALS GROWING.
THE INTERDEPENDENCE IS ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY PHENOMENAL.
NARRATOR: ON A GEOLOGICAL TIMESCALE, THE GREAT BARRIER REEF WE SEE TODAY IS REALLY QUITE YOUNG.
15,000 YEARS AGO, INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS WERE PROBABLY HUNTING WALLABIES IN PLACES THAT HAVE NOW BEEN FLOODED BY RISING SEA LEVEL.
IT WASN'T UNTIL ABOUT 8,000 YEARS AGO THAT THE REEF AS WE SEE IT TODAY BEGAN TO FORM.
IT HAPPENED AS THE LAST ICE AGE WAS COMING TO ITS END.
RAIN AND WARMING TEMPERATURES CAUSED THE SPREAD OF TROPICAL RAINFORESTS ACROSS THE CONTINENTS NORTHEAST.
THE MELTING POLAR ICE CAPS CAUSED THE SEA LEVEL TO RISE, FLOODING THE CONTINENTAL FRINGE, SEPARATING AUSTRALIA FROM NEW GUINEA.
OVER A THOUSAND ISLANDS WERE CREATED.
FROM THE TORRES STRAITS, TO THE SOUTHERN REACHES OF THE REEF.
INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS LIVED THROUGH THE MONUMENTAL CHANGES.
OVER THE GENERATIONS, THEIR FOOD SOURCES EVOLVED WITH THE REEF, AS DID THEIR CULTURE.
IN THE TORRES STRAITS THAT SEPARATE AUSTRALIA FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA, AROUND 7,000 PEOPLE STILL LIVE SCATTERED ON SMALL ISLANDS, THEIR LIVES INTRICATELY LINKED TO THE SEA.
YORK ISLANDER, SIMON NAAWI, SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME IN THE WATER.
SIMON: I STARTED DIVING WITH MY DAD WHEN I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD.
LIFE IS VERY HARD HERE, SO YOU REALLY NEED TO DEPEND ON KNOWLEDGE BEEN PASSED ON DOWN TO YOU.
NARRATOR: IT'S SEPTEMBER, AND THE CRAYFISH SEASON IS COMING TO AN END.
SIMON: THE CRAY COMES AND GOES, AND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, THEY GO FOR NEARLY FOUR MONTHS, FIVE MONTHS.
MOST OF OUR LIVING COMES FROM THE SEA, SO WE WOULD BE LOST WITHOUT THE REEF.
NARRATOR: THE REEF PROVIDES SIMON AND THE OTHER ISLAND FAMILIES WITH MORE THAN JUST AN INCOME.
IT'S HOME.
THE REEF HAS LONG BEEN A HUMAN ENVIRONMENT.
SIMON: WE ALWAYS COME DOWN HERE JUST TO SEE THE SUN GOES DOWN AND CATCH THE EVENING VIEW.
PREPARING TO COOK SOMETHING FOR THE FAMILY, THEY'LL BE COMING DOWN SHORTLY AND DRINK CUP OF TEA.
HELLO!
THE RELATIONSHIP IN THE FAMILY, VERY CLOSE.
VERY CLOSE ONE.
NO STRANGERS TO NOBODY, EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY, AND THERE'S PROBABLY MORE IN-LAWS THAN OUTLAWS.
[ LAUGHS ] WE CALL IT PARADISE.
THIS IS MY HOME, AND I LOVE IT.
♪ [CHILDREN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE].
♪ NARRATOR: OUT IN THE CORAL SEA, DIVE INSTRUCTOR PADDY CALDWELL IS STARTING HIS DAY WITH AN EARLY MORNING STROLL.
PADDY: I LOVE TO TAKE MY FINS OFF AND GO FOR A WALK, AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE WALKING ON THE MOON.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT A SCUBA DIVER HAS IS HIS FINS, AND TO TAKE YOUR FINS OFF, YOU REALIZE THE WATER IS 800 TIME HEAVIER THAN AIR AND YOU'RE MOVING THIS MASSIVE WEIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU AND ALL AROUND YOU IS JUST MASS OF LIFE EVERYWHERE AND ALL THE ANIMALS AROUND YOU HAVE GOT NO DIFFICULTY IN THIS WORLD.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE NOTHING IN BETWEEN YOUR EARS NOT TO APPRECIATE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS.
NARRATOR: OF ALL THE WEIRD CREATURES ON THE REEF, CUTTLEFISH WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE STRANGEST.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT AND MASTERS OF DISGUISE.
THEY USE MILLIONS OF COLOR- CHANGING CELLS IN THEIR SKIN TO BLEND IN WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS.
CUTTLEFISH PROPEL THEMSELVES USING THE WAVY MOTION OF THEIR LONG PECTORAL FINS.
BUT WHEN THEY NEED TO MOVE FAST, THEY USE THEIR SIPHON TO CREATE JET-LIKE PROPULSION.
IF THIS ANIMAL WANTED TO GET AWAY, IT COULD.
BUT PADDY HAS JUST NOTICED WHY SHE'S NOT LEAVING.
SHE HAS IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO FINISH.
THIS ONE IS BUSY LAYING EGGS.
PADDY: WE DON'T GENERALLY SEE THEM MOST OF THE YEAR EXCEPT AROUND MATING TIME WHEN THEY BUILD THEIR NESTS.
THE FEMALE SITS OVER, AND SHE TAKES WEEKS TO DUMP ALL HER EGGS OUT, AND SHE DUMPS HUNDREDS OF EGGS OUT INTO A MASSIVE NEST SITE.
CUTTLEFISH ARE JUST PART OF THIS WHOLE, REALLY COMPLEX WEB.
NARRATOR: A FEW WEEKS AFTER LAYING EGGS, SHE'S COME TO THE END OF HER SHORT TWO-YEAR LIFE SPAN.
SHE'S NOT AS QUICK AS SHE USED TO BE.
THE NEXT GENERATION WILL GO IT ALONE.
ONLY THE SIZE OF A FINGERNAIL NOW, THE HATCHLINGS TAKE A YEAR TO GROW TO ADULT SIZE BEFORE HAVING BABIES OF THEIR OWN.
AS LONG AS THEY CAN WORK OUT WHO'S FRIEND AND WHO'S FOE.
PADDY'S ENJOYING HIS WALK, WHEN SUDDENLY HE'S BAILED UP ON THE TRACK.
THE TRIGGER FISH DOESN'T LIKE VISITORS.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE WHEN THEY'RE NESTING AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE ATTACKS ON HUMANS THAN ANY OTHER FISH ON THE REEF.
THEIR POWERFUL JAWS CAN EASILY TAKE A CHUNK OUT OF AN UNSUSPECTING DIVER.
IT'S A FAMILIAR SHOWDOWN THESE GARDEN EELS HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
SHEEPISHLY, HE RETURNS TO THE BOAT.
IN THE NORTHERN REACHES OF THE REEF LIES LIZARD ISLAND, AND IT'S HOME TO ONE OF THE BEST MARINE RESEARCH STATIONS IN THE WORLD.
BIOLOGISTS FROM ALL OVER THE PLANET COME HERE TO RESEARCH THE REEF ENVIRONMENT.
JULIUS PIERCY IS STUDYING THE SOUNDS OF THE REEF.
JULIUS: REEFS ARE REALLY NOISY, THEY'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE NOISIEST ENVIRONMENTS ON OUR PLANET, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF WAVE BREAK OR CRASHING CORAL OR THE PARROT FISH, BUT IT'S MOSTLY ALL THE ORGANISMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PRODUCING SOUNDS.
NARRATOR: THIS IS THE SOUND OF A CLOWN FISH CLACKING ITS JAWS TO WARD OFF INTRUDERS OR ASSERT ITS DOMINANCE.
[RAPID CLACKING SOUND] THE TOADFISH HONKS TO ATTRACT A MATE.
[HONKING] THE SEAHORSE DRUMS.
[DRUMMING SOUND] SOME CROAK.
[CROAKING] AND OTHERS SNORT LIKE PIGS!
[SNORTING] LIKE BIRDS, WE KNOW THAT FISH VOCALIZE AT DAWN AND DUSK.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY MAKE THESE SOUNDS BY VIBRATING THEIR SWIM BLADDER, RUBBING BONES OR TEETH TOGETHER, OR SNAPPING TENDONS.
THE ILL-TEMPERED MANTIS SHRIMP CAUSES QUITE A RACKET WHEN IT UNLEASHES ITS FISTS OF FURY.
ADD IN THE CRACKLE OF TINY PISTOL SHRIMP SHOOTING THEIR PREY, THE RASP OF THE LOBSTER, THE COUGHING OF THE CLAMS, AND IT CAN GET PRETTY NOISY DOWN HERE!
THESE ARE THE REAL SOUNDS FROM A HEALTHY REEF SYSTEM.
THE SOUNDS PRODUCED BY COUNTLESS CREATURES COMMUNICATING, HUNTING, AND SIMPLY LIVING.
[OVERLAPPING REEF ANIMAL SOUNDS] MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW WE COMMUNICATE WOULD BE MISSING A HUGE PART OF THE STORY.
JULIUS IS FOCUSED ON HOW JUVENILE FISH USE THE SUBMARINE SOUNDSCAPE TO FIND THEIR WAY BACK FROM THE OCEAN TO THE CORAL REEFS.
JULIUS: IT'S COMING UP ON YOUR RIGHT.
NARRATOR: HE USES A LIGHT TRAP, LEFT OUT OVERNIGHT, TO CAPTURE JUVENILE FISH FOR EXPERIMENTS HE'LL RUN BACK IN THE LAB.
JULIUS: AH, THAT WAS HEAVY.
QUITE A FEW FISH IN THERE.
WOW, LOOK AT THAT.
SUCCESS!
NEARLY ALL FISH ON THE REEF, WHEN THEY'RE EITHER EGGS OR THEY'RE HATCHLINGS, THEY GET BROADCAST INTO THE OPEN OCEAN.
NARRATOR: AS THEY DRIFT ON THE OCEAN CURRENTS, THEY ARE FEEDING ON PLANKTON AND SLOWLY GROWING.
SOME SPECIES WILL SPEND UP TO 120 DAYS IN THE BIG BLUE.
ONCE THEY REACH THE END OF THIS DRIFTING PHASE, THEY MUST FIND THEIR WAY BACK FROM THE DEEP OCEAN TO MAKE A HOME ON THE REEF.
JULIUS: THE REEF IS KIND OF A LITTLE NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK COMPARED TO THE VAST EXPANSE OF THE OCEAN.
SO THEY NEED TO USE DIFFERENT CUES OF THE REEF TO FIND THEIR WAY BACK.
THE BEST CUE TO USE FROM A LONG DISTANCE IS SOUND.
NARRATOR: THE DISTANT REEFS ARE LIKE BEACONS IN AN OCEANIC DESERT.
SOUND TRAVELS FAR BETTER UNDERWATER THAN IN AIR, AND IT'S BELIEVED THESE JUVENILE FISH ARE SIMPLY SWIMMING TOWARDS THE NOISY REEF.
LIFE ATTRACTS MORE LIFE.
BUY WHEN THEY GET THERE, THEY HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.
IT'S CALLED "THE WALL OF MOUTHS."
BE GLAD YOU'RE NOT A BABY FISH.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IT'S THOUGHT THAT OVER 50% OF JUVENILES WON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THIS HURDLE.
THOSE THAT DO STILL HAVE TO FIND A PERFECT PATCH OF CORAL, THE RIGHT SPECIES OF ANEMONE, OR A COLONY OF LIKE-MINDED SOULS TO LIVE WITH.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JULIUS: YOU KNOW IT'S EXCITING.
YOU'RE NOT STARTING TO STUDY THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE BEFORE, YOU'RE STARTING TO CREATE NEW KNOWLEDGE.
YOU'RE GOING OUT THERE, YOU'LL BE THE FIRST PERSON TO EVER SEE CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON THE REEF, THE FIRST PERSON TO EVER BE LISTENING TO CERTAIN SOUNDS OF THE REEF IN MY CASE.
SOMETIMES IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND.
NARRATOR: THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, AND THIS IS WHERE MUCH OF THIS KNOWLEDGE IS COMING FROM.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IS MADE UP OF AROUND 3,000 INDIVIDUAL REEFS.
TOURISTS TRAVEL THESE WATERS IN DIVE BOATS, CRUISE SHIPS, AND PLEASURE CRAFT.
[OVERLAPPING INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE] CARGO SHIPS AND COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS ALSO WEAVE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE MAZE OF REEFS EVERY DAY.
PREVENTING A MARITIME DISASTER IN SUCH A WILD PLACE REQUIRES EMERGENCY SERVICES TO BE ON CALL 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
RADIO: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
THIS IS... [INAUDIBLE RADIO CHATTER] NARRATOR: THE AUSTRALIAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY HAVE JUST RECEIVED A DISTRESS CALL, AND AN AERO RESCUE AIRCRAFT IS SCRAMBLED FOR THE JOB.
JASON: YOU CREW, WE'VE GOT A PRIORITY ONE TASK IN, JUST GOT A CALL FROM CANBERRA, CAIRNS VTS HAS RECEIVED A MAYDAY CALL FROM THE YACHT SEAFARIS ADVISING THAT IT WAS ON FIRE, A TOTAL OF 16 PEOPLE ABANDONING SHIP IN THE CAPE TRIBULATION AREA.
WE'LL GET GOING AS SOON AS WE CAN, AND THERE'S SURFACE ASSETS ON THE WAY.
LET'S GO, COME ON.
[INAUDIBLE RADIO CHATTER] WE HAVE MEDICAL SUPPLIES, FOOD SUPPLIES, LIFE RAFTS TO DROP TO PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TWO GUYS DOWN THE BACK RIGGING THE EQUIPMENT, ANYTHING THAT CAN PROLONG SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE OUT THERE 'TIL FURTHER ASSISTANCE GETS TO THEM.
NARRATOR: THE VESSEL IS GOING DOWN WHERE THE MAJESTIC DAINTREE RAINFOREST MEETS THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK.
CROCODILES, DEADLY JELLYFISH, AND SHARKS ARE COMMON.
IT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE TO FIND YOURSELF IN THE WATER.
JASON: TOP OF THE SET NOW, INTO THE SEARCH AREA.
PILOT: ROGER, WE CAN SEE THE PLUME FROM SEAFARIS.
NARRATOR: ON ARRIVAL, THEY FIND A DISTRESSING SCENE.
THE VESSEL IS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AND ITS PASSENGERS ARE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.
JASON: CAN'T SEE LIFE RAFTS YET THROUGH THE SMOKE, WE'LL JUST COME AROUND ON THE EASTERN SIDE THERE, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET MORE CLARITY.
SEAFARIS IS WELL AND TRULY ALIGHT.
NARRATOR: WITH THE SITUATION CRITICAL, A HUGE CONTAINER SHIP PASSING NEARBY HAS BEEN CALLED IN TO HELP WITH THE RESCUE.
[EXPLOSION] JASON: HEARD AN EXPLOSION THERE, ON THE STERN LOOKS LIKE A GAS BOTTLE HAS GONE UP, WE'LL JUST KEEP OUR DISTANCE.
WE'RE JUST GETTING MORE INFORMATION THROUGH FROM THE CAPTAIN OF THE BULK CARRIER ON SCENE.
NARRATOR: THE CAPTAIN OF THE CONTAINER SHIP HAS SPOTTED MOVEMENT IN THE WATER BEHIND HIM.
JASON: AH, THERE THEY ARE, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S TWO RAFTS IN THE AREA, MAERSK IS DEPLOYING HER RESCUE VESSEL TO GO AND GET ALL THE PASSENGERS OFF.
WE'VE JUST GOT WORD FROM THE CAPTAIN THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR, THERE'S NO ONE MISSING, EVERYBODY IS SAFE.
IT'S A GREAT RESULT, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.
NARRATOR: ALL 16 PASSENGERS AND CREW ARE NOW SAFE AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
BUT THE VESSEL IS NOW AN ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT TO ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE COASTAL AREAS IN QUEENSLAND.
A SALVAGE TEAM NOW HAVE THE COMPLEX TASK OF REMOVING IT.
JASON: SO, THOSE ROPES CLEAR?
NO WRECKS ARE ALLOWED TO STAY ON THE BARRIER REEF, SO BASICALLY EVERY BOAT THAT GOES DOWN HAS GOT TO COME UP.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TRY AND REFLOAT THIS ONE.
THE BIG CHALLENGE WE'VE GOT IS THE DEPTH OF WATER.
NARRATOR: THE PRESSURE IS ON TO FIND A WAY OF GETTING THE 140-FOOT CATAMARAN OFF THE BOTTOM.
IN ORDER TO AVOID DEADLY DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS, EACH DIVER CAN ONLY SPEND ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF ON THE BOTTOM EACH DAY.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY RISK THEY FACE.
TRISTAN: BIGGEST RISK IN A SALVAGE IS ENTRAPMENT INSIDE THE VESSEL.
OBVIOUSLY ALSO SHARKS OUT HERE, AND CROCODILES BECOME AN ISSUE AS WELL.
NARRATOR: AS THE DIVER LANDS ON THE BOW OF THE SHIP, THE ENORMITY OF THE TASK AT HAND BECOMES APPARENT.
LOGAN: HEY, TRISTAN, YOU GOT A COPY THERE?
HOW'S YOUR LINE PRESSURE GOING DOWN THERE?
TRISTAN: PRESSURE'S GOOD, MATE.
I'M JUST HEADING DOWN TO THE BOW TO START CUTTING IT UP.
NARRATOR: SINGLE-HANDED AND WITH SMALL POWER TOOLS, THEY NEED TO CUT THIS SUPER YACHT INTO SIX 30-TON PIECES.
STARTING WITH A HIGH-POWERED ARC WELDER, HE'S GOING TO TRY AND BURN THROUGH THE ALUMINUM STRUCTURE.
WELDING UNDERWATER CAN LEAD TO ELECTROCUTION IF NOT HANDLED WITH CARE.
HIS DIVE HELMET IS DESIGNED TO GIVE HIM SOME PROTECTION FROM EXPLOSIONS AND ELECTROCUTION.
JASON: THEY'RE A GOOD ROBUST HELMET, THEY WEIGH 17 KILO.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET ZAPPED BY ELECTRICITY UNDERWATER, SO IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TRY AND KEEP YOUR HEAD DRY.
IF YOU HAVE A SEMI-WET HAT AND YOU GET WATER AROUND YOUR MOUTH THAT CAN ARC OUT ONTO THE FILLINGS IN YOUR TEETH, FOR INSTANCE.
TRISTAN: GOT A BIT OF MOVEMENT IN THE STRUCTURE.
NARRATOR: THE WRECK IS STILL UNSTABLE, AND THE STRUCTURE COULD ROLL AT ANY MOMENT.
AS HE STIRS UP THE BOTTOM, VISIBILITY GOES TO ZERO.
JASON: HE WENT IN AT QUARTER TO, SO HE'S ONLY GOT 50 MINUTES, SO HE'S GOT ANOTHER, ABOUT ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
MAN: IT'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE IN YOUR HANDS.
TRISTAN: CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
NARRATOR: IT'S A HAZARDOUS TA SK FOR THESE DIVERS, WHO WILL NEED TO WORK UNDER PRESSURE FOR MONTHS TO REMOVE THIS SINGLE WRECK.
IT'S ALSO A FINANCIAL GAMBLE.
JASON: IF WE DON'T FINISH THE JOB, WE DON'T GET PAID FOR THE JOB.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A HIGH-RISK GAME.
NARRATOR: PROTECTING THIS HUGE WORLD HERITAGE WILDERNESS IS A MASSIVE TASK.
ACROSS THE REEF, BIOLOGISTS AND RANGERS ARE MONITORING PROTECTED AREAS AND WORKING TO SAVE VULNERABLE SPECIES.
A TEAM ARE HEADING OUT TO REMOTE RAINE ISLAND.
IT'S THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, HOME TO THE LARGEST GREEN SEA TURTLE ROOKERY IN THE WORLD AND AN IMPORTANT NESTING SITE FOR BLUE-FOOTED BOOBIES, TROPIC BIRDS, AND FRIGATES.
BY NOVEMBER, THOUSANDS OF PREGNANT TURTLES ARE MATING AND CONGREGATING IN THE WATERS AROUND RAINE ISLAND.
MANY OF THESE TURTLES HAVE TRAVELED OVER A THOUSAND MILES TO GET HERE, SOMEHOW FINDING THEIR WAY BACK TO THE BEACH THEY WERE BORN ON.
MARINE PARK SCIENTISTS AND NATIONAL PARKS RANGERS ARE HERE TO START THE ANNUAL TURTLE SURVEY.
MARK READ HAS BEEN WORKING OUT HERE FOR 20 YEARS.
MARK: WHILST IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION AND IT'S JUST AMAZING FOR ITS BIODIVERSITY, YOU CAN SEE BY THE WAY I'M DRESSED JUST HOW HOT IT IS OUT HERE.
IT'S EXPOSED, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT PLACE TO NEST.
IT'S A TRULY INHOSPITABLE ENVIRONMENT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE CLASSIC SORT OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.
NARRATOR: BECAUSE OF ITS ENORMOUS BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE, RAINE ISLAND IS THE MOST PROTECTED ISLAND IN AUSTRALIA.
IT'S OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC AND MONITORED REMOTELY USING CAMERAS MOUNTED ON THE HISTORIC RAINE ISLAND TOWER.
MARK: IT'S A FANTASTIC PLACE FOR US TO GET A GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE ISLAND, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE CAN GET A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF THE BIRDS.
YOU GET TO SEE SOME MAGNIFICENT BEHAVIORS.
I MEAN, A LOT OF THE BIRDS DON'T GET TO SEE MUCH HUMAN CONTACT, SO THEY'RE NATURALLY CURIOUS AS WELL, SO THEY'RE COMING IN GOING, YOU KNOW, 'I WONDER WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON MY TOWER' AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THEM GOING, 'WELL, THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT TOWER,' SO THERE'S A SORT OF REALLY INTERESTING ALMOST LIKE A CLASH OF CULTURES, YOU KNOW, THE BIRD CULTURE AND THE HUMAN CULTURE.
IT'S JUST SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE.
SO FEW PEOPLE GET TO COME HERE.
IT IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO COME HERE AND ACTUALLY BE PART OF IT.
NARRATOR: THE SCIENTISTS NOW PREPARE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE NIGHT SHIFT.
IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT MIGHT BE A BUSY NIGHT.
FOR THESE HEAVY SEA-DWELLING CREATURES, JUST GETTING UP THE BEACH IS A MASSIVE ORDEAL.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THESE MOTHERS WERE BORN HERE AT LEAST 30 YEARS AGO.
MARK: IT JUST TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE AND ALL YOU CAN SEE IS THIS SEA OF MOVING BODIES AND SAND BEING FLICKED EVERYWHERE AND THE SOUND OF THE TURTLES BUMPING INTO EACH OTHER AND THE BIG BREATHS AS THEY DIG THEIR HOLES AND LAY THEIR EGGS.
NARRATOR: THE TRAFFIC INCREASES, AND AN INCREDIBLE 23,000 TURTLES ARE COUNTED ON THE BEACH.
STARLIGHT CAMERAS REVEAL AN EXCEPTIONAL VIEW.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IT TAKES AROUND 5 YEARS FOR A FEMALE TO BUILD THE ENERGY NEEDED TO MAKE THIS PILGRIMAGE POSSIBLE.
FIRST, SHE NEEDS TO DIG A BODY PIT.
THEN USING HER FLIPPERS WITH GREAT DEXTERITY, SHE EXCAVATES A CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER TO DEPOSIT HER CLUTCH.
TONIGHT, SHE'LL LAY AROUND 120 EGGS BEFORE HEADING BACK INTO THE WATERS AROUND RAINE ISLAND TO FORM ANOTHER BATCH.
IN TWO WEEKS' TIME, SHE'LL BE BACK TO NEST AGAIN.
SHE'LL CONTINUE LIKE THIS UNTIL HER FAT RESERVES ARE EXHAUSTED.
SOME MOTHERS WILL LAY UP TO 9 CLUTCHES IN A SEASON.
ANDREW DUNSTAN IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO WORK OUT EXACTLY HOW MANY TURTLES ARE CURRENTLY IN THE ROOKERY.
ANDREW: ROAD PAVING PAINT.
QUICK DRY, WATER-BASED, BUT NOT REALLY LONG-LASTING.
I PAINT 2,000.
WE GO OUT AND SEE THE RATIO OF PAINTED VERSUS UNPAINTED TURTLES AND, UM, WE CAN GET A POPULATION ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY TURTLES THERE ARE ACTUALLY AROUND RAINE ISLAND.
SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT 470 TO GO, AND IT'S, UM, TEN PAST ONE IN THE MORNING.
MARK: AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE AND, YOU KNOW, TAGGING TURTLES SINCE THE MID-70'S, IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, SO SOME OF THESE ANIMALS HAVE GOT A 30-YEAR HISTORY.
WE'VE LEARNT THAT A LOT OF THE TURTLES THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTRALIA, WE SHARE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO WHILST THEY MIGHT COME AND NEST HERE AT RAINE ISLAND, THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY LIVE IN INDONESIA, OR PAPUA NEW GUINEA OR AS FAR AS NEW CALEDONIA.
I MEAN THAT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THE GBR IS, IS THE FACT THAT OUR RESOURCES ARE SO RICH AND SO PLENTIFUL.
SHE'S A BIT FEISTY THIS GIRL.
UM, THE CCL IS 101.5.
I DON'T THINK SHE REALLY APPRECIATES ALL THE TENDER LOVING CARE THAT WE ARE BESTOWING UPON HER HERE.
NARRATOR: WHILE IT'S A VERY BUSY YEAR FOR RAINE ISLAND AND ON THE SURFACE ALL LOOKS WELL, THE TRUTH IS THE ROOKERY NEEDS HELP.
MARK: IN THE LATE 90'S, WE RECOGNIZED THAT THE NESTS WERE BEING INUNDATED BY WATER, UM, THERE WAS VERY LOW NESTING SUCCESS, AND THERE WAS ALSO VERY LOW HATCHLING SUCCESS, SO DESPITE IT BEING THE WORLD'S LARGEST AGGREGATION OF GREEN TURTLES, WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT ITS VIABILITY AS A NESTING LOCATION, SO IT'S A CASE OF REALLY TAKING A HANDS-ON APPROACH AND GETTING IN THERE AND ACTUALLY TRYING TO TWEAK THE SYSTEM SO WE CAN ACTUALLY MAINTAIN THE GREEN TURTLE POPULATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
NARRATOR: THE MOTHERS WILL CONTINUE TO HAUL UP AND DOWN THE BEACH FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, WHILE THE NEXT GENERATION OF TURTLES DEVELOPS DEEP WITHIN THE SAND.
RAINE ISLAND IS A SPECK IN THE OCEAN, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, YOU REALIZE ITS TRUE VALUE IS IMMEASURABLE.
RAINE ISLAND ALSO SHOWS US, IT'S SOME OF THE MOST REMOTE PARTS OF THE REEF THAT HARBOR ITS GREATEST TREASURES.
BACK ON OSPREY REEF, PADDY AND THE CREW ARE PREPARING FOR THE MAIN EVENT.
MAN: SO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS SAFETY.
FIRSTLY WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO GET EATEN, AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO GET BITTEN.
NARRATOR: OSPREY REEF IS RENOWNED FOR ITS LARGE SHARKS.
AND DIVERS COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR THAT VERY REASON.
PADDY: EVEN BEFORE GETTING IN THE WATER, YOU CAN FEEL IT ON THE BOAT.
EVERYBODY'S GOT AN ADRENALINE LIFT.
NARRATOR: THE SHARK FEEDS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING HERE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, AND THE ANIMALS ARE NOW USED TO BEING FED IN THIS LOCATION.
PADDY: YOU GET DOWN, AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE SO MANY LARGE SHARK IN A SMALL AREA AT ONCE.
THEY ARE SPECTACULAR-LOOKING, AND THEY DO HAVE GREAT POWER IN THEM.
I JUST SEE THEM AND GO, "WHOA!"
JUST BEAUTIFUL, GRACEFUL.
NARRATOR: IT'S A RARE AND SPECTACULAR SIGHT, BUT THEY HAVE TO REMAIN ON THEIR GUARD.
GREY WHALERS LIKE THESE HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF ATTACKS ON PEOPLE.
PADDY: THE POWER OF THESE ANIMALS IS JUST PHENOMENAL.
I MEAN, ANY THOUGHT OF SOMEBODY PULLING OUT A KNIFE OR SOMETHING AGAINST ONE OF THESE IS SO RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THESE ARE JUST HUGE, BIG TANKS UNDERWATER.
AND SOMETIMES THEY CHOOSE TO COME OVER AND HAVE A STICKY BEAK.
AND SURE I DO LOOK TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO DROP THEIR PECTORAL FINS OR THEIR HEADS GOING TO WOBBLE, BUT THEY DON'T GENERALLY.
NARRATOR: THE CREW POSITION THE TOURISTS AROUND A NATURAL AMPHITHEATER BEFORE SENDING THE BAIT CAGE TO THE BOTTOM.
THE PREDATORS ARE EXCITED BY THE SMELL OF TUNA.
ONE OF THE CREW NOW HAS TO SWIM IN TO OPEN THE CAGE AND RELEASE THE TUNA HEADS.
PADDY: I LOOK AROUND AND SEE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS OKAY ABOUT IT, AND ALL I'M DOING IS I'M GLANCING AROUND, MAKING SURE NOBODY'S PRODUCING TOO MANY BUBBLES AROUND ME, BECAUSE IF ANYBODY'S BREATHING VERY HEAVY, I KNOW THEY'RE VERY WORRIED.
THESE BIG FISH HAVE SWAM BY ME LOADS OF TIMES, AND I'VE GOT NO WORRIES ABOUT THEM BECAUSE NONE OF THESE FISH REALIZE THAT A METAL BACK MACHINE PRODUCING BUBBLES HAS A NICE TASTY MEAL ATTACHED.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BOTHER YOU.
NARRATOR: SHARKS THE WORLD OVER HAVE SUFFERED A HUGE DECLINE IN NUMBERS, PRIMARILY DUE TO OVERFISHING.
THE SHARK FIN INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR HAS DECIMATED THE REEFS OF THE INDO-PACIFIC.
BUT OSPREY HAS BEEN PROTECTED.
PADDY: IT'S GREAT MONEY FOR THE TOURIST INDUSTRY, IT'S WORTH WAY MORE THAN FLESH OF THE SHARK ARE.
IT'S SLIGHTLY UNNATURAL, BUT I THINK THE SHARK ARE DOING BETTER OUT OF IT AS WELL, SO EVERYBODY BENEFITS.
THE ONLY REASON WHY THE SHARK THAT ARE OUT IN THE CORAL SEA STAND A CHANCE OF SURVIVING IS IF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO PUT IN PROTECTION FOR THEM.
AND THE ONLY REASON THE GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO PUT PROTECTION FOR THEM IS IF THEY'RE WORTH MONEY.
BY PEOPLE GOING OUT LOOKING AT THEM, IN A WEIRD WAY, THEY'RE PROTECTING THEM.
MAN: HERE HE COMES, HE'S UNDERNEATH YOU NOW.
MAN: OH, LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE....OH, GEEZ.
SEE IF YOU CAN PAT THAT GREY NURSE SHARK THERE, ALEX.
MAN: I DON'T THINK THESE ARE THE BITEY ONES.
HE'S A GOOD ONE.
THE BIG ONE, HERE HE COMES, HE'S COMING BACK.
NARRATOR: SHARK-INFESTED WATERS MAY ACTUALLY BE A THING OF WONDER.
ALEX: NICE MASSAGE.
NARRATOR: AFTER A LONG NIGHT OF RESEARCH, THE SCIENTISTS ON RAINE ISLAND ALWAYS DO A LAP TO TRY AND SAVE AS MANY MOTHERS AS THEY CAN.
MARK: THIS OLD GIRL'S MANAGED TO GET ON TOP OF THAT CLIFF FACE AND FALLEN OFF, AND SHE'S ENDED UP ON HER BACK.
IF WE DON'T TURN HER OVER, SHE'LL PERISH IN THE SUN TODAY, SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND FLIP HER.
THERE'S A REASONABLE CHANCE THAT I'M GOING TO COP A LITTLE BIT OF A SPANKING FROM THIS GIRL, THEY'RE PRETTY HEAVY, I MEAN, THIS IS 100 KILOS OF TURTLE.
THAT'S ALL IT TAKES AND THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY THANK YOU FROM THE TURTLE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SPENT 23 YEARS OF MY LIFE STUDYING TURTLES.
I FIND IT REALLY HARD TO WALK PAST AN ANIMAL WITHOUT MAKING THAT LITTLE BIT OF AN EFFORT TO FLIP IT OVER... BECAUSE EVERY ANIMAL IS ONE MORE MAKING EGGS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
NARRATOR: SCATTERED AROUND THE ISLAND, ARE THE BODIES OF TURTLES THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK TO THE WATER.
THEY'RE NATURAL DEATHS.
NESTING HAS ALWAYS BEEN RISKY FOR THESE CREATURES.
BUT AS THE GREEN SEA TURTLE IS NOW ENDANGERED, THE SCIENTISTS DECIDED THEY HAD TO ACT.
MARK: PART OF THE SORT OF MODERN MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE IS WHAT WE CALL ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE, IT'S ABOUT EVERY SMALL THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE POPULATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO WE'VE SAVED A FEW TURTLES BY FLIPPING THEM OVER SO THEY DON'T PERISH IN THE SUN, AND THIS FENCE IS TO SAVE THOSE TURTLES FROM TOPPLING OVER THE EDGES.
SO IT'S JUST DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE THE SMALL DIFFERENCES.
PAINTED.
NARRATOR: OUT ON THE WATER THE CREW HAVE BEGUN COUNTING THE TURTLES THEY PAINTED EARLIER IN THE TRIP.
MARK: PAINTED!
BIG TIGER.
LOOK AT THE TIGER.
WHOA!
NARRATOR: THE TIGER SHARKS HAVE ALSO TRAVELED A HUGE DISTANCE TO BE HERE IN THIS TIME OF PLENTY.
THEY COME TO FEED ON THE EXHAUSTED TURTLES, EASY PREY FOR THESE AWE-INSPIRING PREDATORS.
THE TIGER SHARKS ARE JUST ONE OF THE MANY SPECIES THAT RELIES ON RAINE ISLAND TO SURVIVE.
MARK: A LOT OF THE ANIMALS MIGRATE TO THIS SPECIAL PLACE BECAUSE IT HAS THESE AMAZING ATTRIBUTES THAT THESE ANIMALS CAN RELY UPON.
THE TURTLES THAT WE'RE SEEING, THEY DON'T LIVE HERE ALL YEAR 'ROUND.
MOST OF THE BIG SHARKS THAT COME HERE TO RAINE ISLAND DON'T LIVE HERE EITHER, THEY ONLY COME BACK HERE TO RAINE ISLAND DURING THE TURTLE NESTING AND HATCHLING SEASON TO EXPLOIT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SPIDER'S WEB OF CONNECTIVITY, EVERYTHING'S INTERCONNECTED, AND IF YOU PULL ONE PIECE OUT, YOU COULD ACTUALLY DISRUPT THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
NARRATOR: IT TURNS OUT AROUND 60,000 TURTLES CAME TO NEST THIS YEAR.
HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY WERE WILL ONLY BE KNOWN WHEN THE EGGS BEGIN TO HATCH LATER IN THE YEAR.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MAY SEEM ENORMOUS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW OCEANIC ENVIRONMENTS WORK, YOU SOON REALIZE SIZE MATTERS.
MARK: AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE PROBABLY DON'T OFTEN STOP TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT ANIMALS NEED A PLACE TO LIVE.
THEY'RE NOT JUST THINGS THAT WE BUMP INTO EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SHARE THE RESOURCES OF THE WORLD.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE GREAT BARRIER REEF REALLY REPRESENTS, IT'S A PLACE WHERE ANIMALS CAN COME AND LIVE WITHOUT BEING INTERFERED WITH BY THE MODERN WORLD.
NARRATOR: NEXT TIME... AS SUMMER APPROACHES, IT'S THE SEASON FOR SEX.
MAN: A MASSIVE, BIG ORGASM.
IT'S JUST CRAZY AND NUTS.
NARRATOR: THE REEF PRIMES FOR THE ANNUAL SPAWN.
THE BIRDS ARE GETTING CLUCKY.
MAN: OUR PRISTINE ISLAND SURROUNDED BY A WILDLIFE MIGRATION OF ALMOST BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS.
NARRATOR: THE SHARKS ARE CIRCLING.
AND MANTAS ARE ON THE MOVE.
"LIFE ON THE REEF" IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD.
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