Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 1, Episode 14 - Ecuador - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

I'VE SERVED WITH
THE BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES,

CLIMBED TO
THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT EVEREST,

AND CROSSED THE FROZEN OCEANS
OF THE ARCTIC.

NOW I'M IN ECUADOR --

A COUNTRY OF EXTREME JUNGLE
AND MOUNTAINS.

EVERY YEAR,
HUNDREDS HAVE TO BE RESCUED

FROM ITS HARSH LANDSCAPE.

I'M GONNA SHOW THE SKILLS
NEEDED TO SURVIVE HERE.

ECUADOR,
A COUNTRY THE SIZE OF NEVADA,

IS HOME TO THE WORLD'S
LONGEST MOUNTAIN RANGE



AND THE WORLD'S BIGGEST
AND MOST IMPENETRABLE JUNGLE --

THE AMAZON.

LAST YEAR, OVER A MILLION
PEOPLE CAME TO EXPERIENCE

THIS VAST WILDERNESS,

WHERE TIME HAS STOOD STILL
FOR MILLENNIA.

MANY STILL GET LOST
IN THE MOUNTAINS AND JUNGLES

NEEDING TO BE RESCUED.

I'M GONNA PARAGLIDE
INTO THIS WILDERNESS.

A CAMERA CREW
WILL FOLLOW ME.

AND, IF NEEDED, LOCAL EXPERTS
WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.

I'M SURROUNDED BY SOME OF
THE MOST SPECTACULAR MOUNTAINS

IN THE WORLD,

BUT IT IS COLD UP HERE -- JUST
A FEW DEGREES ABOVE FREEZING,

AND THE AIR IS THIN,



SO THE WAY I'M GOING IN
IS BY PARAGLIDER.

PHEW. HERE GOES.

USING THE RISING AIR CURRENTS,

I'M GONNA FLY OVER THE ANDES
IN THE HOPE OF LANDING

SOMEWHERE CLOSE
TO THE AMAZON JUNGLE.

WHOO-HOO!

THE ANDES ARE JUST IMMENSE,

STRETCHING OVER 4,500 MILES
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

IT HAS SOME
OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST

AND MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES HERE.

THESE CHANGING AIR CURRENTS ARE
TAKING ME DOWN OVER THE PARAMO,

HIGH-ALTITUDE MARSHES
THAT COVER MOST OF THIS AREA --

NOT A PLACE YOU WANT TO BE.

WHOA, THIS IS GONNA BE FAST
COMING IN!

[ GROANS ]

LOOK AT THAT, IF YOU SEE --

THIS IS JUST, LIKE,
WAIST-DEEP, HORRIBLE STUFF.

BUT IT'S COLD UP HERE,

AND I NEED TO GET OUT OF
THIS BOG AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S THICK, HORRIBLE SLUDGE.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD START.

I'M STILL
ROUGHLY 12,000 FEET UP,

AND THE TEMPERATURE
IS JUST ABOVE FREEZING.

BEING WET AND COLD
AT THIS ALTITUDE

IS A KILLER COMBINATION.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THE SKILLS
YOU'LL NEED TO SURVIVE

IN THE DIFFERENT TERRAINS HERE,
FROM THE CLOUD FOREST

TO THE JUNGLE
TO THE AMAZON RIVER.

BELOW ME IS MILE UPON MILE
OF DENSE, HIGH-ALTITUDE JUNGLE,

WHICH, BECAUSE OF IT'S HEIGHT,
IS KNOWN AS "CLOUD FOREST."

FURTHER BELOW, IT'S A HOT
AND HUMID AMAZON JUNGLE.

[ PANTING ]

LOOK AT THIS HUGE, HUGE VALLEY,

AND IT'S JUST CLOUD FOREST
AS FAR AS I CAN SEE.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEAUTIFUL,
IT'S ALSO QUITE DEMORALIZING.

[ SIGHS ]

THAT JUST MEANS MORE HARD WORK.

[ SIGHS ]

STILL SOAKING WET,
AND I'M COLD.

AND I'M
ABOUT 12,000 FEET UP HERE.

AND THE DANGER IS
JUST EXPOSURE AND HYPOTHERMIA,

AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE,

BOTH OF THOSE CAN COME ON
VERY QUICKLY.

THAT'S A LETHAL COMBINATION
OF COLD, WET, AND ALTITUDE.

AND, GUYS, I REALLY NEED
TO BE HEADING DOWN FAST.

EVERY 1,000 FEET LOWER YOU GO

MEANS IT GETS
ABOUT 2 DEGREES WARMER.

BUT MOVING AT ALTITUDE
IS TOUGH.

UP HERE, AT 10,000 FEET,

THERE'S 15% LESS OXYGEN
THAN AT SEA LEVEL.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

I FORGET JUST HOW HARD WORK
IT IS, MOVING AT ALTITUDE.

[ SIGHS ]

[ COUGHS ]

I'M NOW ENTERING CLOUD FOREST,

WHERE IT WILL BE EASIER
TO FIND FOOD AND SHELTER.

IT'S ASTONISHING HOW QUICKLY
THE VEGETATION CAN CHANGE,

AND IT'S LIKE ENTERING
A NEW WORLD.

IT'S A LUSH YET EERIE PLACE.

AS THE WARM AIR COMES UP
FROM THE TROPICAL LOWLANDS,

IT CONDENSES,

AND YOU GET THIS AREA
FROM ABOUT 8,000 TO 10,000 FEET

WHERE IT'S JUST
SOLID CLOUD AND RAIN.

AND IT'S JUST SO STILL
AROUND HERE.

YOU CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING

APART FROM JUST
THE PITTER-PATTER OF THE RAIN.

LOOK HOW WET EVERYTHING IS.
LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS,

YOU CAN JUST PULL ALL OF THIS
STUFF UP, MASSES OF IT, OFF.

AND PROBABLY -- YEAH,
LOOK AT THAT -- FULL OF WATER.

AND I'LL DEFINITELY FIND
A STREAM LOWER DOWN.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THIS, LIKE,
JUST SMELL OF ROTTING WOOD,

AS IF THE WHOLE PLACE
IS JUST DECAYING.

THE CLOUD FOREST IS FAR MORE
ABUNDANT THAN THE GRASSLAND.

THE TEMPERATE
AND DAMP CONDITIONS

ARE HOME TO THOUSANDS

OF DIFFERENT
PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES.

LOOK AT THIS GUY I'VE JUST FOUND
ON THE FOREST FLOOR.

IT'S A CAECILIAN.

AND THESE GUYS
NORMALLY LIVE UNDERGROUND,

JUST FEEDING OFF
WORMS AND STUFF.

BUT BECAUSE IT'S SO WET HERE --
IT'S BEEN RAINING SO MUCH --

HE'S LITERALLY FORCED
UP TO THE SURFACE.

AND THAT IS JUST AMAZING

TO ACTUALLY COME ACROSS
ONE OF THESE.

ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE A SNAKE,
IT'S ACTUALLY A LEGLESS LIZARD,

AND IT LIVES OFF WORMS,
SPIDERS, AND INSECTS.

AND WE'RE GONNA LET HIM GO
AND GET BACK.

HE MIGHT LOOK GOOD TO EAT,

BUT HE HAS POISONOUS GLANDS
UNDER HIS SKIN,

SO HE'S NOT GONNA BE MY LUNCH.

[ GRUNTS ]

I KNOW,
FROM MY TIME IN THE ARMY,

JUST HOW SLOW
JUNGLE MOVING CAN BE.

AND SOMETIMES
IT WOULD TAKE ALL DAY

JUST TO MOVE LIKE A MILE.

AND IN THIS SORT OF STUFF,
YOU CAN JUST SEE WHY.

IT'S EASY TO END UP GOING
'ROUND AND 'ROUND IN CIRCLES

IN THIS DENSE FORESTS.

IN 1986,

A TEAM OF TREASURE HUNTERS
CAME TO THE CLOUD FOREST

IN SEARCH OF INCA GOLD.

LEGEND SAYS THE LAST EMPEROR,
ATAHUALPA, ORDERED TONS OF IT

TO BE HIDDEN
IN ECUADOR'S CLOUD FOREST.

IT IS THOUGHT
THE TREASURE HUNTERS DIED

AFTER BECOMING
COMPLETELY DISORIENTATED.

THEIR BODIES WERE DISCOVERED

JUST HALF A MILE
FROM THEIR CAMP.

JAGUARS AND SNAKES LIVE IN
THE FOREST, BUT THEY ARE RARE.

THE MORE DEADLY KILLERS
ARE THE PLANTS.

THIS IS A FULIOTIS MUSHROOM,

AND THESE ARE
POISONOUS AND NASTY.

AND IF I ATE THIS,

THIS COULD DESTROY MY KIDNEYS
IN 24 HOURS.

AND REALLY, IN THE WILD, YOU
DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES.

UNLESS YOU'RE AN EXPERT
IN MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS,

YOUR BEST THING TO DO
IS STAY CLEAR OF THEM.

THE TOXINS ARE SO DEADLY

THAT, ONCE CONSUMED,
THERE IS NO ANTIDOTE OR CURE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THE WARM AND DAMP CONDITIONS

MEANS PLANTS GROW
UP TO 20 FEET A YEAR.

THAT'S FAST.

AND THE VINES CAN FORM
SUCH DENSE SCREENS,

YOU CAN HARDLY SEE
IN FRONT OF YOU.

YOU JUST GET COMPLETELY TANGLED
IN ALL THIS STUFF.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

SOMETIMES
YOU JUST GRIND TO A HALT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IF POSSIBLE, TRY TO AVOID

MOVING THROUGH
DENSE UNDERGROWTH,

AS YOU'LL WASTE
PRECIOUS ENERGY.

SUDDENLY, THE JUNGLE GIVES WAY
TO A NARROW CHANNEL.

THIS WAS PROBABLY CUT
INTO THE EARTH

BY HUNDREDS OF YEARS
OF WATER EROSION.

IT'S LIKE AN EXPRESS FREEWAY
THROUGH THE JUNGLE

AND IT LEADS TO A CAVE.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK IN HERE.

CAVES LIKE THIS
ARE FORBIDDING PLACES.

[ SCREECHING ]

THERE'S SOMETHING FLYING AROUND
UP THERE!

I'M IN A NARROW CAVE
IN ECUADOR...

...BUT I'M NOT ALONE.

HEY, LOOK.
PUT THE NIGHT-VISION ON.

YOU SEE THOSE?

YEAH, LOOK, THEY'RE BATS --
JUST HUNDREDS OF THEM.

YOU CAN FEEL THEIR WINGS
JUST FLAP PAST MY HEAD.

AND THEY'RE SUCH
EXTRAORDINARY FLIERS,

JUST FLYING ALL ON SONAR.

THESE SPEARNOSE BATS LIVE
IN COLONIES OF AROUND 5,000.

THERE'S SO MANY HERE,
I COULD PROBABLY GRAB ONE,

BUT I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT,

'CAUSE IF I GOT BIT BY ONE,
THEY CARRY A RISK OF RABIES.

THE STENCH IN HERE
IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE.

THE FLOOR OF THIS CAVE
IS COVERED IN GUANO,

OR BAT DROPPINGS.

THE FUMES ARE HIGHLY TOXIC,

AND IT'S A BREEDING GROUND
FOR BITING INSECTS.

[ GRUNTS ]

I WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS CAVE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IF THERE'S ONE THING
I REALLY DON'T LIKE, IT'S BATS.

YEAH, I NEED TO FIND
A BETTER PLACE.

AND THAT'S BACK
INTO THE DENSE CLOUD FOREST.

ALWAYS BE AWARE OF
THE TYPE OF TERRAIN YOU'RE IN.

IT CAN HELP GUIDE YOU OUT
OF DENSE JUNGLE.

THIS IS A CREEK,

AND I CAN FOLLOW THIS
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A RIVER.

AND THESE CREEKS AND RIVERS

REALLY ARE
THE HIGHWAYS OF THE FOREST.

AND AS I FOLLOW
THE STREAM DOWN,

THE NOISE OF CRASHING WATER
GETS PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER.

[ WATER FLOWING LOUDLY ]

THERE'S NO MISTAKING
THIS SOUND -- WHITE WATER.

YEAH, LOOK AT THIS.

THIS FAST-FLOWING RIVER

COMES STRAIGHT
FROM THE SNOWCAPPED ANDES.

IT'S GLACIAL AND FREEZING COLD.

IT DEMANDS A HUGE AMOUNT OF
RESPECT, THESE SORT OF STREAMS.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY POWERFUL.

AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY
CAREFUL MOVING ALONG THE BANK,

WHERE IT'S SLIPPY.

THERE'S ALWAYS FOOD TO EAT
IN THE FOREST

IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

AND IF YOU LOOK
AT THIS ORCHID HERE,

THIS IS ACTUALLY
ONE OF MY FAVORITE ORCHIDS,

'CAUSE IT'S EASY TO IDENTIFY.

IT'S CALLED
A BROWN-SPOTTED YELLOW ORCHID,

'CAUSE IT'S GOT BROWN SPOTS
AND IT'S YELLOW.

BUT WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT IT
IS THAT YOU CAN EAT IT, AS WELL.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS
OF EDIBLE PLANT SPECIES

IN THE CLOUD FOREST,

AND IT'S LIKE A FEAST
IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

LOOK, LOOK, THESE BEGONIAS.

SEE THESE?

THESE ARE ACTUALLY EDIBLE.

AND YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THESE
FROM THEIR FLESHY RED FLOWERS

AND THEIR ALTERNATE,
UNEVEN LEAVES.

AND IF YOU EAT
ONE OF THE FLOWERS,

THEY'RE QUITE SWEET.

THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF GLUCOSE
IN THEM.

AND THEN THE LEAVES, AS WELL.

THIS TASTES LIKE MORE SOUR.

THE LEAVES HAVE GOT LOTS OF
VITAMINS AND MINERALS IN THEM.

AND MOVING THROUGH CLOUD FOREST,

EVERY LITTLE BIT OF ENERGY
HELPS.

BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS EDIBLE.

THIS TREE REALLY IS NATURE
HAVING ORGANIZED HERSELF

IN THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WAY.

IT WOULD BE SO EASY
JUST TO WALK STRAIGHT PAST THIS

AND NOT NOTICE THE LITERALLY
HUNDREDS OF CATERPILLARS

THAT ARE WRAPPED AROUND IT HERE.

AND THIS IS LIKE
SORT OF NATURE'S PROGRESSION

FROM THE CATERPILLAR
TO THE COCOONS HERE

TO EVENTUALLY,
WHEN THEY BECOME BUTTERFLIES.

TWO OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS
IN THE RAINFOREST

ARE ACTUALLY
ANTS AND CATERPILLARS.

AND IF YOU TOUCH THIS,

EACH OF THESE TINY LITTLE HAIRS
CAN CONTAIN TOXINS

THAT CAN ACTUALLY IRRITATE
YOUR SKIN

SOMETIMES FOR UP TO A YEAR.

THESE ARE LITTLE IMMATURE
FERN FRONDS,

AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY EDIBLE,

AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
AROUND HERE WILL HARVEST THESE

AND THEN EAT THEM.

BUT YOU NEED TO BOIL THEM TWICE
BEFORE YOU DO EAT THEM.

BUT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THEM
JUST FROM THE MONKEY-TAIL SHAPE

AND ALSO THE WAY THEY'RE COVERED
IN THIS HORRIBLE SLIME.

BUT THEY DEVELOP THIS

JUST TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
FROM BEING EATEN FROM BUGS.

BUT I'M GONNA CUT THE TOP HALF
OF THESE OFF

AND THEN BOIL THEM
AND EAT THEM LATER.

BOILING THEM TWICE
REMOVES THE TOXIC SLIME,

WHICH CAN CAUSE
SEVERE STOMACH CRAMPS.

WHOA! GOSH!

BUT IT'S TIME TO FIND SHELTER.

I COULD BUILD ONE,

BUT THERE'S PLENTY
OF NATURAL SHELTER AROUND HERE.

THERE'S A CAVE OVER THERE
JUST IN THE BLACK.

AND I'M BEGINNING TO SEE
A FEW OF THESE NOW,

AND THAT WILL BE A PERFECT
PLACE, SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT,

TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

BUT THE CAVE IS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER.

AND THIS WATER IS TOO
FAST-FLOWING AND DEEP

TO WADE THROUGH.

BUT I'VE JUST PASSED
SOME BAMBOO BACK THERE,

AND THAT'S MADE ME THINK

OF HOW WE USED TO CROSS
A LOT CREVASSES ON EVEREST.

AND IT'S GIVEN ME AN IDEA.

THERE LITERALLY ARE
OVER 100 SPECIES OF BAMBOO.

AND WHAT I'M HOPING

IS THAT THIS STUFF SOUNDS
THIN-WALLED ENOUGH

TO LET ME GET THROUGH
WITH JUST THIS LITTLE KNIFE.

LET'S SEE IF THIS WORKS.

YEAH, THIS IS -- THIS IS
CUTTING THROUGH ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

WITH THE TEAM'S HELP,
I'M TRYING TO MAKE A LADDER.

[ GRUNTS ]

TWO LONG PIECES OF BAMBOO

AND SOME CROSS STRAPS
ATTACHED WITH VINE

SHOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH
TO HOLD AT LEAST 200 POUNDS.

THEN, I'LL BE ABLE
TO CROSS OVER TO THE CAVE.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
ARE SOME VINES,

JUST TO LASH
THESE CROSS BRACES TOGETHER.

BUT THE STUFF I NEED
IS NOT THIS.

THIS IS ALL DEAD AND WILL BREAK.

I'M LOOKING
FOR THE LIVING STUFF.

LIKE THIS. HERE YOU GO.

THIS IS --

THIS STUFF I THINK IS WHAT
THEY CALL A LITTLE YANG VINE.

AND IT'S GOOD, IT'S BENDY,
IT'S SUPPLE, AND IT'S LIVING.

SO...I'LL FIND
A FEW MORE OF THESE.

I'M GONNA USE SPLIT SAPLINGS
AS CROSS STRUTS.

I'VE GOT
THE FIRST CROSS BRACE HERE.

AND THEN ALL I NEED TO DO

IS USE SOME OF
THIS NICE FLEXIBLE VINE

TO TIE IT WITH.

NATURE PROVIDES
ALL THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED.

THE GREAT THING
ABOUT THESE VINES

IS THAT JUST ONE OR TWO HITCHES,

AND 'CAUSE THAT'S QUITE LIVING
AND IT'S DAMP,

THEY ACTUALLY TIGHTEN
ON THEMSELVES,

AND THEY'RE REALLY SECURE.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ GRUNTS ]

THE BAMBOO MAY BE HOLLOW,

BUT A STRUCTURE THIS BIG
COULD BE HEAVY.

THIS PROBABLY WEIGHS
150 POUNDS,

SO BUILD IT NEAR
TO WHERE YOU NEED IT.

ONCE IN PLACE,

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK
OVER THE WATER TO MY CAVE.

[ GRUNTS ]

THIS LADDER IS
ALMOST IN PLACE NOW.

AND EVEN THOUGH

ALL THE MATERIALS
ARE ACTUALLY QUITE LIGHT,

THE LADDER ITSELF
IS PRETTY HEAVY.

BUT JUST SHOWS WHAT A LITTLE BIT
OF LARGER THINKING CAN DO.

HERE WE GO.

OH, NO!

IT'S JUST COMPLETELY SMASHED.

THIS IS A DISASTER!

I'M IN THE CLOUD FOREST
OF ECUADOR,

TRYING TO CROSS
A GLACIAL RIVER

WITH A BAMBOO-LADDER BRIDGE,
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.

WELL, THAT'S
THE REALITY OF SURVIVAL.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK,

AND I'M BACK
TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

IT'S GETTING PRETTY LATE
IN THE DAY NOW,

AND I HAVEN'T REALLY GOT TIME
FOR SHELTER AND A FIRE,

AND I'VE GOT TO PRIORITIZE.

BUT THE IMPORTANT THING FOR ME
IS REALLY TO GET A FIRE.

I NEED TO GET DRY,
AND I NEED TO GET WARM.

AND THE GOOD THING
ABOUT THIS FOREST,

'CAUSE IT'S QUITE DENSE ABOVE --

THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF NATURAL
SHELTER ANYWAY IF IT DOES RAIN.

BUT I'VE GOT TO GO AND TRY
AND FIND A BIT OF TINDER

TO GET THAT FIRE GOING.

FINDING DRY TINDER
IN THESE WET CONDITIONS

MIGHT LOOK IMPOSSIBLE,

BUT IT'S NOT
IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND HERE, YOU
SEE ALL THESE RABBIT DROPPINGS.

THERE ARE MORE HERE.
AND THESE ARE RABBIT TRAILS.

AND WHAT THEY DO,

THEY CREATE THESE BURROWS
UNDER ALL THESE GRASS.

LOOK, YOU SEE HERE.

AND THEN, INSIDE IT,
YOU GET THIS DRY GRASS.

IT'S LIKE THE RABBITS
HAVE DONE MY JOB FOR ME.

SO, I NEED A FEW MORE OF THESE.

I HAVE TO BE QUICK.

THE RAINS, WHICH FALL EVERY
EVENING, ARE JUST BEGINNING.

EVERYTHING JUST HERE IS SO WET.

[ SIGHS ]

IT'S JUST MAKING
GETTING THIS FIRE GOING

REALLY DIFFICULT.

THE PROBLEM IS,

ALL OF THIS GRASS
THAT I'VE COLLECTED EARLIER

IS ALL NOW JUST SOAKING WET.

MY KINDLING IS WET,
MY WOOD IS WET,

AND I'M COLD AT THE MOMENT.

[ SIGHS ]

[ Sighing ]
OH, DEAR.

IT'S LIKE EVERY TIME
I GET A SPARK,

THIS BLOOMING RAIN
JUST PUTS IT OUT.

DO YOU KNOW,
I DON'T THINK

I'VE EVER BEFORE ACTUALLY FAILED
TO GET A FIRE GOING?

[ SIGHS ]
COME ON.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS IS A LOSING BATTLE.

THE BEST THING I CAN DO,
ACTUALLY, WITH THIS GRASS NOW

IS JUST STUFF IT
DOWN MY SHIRT...

...AND USE THIS AS INSULATION

AND HOPE THAT IT KEEPS ME WARM
THROUGH THIS NIGHT.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS
IT ACTS LIKE, KIND OF, DOWN

AND WILL INSULATE, HOPEFULLY,
A LOT OF THE HEAT.

AND IT MAKES ME LOOK AS IF
I'VE EATEN TOO MANY CHEESECAKES,

BUT IT SHOULD WORK.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT --

I'D MURDER A CHEESECAKE,
AS WELL, AT THE MOMENT.

[ RAIN PATTERING ]

AND IT'S...

KIND OF WEIRD SOMETIMES

BEING IN THESE FORESTS
WHEN IT'S DARK.

BUT MY MISSION NOW

IS REALLY JUST TO TRY
AND GET...AS WARM AS I CAN

WITH THIS GRASS STUFF

AND KEEP MY CHIN UP
AND SEE THIS NIGHT THROUGH.

IT RAINED
FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT.

BUT WHEN THINGS
SEEM REALLY BAD,

IT'S OFTEN THE LITTLE THINGS
THAT CAN GIVE YOU HOPE.

LOOK, YOU SEE UP THERE?

YOU SEE THAT LITTLE PURPLE
FLOWER JUST ON ITS OWN?

SO BEAUTIFUL.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT MOVING
THROUGH THIS SORT OF TERRAIN

IS HARD WORK,

AND IT'S OFTEN THE LITTLE THINGS
THAT GIVE YOU A PICK-ME-UP.

BUT FOR ME, IT'S SUDDENLY COMING
ACROSS THAT SORT OF A FLOWER.

AND I ALWAYS THINK
IT'S LIKE GOD'S EXTRAVAGANCE.

IT'S THERE.
NOBODY MIGHT EVER SEE IT.

IT'S LIKE NATURE CAN'T HELP
BUT CREATE BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

I JUST LOVE THAT.

AFTER BEING SOAKED
FOR 24 HOURS,

MY STRENGTH IS BEING SAPPED.

BUT BEFORE LONG,

MY PATH ALONG THE RIVERBANK
COMES TO AN ABRUPT END.

I CAN EITHER TRY AND WADE IT --

THE THING IS, I'M JUST
GONNA END UP SOAKING WET,

AND THIS WATER IS COLD,

AND THAT'S THE LAST THING
I REALLY WANT.

THE OTHER OPTION IS JUST
TO JUMP AND GO FOR THIS TREE.

AND THE WORST THING
THAT CAN HAPPEN

IS THAT I'LL END UP
IN THE DRINK, WET ANYWAY.

BUT AT LEAST THIS WAY
THERE'S A CHANCE I CAN STAY DRY.

GRAB THE BRANCH WITH BOTH HANDS

AND THEN USE YOUR MOMENTUM
TO SWING YOUR LEGS UP.

BUT WATCH OUT FOR LOOSE MOSS.

WHEW!

I'M RIGHT AT THE EDGE
OF THE RAINFOREST.

AND, FROM NOW ON,

THINGS ARE GONNA GET
A LOT TOUGHER.

I'M OUT OF THE CLOUD FOREST
OF ECUADOR,

AND I'M ENTERING THE DARK
JUNGLES OF THE MIGHTY AMAZON.

THE RAINFOREST HERE

HAS OVER 9 FEET OF RAINFALL
EVERY YEAR,

AND IT'S HOME TO OVER A MILLION
SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

I'M DEFINITELY NOW
DOWN IN THE RAINFOREST,

AND I CAN TELL THIS

JUST BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT
OF THE TREE CANOPIES ABOVE ME.

SOME OF THESE
ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 80 FOOT HIGH.

AND ALSO IT'S MUCH,
MUCH MORE HUMID DOWN HERE --

REALLY NOTICEABLY SO.

I'M NOW DOWN IN A PRETTY
PERMANENT-LOOKING CREEK.

IN THE WET SEASON,
THIS WOULD BE A RAGING TORRENT,

BUT AT THE MOMENT,
I CAN USE IT TO LEAD ME DOWN.

[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

SO, YOU SEE HERE

WHERE TWO STREAMS MEET
IN, LIKE, A JUNCTION.

BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS,

JUST KEEP FOLLOWING
THE FLOW OF THE WATER DOWNHILL.

IN THE JUNGLE, THERE ARE
TORRENTIAL SHOWERS EVERY DAY.

OVER HALF A MILLION GALLONS
WILL FALL ON EACH ACRE.

THIS RAIN HAS ONE BLESSING.

GIVES ME A CHANCE

TO GET RID OF THE STENCH
OF ALL THE LAST FEW DAYS.

WHOO!

AND THE RAINS FINISHED
AS QUICKLY AS THEY BEGAN.

THIS PART OF THE AMAZON HAS
A HUGE VARIETY OF WILDLIFE --

OVER 8% OF THE WORLD'S
ANIMAL SPECIES --

AND THESE ARE SOME
I'M COME ACROSS.

THESE RAINFORESTS
ARE JUST SO UNFORGIVING,

AND EVERY ANIMAL IN IT
HAS A SURVIVAL STRATEGY.

AND IF YOU LOOK
AT THIS LITTLE STICK INSECT,

PERFECTLY BLENDED IN
AGAINST THIS TREE.

AND I MIGHT WALK PAST
100 OF THESE

BEFORE I'LL ACTUALLY SEE ONE.

AND THEY ACTUALLY SAY
YOU ONLY SEE ABOUT 2%

OF THE ANIMALS
THAT ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE.

LOOK AT THAT.
PERFECTLY CAMOUFLAGED.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS,
THIS IS A BIRD CRICKET,

AND IT'S CALLED THAT

BECAUSE IT'S THE SIZE
OF, LIKE, A SMALL BIRD.

AND JUST AMAZING. LOOK.

ALSO, EVERYTHING IN THIS JUNGLE
IS, LIKE, A SURVIVAL EXPERT.

AND THIS FELLA'S TACTIC IS TO
HAVE THESE THORNS ON HIS LEGS.

AND IF ANYTHING GETS CLOSE --
WHAM! --

JUST KICKS AWAY
WITH THOSE THORNY LEGS.

AMAZING.

WHAT I'VE GOT HERE IS
A LITTLE FISHING SPIDER.

AND, ACTUALLY,
HE'S NOT SO LITTLE.

HE'S NOT A BAD SIZE.

BUT WHAT THIS GUY WOULD DO
IS SIT ON THE EDGE OF THE BANK,

AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY FISH
AND CATCH A LITTLE MINNOW,

EVEN THE SIZE
OF, LIKE, MY LITTLE FINGER.

BUT THIS GUY IS POISONOUS.

AND THE LOCALS SAY
THAT IF THEY GET BIT BY THIS,

THEY ACTUALLY THEN EAT IT
TO TRY TO COUNTERACT THE VENOM.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO TRY THAT.

I'M GONNA LET THIS --
LET HIM GO.

LOOK AT THESE GUYS.

THESE ARE PALM-WEEVIL GRUBS.

WOW, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,

THESE ARE THE BIGGEST GRUBS
I'VE EVER SEEN.

LOOK.

AND THIS IS JUST THE SORT OF
PLACE THAT THEY LIKE.

THEY FEED OFF ALL THIS ROTTING,
SOFT INTERIOR OF THE PALM TREE.

BUT THESE ARE
ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE.

AND, ACTUALLY, THE LOCALS
EAT A LOT OF THESE.

THEY'RE LIKE A DELICACY.

THEY'RE FULL OF GOOD PROTEIN.

AND -- UGH --

YOU CAN ACTUALLY
EAT THEM WHOLE.

LOOK AT IT WRIGGLING AROUND.

[ GAGS ]

HOLY SMOKE.

THAT IS...JUST...

THE GUARANI TRIBE OF THE AMAZON
CONSIDER THESE A REAL DELICACY.

...HORRIBLE.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY CAN KEEP THEIR DELICACY.

UGH.

I'LL JUST TRY
AND GET ONE MORE DOWN.

THEY'RE A MOUTHFUL OF GOO,

WITH A TEXTURE OF CREAM CHEESE
WITH CRUNCHY LUMPS OF GRISTLE.

[ SPITTING ]

BUT THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

IS ALSO FULL OF LIFE
THAT IS EASY ON THE PALATE.

JUST BEGINNING TO DRIZZLE AGAIN,

AND THAT'S A GOOD TIME
FOR A BIT OF FISHING, AS WELL.

THE RAIN WILL DISTRACT
THE FISH,

AND MAKE IT EASIER
TO GET IN CLOSE.

THE LOCAL GUARANI TRIBE
HAVE TRADITIONALLY USED

A BOW AND ARROW LIKE THIS ONE
TO CATCH FISH.

I'LL BE SHOWING

SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES THEY USE
TO MAKE THEM.

AND THIS IS OLD CHONTA PALM HERE
THAT'S FALLEN DOWN.

AND THIS STUFF IS IDEAL
BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD,

BUT ALSO IT ALLOWS ME
TO SPLINTER IT LENGTHWISE.

THE BOW I'M WHITTLING
IS ESPECIALLY GOOD

FOR SPEARING FAST-MOVING FISH
IN SHALLOW POOLS.

THIS CHONTA-PALM WOOD
HAS JUST BEEN PERFECT.

IT'S TAKEN ME ABOUT 15 MINUTES,

AND ALREADY I'VE WHITTLED
THAT DOWN

INTO SOMETHING
ABOUT THE RIGHT LENGTH.

A GUARANI HUNTER WILL TAKE DAYS
TO MAKE ONE OF THESE.

BUT THEY EXPECT THEIRS
TO LAST FOR YEARS.

I JUST NOW NEED TO CUT A COUPLE
OF NOTCHES IN EACH END

THAT I'M GONNA ATTACH
THE DRAWSTRING TO.

THE PITA PALM GROWS
THROUGHOUT THE JUNGLE.

THE LEAVES CONTAIN LONG FIBERS
THAT MAKE PERFECT BOWSTRINGS.

THIS PITA HAS THESE NASTY LITTLE
BARBS ALL THE WAY DOWN IT,

SO THE FIRST THING I NEED TO DO
IS JUST TAKE THOSE OFF.

ONCE I'VE GOT IT LIKE THIS,
I NEED TO JUST OPEN THIS OUT.

[ FIBERS SNAPPING ]

AND I JUST WANT TO SEPARATE
THE FLESHY BIT

FROM THE ACTUAL STRONG BACK
OF THESE LEAVES.

AND NOW I JUST TAKE
THE STRANDS OF THIS,

PUT IT IN MY MOUTH,
AND THEN START TO WEAVE IT.

WEAVING THE STRANDS TOGETHER

INCREASES THEIR STRENGTH
AND DURABILITY.

ONCE ON THE BOW, THEY'LL NEED
TO COPE WITH HUGE PRESSURE.

AND NOW TO ATTACH IT,
WHAT I'VE DONE DOWN THIS END,

I'VE PUT A SIMPLE BOWLINE LOOP
ONTO IT THERE.

AND THEN ON THIS SIDE,
I DO THE SAME.

TO TIE THIS BOWLINE,

ALL I DO IS MAKE
A LITTLE LOOP LIKE THIS,

AND I PUT THIS END THROUGH
THE THING.

AND A GOOD WAY TO REMEMBER IT

IS THE RABBIT COMES
OUT OF THE HOLE,

AROUND THE TREE,

AND THEN BACK DOWN THE HOLE.

[ GRUNTS ]

AND THAT THEN...

...IS READY.

THE ARROWS ARE MADE OF
THE SAME HEAVY WOOD AS THE BOW,

PERFECT FOR CUTTING
THROUGH THE WATER.

I'M GONNA TRY AND USE IT
IN THIS RIVER

TO CATCH PIRANHA FISH.

THEY'RE FAST AND AGGRESSIVE,
AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.

I'M IN
THE ECUADORIAN RAINFOREST,

HUNTING FOR FISH.

THIS VEGETATION IS JUST THE SORT
OF PLACE THAT FISH LIKE TO HIDE,

ESPECIALLY
AT THIS TIME OF DAY NOW.

PIRANHA LIVE
IN THESE SORT OF STREAMS,

AND THEY CAN BE VICIOUS --

STRIPPING ANIMALS THAT FALL
INTO THE WATER IN SECONDS.

BUT THAT ONLY HAPPENS

WHEN THEY'RE IN LARGE SHOALS
OF 100 OR MORE.

THIS POND IS JUST TOO SMALL
TO SUPPORT THAT MANY,

SO IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO BE IN.

PIRANHAS ARE TASTY,

BUT THEY'RE ALSO
DIFFICULT TO CATCH.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT --
THEY'RE QUICK, THESE FISH.

RECENTLY, A WOMAN
WAS STRANDED IN THE RAINFOREST

AND SURVIVED ALONE
FOR TWO WEEKS

BY CATCHING PIRANHAS
IN A SHALLOW RIVER.

SHE USED ONLY INSECTS FOR BAIT.

I NEED TO FIND
SOME SHALLOWER POOLS,

WHERE I CAN REALLY SEE
WHAT'S ON THE BOTTOM.

WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IS THAT
YOU'VE GOT THIS JUNGLE POOL

WHERE THE WATER LEVEL
ACTUALLY IS DROPPING.

AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE BANK,
THE LEVEL THAT THE WATER WAS.

IF I COULD JUST GET THE CAMERA
AND PUT IT INTO THE WATER,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THEM
SWIMMING AROUND.

BRILLIANT!
LOOK AT THAT!

AND IMAGINE 1,000 OF THOSE.

YOU CAN SEE WHY IT'D JUST STRIP
THE FLESH OFF A HUMAN

IN SECONDS.

RAZOR-SHARP TEETH.

AND THIS GUY'S PRETTY WELL DEAD,

AND HE STILL HAS THE POWER
TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THIS.

IT'S ESSENTIAL PIRANHA
ARE COOKED THOROUGHLY,

BECAUSE THEY CAN CARRY
HARMFUL PARASITES.

I'VE GOT
A LITTLE COOKING RACK HERE.

AND ON IT, I'VE GOT
MY FERN FRONDS BUBBLING AWAY,

AND I'VE BOILED THESE
A COUPLE OF TIMES

AND JUST CHANGED THE WATER,

JUST TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE REALLY WELL COOKED.

AND I'VE GOT SOME
OF THE OTHER FERN FRONDS COOKING

IN THESE BAMBOO SECTIONS HERE.

AND THEN,
WRAPPED IN THESE LEAVES,

I'VE GOT MY PIRANHA
THAT I'VE CAUGHT.

AND THESE SHOULD BE READY NOW.

AND LOOK, THERE YOU GO --

THOSE ARE THOSE NASTY TEETH
GRINNING AWAY AT ME.

BUT THAT -- THAT SMELLS GREAT.

SO, I'M GONNA PUT THAT
ONTO THIS LEAF HERE.

AND IT'S SO NICE JUST ACTUALLY
HAVING A BIT OF TIME NOW

TO COOK THIS PROPERLY

AND GET SOMETHING
REALLY DECENT TO EAT --

FISH, THE FRONDS --

AND THEN REALLY ENJOY IT
PROPERLY.

AND THIS IS NOW ALL LOOKING LIKE
QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL MEAL.

AND THEY TASTE LIKE
REALLY GOOEY, GUNKY ASPARAGUS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

THESE WOULD BE SO NICE
WITH A BIT OF MAYO.

LET'S TRY IT
WITH A BIT OF PIRANHA INSTEAD.

FOR SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE...
UNPLEASANT FISH,

IT DOESN'T HALF TASTE GOOD.

SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE,
I'VE PICKED UP A FEW CUTS.

BUT IN THE RAINFOREST,

THERE'S A TREE
THAT CAN HELP ME.

YEAH, LOOK,

THOSE ARE THE HEART-SHAPED
LEAVES I WAS LOOKING FOR

AND ALSO THIS SMOOTH TRUNK.

AND THIS TELLS ME THIS TREE
IS A SANGRE DE DRAGO,

WHICH LITERALLY MEANS
"DRAGON'S BLOOD."

AND THE REASON IT'S CALLED THAT

IS 'CAUSE THE SAP INSIDE IT
IS RED.

AND BEFORE I CAME OUT HERE,

I WAS TOLD TO LOOK OUT FOR
THIS TREE IF I EVER CUT MYSELF,

JUST BECAUSE THE PROPERTIES
OF THE SAP

ARE VERY GOOD ANTISEPTIC
AND HEALING.

AND IF YOU WATCH THIS,
AS SOON AS I TACK IN,

YOU'LL SEE THE BLOOD SAP
START TO OOZE OUT.

AND THEN ANY LITTLE,
LIKE, NICKS I'VE GOT,

I CAN PUT IT ON.

AND LOOK, IF YOU WATCH THIS,
AS WELL,

AS SOON AS YOU GET IT ON,
IF YOU, LIKE, LATHER IT UP.

IT GOES INTO THIS WHITE PASTE,
LIKE, KIND OF SOAP.

AND THAT IS VERY HEALING,
GOOD ANTISEPTIC

AND WILL HELP THE BLOOD
TO COAGULATE.

GREAT TREE.

WHOO-HOO!

NEXT, I'LL SHOW HOW TO COPE
WITH THE RAPIDS OF THE AMAZON.

IF YOU'RE LOST
IN THE AMAZON JUNGLE,

A RIVER IS YOUR BEST BET

TO LEAD YOU BACK
TO CIVILIZATION.

AND WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING
FOR SURVIVAL,

GETTING IN A RIVER
WILL ALLOW YOU TO MOVE FASTER,

BUT ONLY DO IT
AS A LAST RESORT.

THE TECHNIQUE IN RAPIDS

IS TO KEEP YOUR LEGS AND FEET
IN FRONT OF YOU.

THIS WILL YOU FEND OFF
ANY ROCKS.

FOR THE RAPIDS
SOON START TO GET BIGGER,

AND EVENTUALLY IT BECOMES
JUST TOO DANGEROUS.

WELL, I'VE REACHED
THIS BIG RIVER,

AND THAT'S BEEN A PRIMARY GOAL

FROM THE START
OF THIS JOURNEY --

TO REACH A BIG RIVER --
BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN I THOUGHT.

AND IT'S ALSO GOT SOME
SENSIBLE-SIZED RAPIDS ON IT,

WHICH MEANS IT'S TOO RISKY
REALLY FOR ME TO GO DOWN

JUST ON MY OWN.

I'M GONNA NEED TO FIND SOMETHING
THAT'S GONNA HELP ME.

RIVERS LIKE THIS ONE
ARE THE HIGHWAYS OF THE AMAZON,

AND THEY OFFER YOU

THE GREATEST CHANCE
OF REACHING A SETTLEMENT.

AND IF YOU CAN'T MOVE
ANY FURTHER ON FOOT,

LOOK OUT FOR THE BALSA TREE.

IT COULD BE A LIFESAVER.

[ TAPPING ]

AND YOU CAN TELL THESE

BY THEIR GRAY MOTTLED BARK AND
DISTINCTIVE FAN-SHAPED LEAVES.

IT'S VERY SOFT
AND VERY BUOYANT.

AWESOME.
THAT'S CUT DOWN THEN.

CUT MYSELF A LENGTH OF IT
ABOUT...

...ABOUT HERE.

10 YEARS AGO, A GROUP OF HIKERS
WERE LOST IN THE JUNGLE.

THEY SURVIVED BY BUILDING
A SIMPLE RAFT

OUT OF BALSA
LASHED TOGETHER WITH VINES,

AND THEY SIMPLY FLOATED
DOWNSTREAM.

AFTER THREE DAYS,
THEY REACHED A SETTLEMENT.

IT'S PRETTY SMOOTH, THIS BIT,

BUT I CAN HEAR
THERE ARE MORE RAPIDS AHEAD.

AND THE WORST BIT OF IT

IS YOU CAN HEAR THEM
BEFORE YOU CAN SEE THEM,

AND YOU DON'T REALLY SEE
WHAT'S AHEAD

UNTIL YOU'RE KIND OF RIGHT
INTO IT.

BUT THIS BALSA WOOD
IS GIVING ME SO MUCH BUOYANCY,

AND IT MEANS REALLY
I CAN JUST CLING TO IT,

KEEP MY FEET DOWNSTREAM,
AND SAY MY PRAYERS.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

AAH!

[ GRUNTS ]

I LANDED RIGHT ON THAT ROCK!

[ MOANS ]

THE WATER LEVEL IS
NOW DROPPING LOWER AND LOWER,

AND THE SHARP BEDROCK
BENEATH ME CAN BREAK BONES.

IT'S TIME TO GET OUT
OF THE RIVER.

THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME NOW.

IN THE AMAZON, IT CAN FEEL

LIKE EVERY STEP IS A STRUGGLE
AGAINST THE FORCES OF NATURE.

BUT IT'S VITAL
THAT YOU NEVER GIVE UP,

EVEN IF YOUR PLANS FAIL.

AND, REMEMBER,
EVERY DAY THAT YOU SURVIVE,

GIVES YOU ANOTHER CHANCE
TO REACH SAFETY.