Wildest Islands (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 2 - Amazon River Islands: The Floating Forest - full transcript
Some small or larger islands in rivers of the Amazon system are flooded annually for months. While birds can just keep flying, for most of wildlife everything changes, as the lush forest habitat drowns to become a wetland or back. Several species adapted thoroughly, sometimes even into a specialized subspecies.
(dramatic music)
- [Voiceover] Deep in the
heart of the Amazon rainforest
lies the largest collection
of river islands in the world.
Thousands of kilometers
from the nearest ocean,
these are some of the most
unusual habitats on Earth.
Stranded on the mighty Rio Negro,
(crash of thunder)
the islands are engulfed
by seasonal floods,
changing their landscape completely.
Everything living here is forced to adapt
or die.
This is life on the floating
forests of the Amazon.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music)
The Amazon Rain Forest
covers 4,000,000 square
kilometers of our planet.
Sprawling across almost half
of the South American continent,
it is fed by the might Amazon River.
And at its heart are a group of islands
knows as the Anavilhanas
and Mariua Archipelagos.
More than a thousand islands stretch along
the Rio Negro branch of the Amazon River
and together make up
the largest collection
of river islands in the world.
Thousands of kilometers
from the nearest ocean,
these river islands are unique.
Surrounded not by coral reefs
and crystal clear waters,
but by flooded forests
and hidden dangers.
This is home to some of
the most unusual creatures
in the world.
(tiger growls)
(otter snarls)
Flooded for six months of the year,
the islands are a mass of submerged trees
and wandering vines.
This is a world like no other.
The forest floor becomes the river bed.
Fish feed from the treetops.
And canopy dwellers are stalked
by creatures that lurk beneath.
It's May and the flood
waters are starting to rise.
The lives of the animals
that call the islands home
take a dramatic turn.
(rustling of leaves)
Only two primates live here,
red howler monkeys
and the more common squirrel monkeys,
who have the run of the canopy.
(gentle music)
Because they spend much of the year
cut off from the mainland,
they've learned to adapt
to life above the water.
It's early morning and a large group
is heading out on a foraging expedition.
(adventurous music)
The monkeys make the most
of the daylight hours
as they move through the canopy.
They're on the lookout
for fruits, flowers,
and insects that make up their diet.
Long tails provide them
with excellent balance.
And aided by nimble hands and feet,
they're able to investigate
any opportunity.
But the canopy offers slim pickings.
Surrounded by water, the archipelagos
do not support the abundance of food
that is available to monkeys
elsewhere in the Amazon.
Some of the young males aren't impressed
with what's on offer.
So they decide to venture down,
deeper inside the flooded forest.
(gentle music)
The rewards are worth it.
Young monkeys have
incredibly good eyesight
and they're able to spot food
amongst the dense vegetation with ease.
They found a favorite.
The Clitoria flower's sweet
nectar is irresistible.
After a frantic morning foraging,
one of the youngsters is
desperate for a drink.
But it's a risky business.
Black caiman lurk below.
An alarm call alerts him to the danger,
but he's not out of trouble yet.
(dramatic music)
The slightest slip could be
fatal for the plucky primate.
Finally, he makes it back to the canopy,
where he's safe for now.
Giant reptiles are not the only predators
patrolling these waterways.
(tribal music)
None has a more fearsome reputation
than the piranha.
Blood in the water will whip them
into a feeding frenzy.
(swirling water)
These red-bellied piranhas
could strip a monkey to the bone
in a matter of seconds.
(swirling water)
Jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth
are designed to slice off
bite-sized pieces of flesh.
(water swirling and splashing)
As the waters continue to rise,
many animals become cut off.
A three-toed sloth is forced to brave
the treacherous waters
in search of a new home.
Despite the dangers, it has no choice.
Built for life in the treetops,
sloths are surprisingly good swimmers.
They paddle efficiently
with their long arms
and are able to move much faster
than they do on land.
But not quickly enough to go unnoticed.
(dramatic music)
Green anaconda are always on the lookout
for an easy meal.
This is an opportunity
too good to be missed
for one of the forest's
deadliest predators.
Chemoreceptors on the snake's tongue
help it track its prey's
movements through the water.
Finally, the sloth makes
it to a suitable tree,
but it's a long way to the top
and time is against it.
(music building in tension)
(splashing)
Once caught, the sloth
stands no chance of escape.
After such a big meal,
the giant reptile will last for weeks
or even months until it has to hunt again.
Life on the river islands is ever-changing
as water levels continue to rise.
The flood waters originate
hundreds of kilometers away,
high up in the Andean peaks.
(rushing water)
In December, as
temperatures begin to rise,
melt water from the
mountains starts to pour down
the Amazon's many tributaries.
(rushing water)
They flow east and gather forces.
(crash of thunder)
(rain pouring down)
These are joined by rainwater
as the wet season begins in earnest.
(dramatic music)
On the Rio Negro, rainfall is measured
not in centimeters but in meters.
The river bursts its banks and overflows,
flooding the river islands.
Amazingly, the rainforest
creates almost half
of the yearly rainfall itself.
(rushing water)
While the other half blows
in from the Atlantic Ocean.
(rain pouring down)
The islands of the Anavilhanas
and Mariua Archipelagos are transformed.
Water penetrates for a
distance of up to 20 kilometers
on either side of the main channels.
Whole islands disappear underwater,
and in places, only the treetops remain.
By June, the floodwaters have risen
by up to 10 meters
but there's still more to come.
Curtains of green hide the islands'
mysterious inner world.
Trees and plants have developed
a number of techniques for surviving
their months underwater.
Some choose to hibernate.
Some lose all their leaves.
And some even continue to photosynthesize
while submerged.
(lively music)
Throughout the river islands,
animals are adapting to the new challenges
the waters bring.
(bird calling)
Over two hundred species of birds
live on the islands of the
Anavilhanas Archipelago.
While some are looking for food,
others are looking for love.
Living out of reach of the flood waters,
birds are able to put all their energy
into courtship.
(bird singing)
A male streak-throated hummingbird
uses its enchanting
song and simple display
to attract potential mates.
(bird singing)
Although the flash of tail
feathers is impressive,
it's usually the best song
that wins the female's heart.
Deeper in the forest, another bird
goes to even greater
extremes to find a mate.
The wire-tailed manakin.
There are over 50 species
of manakin in the world
and the majority of these are found
in the forests of South America.
Stiff tail feathers give
the birds their name.
A male surveys the forest
from his private display perch.
He's ready to strut his stuff
at the first sign of a female.
It doesn't take long for one to arrive.
But unlike most manakins,
who display on their own,
wire-tailed manakins dance in pairs
as they attempt to win
the female's affections.
The pair take to the stage.
(upbeat music)
It's a dance off
and both are desperate to impress.
The female sizes up her
suitors from a distance.
Keeping a close eye on proceedings.
(music intensifying)
The dance comes to an end
with a show of dominance
and the female makes her choice.
All the loser can do is look on
as she leads the victor away.
(fluttering of wings)
Manakins are not the
only island inhabitants
preoccupied with passing on their genes.
Throughout the islands,
the larger and more established trees
have been waiting all year
for the flood waters to arrive.
Now, finally, they get what
they've been waiting for.
The trees use the waters
to distribute their seeds
far and wide.
(splashing)
(splashing)
The pods of a munguba tree
have spent the dry season maturing.
Now they burst open in spectacular style,
revealing seeds hidden
amongst the giant balls of fluff.
The seeds are scattered in the wind.
Each is attached to a parachute
to carry it on its way.
The seeds will be transported
throughout the islands,
hopefully, germinating where they land
and helping to maintain the forest.
But the munguba trees need to be quick.
Fresh food doesn't go unnoticed for long
on these islands.
(cheerful music)
Tui parakeets make the most
of the freshly opened seed pods.
The munguba tree is a favorite.
They use their beaks to pry the seeds
from their fluffy cocoons.
It doesn't take long for the hungry birds
to strip a pod.
At this time of the
year, there's more food
than they could wish for.
And they quickly move on to the next tree.
Parakeets are not the only animals
to take advantage of the fruit in trees.
Some seeds make a break for freedom
and float down into the forest
where more hungry mouths lie in wait.
(splashing)
(splashing)
While trees adapt to life in the water,
fish adapt to life among the trees.
(dreamy music)
South American trout, or brycon,
leap from the water to be
first to the falling seeds.
(splashing)
They can jump up to four
times their body length
in their quest for food.
Each mouthful is a
priceless source of protein
for the hungry fish.
(splashing)
Even though the seeds of the munguba tree
don't last long, some trees have learned
to use the fish to their advantage.
(dreamy music)
Amazonian flooded forests
are the only place in the world where fish
act as the major seed disbursers.
Trees can rely on more
than 200 species of fish
to distribute their seeds.
Many eat the fleshy fruit
before spitting out the unpalatable seed.
And by doing so, they help the trees
to deposit their seeds
throughout the archipelagos.
The flooded islands are inundated
with aquatic visitors of all
different shapes and sizes.
(suspenseful music)
But despite the wealth of food,
the islands are not
always the easiest place
for fish to live.
The quantity of decaying
leaves in the water
means that oxygen levels are low.
Bacteria and other microorganisms
use up supplies as they
break down the leaves.
As more and more of the
river's oxygen is used up,
very little is left for
the animals that live here.
The electric eel is a deadly predator.
But without a regular supply of oxygen,
it will not be able to hunt.
Like many fish in the black waters,
it's forced to the surface to gulp air.
Its mouth acts like a lung,
absorbing oxygen from the world above.
Another air-breather is the gigantic,
pike-like, pirarucu.
One of the largest known
freshwater fish in the world,
fully grown adults can
weigh up to 200 kilograms.
The three-meter-long
monsters rise to the surface
every 10 to 15 minutes to breathe.
This armor-plated giant
has survived for nearly 100 million years.
The Anavilhanas and Mariua Archipelagos
still provide a safe haven for them
and many other creatures.
(bird chirping)
These ancient islands were formed
during a time of change in the Amazon
over 1500 years ago.
Then, the black waters of the Rio Negro
did not flow so freely into
the mighty Amazon River.
Conditions were much calmer.
Sediment arriving from the
Rio Branco to the north
started to settle.
Joined by waters from the
Rio Negro's upper reaches,
pockets of forest started to form.
They developed into the
islands we see today.
(dramatic music)
Over time, the Rio Negro
once again picked up pace
and started to flow back into the Amazon.
The islands were left
and survive to this day.
But they wouldn't exist at all
if weren't for the white
waters of the Rio Branco.
Where, even to this day,
life doesn't just survive,
it flourishes.
(wild call)
One of the Rio Branco's
most charismatic creatures
is the giant river otter.
The otters spend most
of their time hunting.
Moving as a pack,
they're able to corral fish
before picking them off one by one.
(splashing)
(dramatic music)
Fresh fish make a fine breakfast.
Otters need to fuel
their energetic lifestyle
and can crunch through
up to four kilograms
of fish a day.
Catching the fish with their mouths,
they then hold them with their forepaws
as they devour their prey, scales and all.
But these deadly predators
have a softer side
and when breakfast is over,
it's time to play.
(splashing)
Giant river otters live
in large family groups
and it will be some time
before last year's cubs
head off to form families of their own.
(splashing)
Family life revolves around the den.
The mother remains hidden
while she raises the next generation.
With several dens dotted
around their territory,
the family move regularly
in the search for fish
and to avoid unwanted
attention from predators.
Just a few months old,
the cubs must be carried
as they're still too young to swim.
The family head off up river.
(laid back music)
Arriving at their next den,
the first priority is
to get the cubs inside
where it's safe.
The father keeps watch
while his family settles
into their new home.
(calling softly)
The males scent mark the entrance
to warn others that they
are now in residence.
It's a pungent concoction that will keep
even the nosiest neighbors away.
(relaxing music)
All along the Rio Branco,
life flourishes on the
sediment-rich waters.
The river banks are dotted with wildlife.
(bird calling)
Including the largest
rodents in the world.
Closely related to the guinea pig,
capybaras are equally at
home in or out of the water.
But the wealth of animals
attracts unwanted attention.
(capybara calls out)
A jaguar stalks the river bank.
Capybaras make a tasty meal.
The Amazon's apex predator
is rarely found far from the river,
and the abundance of
food on the Rio Branco
makes it an ideal hunting ground.
(capybara calls out) (splashing)
When escaping dangers,
the giant rodents can dive
and remain underwater
for up to five minutes.
(dramatic music)
The jaguar stalks off silently
to continue its search for food.
(sounds of the rainforest)
Back on the river islands,
the mid-morning peace is shattered.
(monkey howling)
Red howler monkeys can be heard
throughout the islands.
These secretive primates don't only use
their roaring calls to deter predators,
they also use them to
mark their territory.
(monkey howling)
Unlike their island neighbors,
the squirrel monkeys,
they tend to travel in smaller groups
and stick to the top of the canopy.
Excellent acrobats, the monkeys
rarely come down to the ground,
and during the floods,
they're even more reluctant,
all too aware of the
dangers that lurk beneath.
(gentle music)
It's now late July and water
levels are at their peak.
The forest floor has sunk
under 15 meters of water.
The flood waters bring about a change
in everyone's lives.
A colony of fire ants has been forced out
of their underground home
by the rising water levels,
providing an easy meal,
despite their painful sting.
(dramatic music)
This tree will provide a safe haven
until the waters fall
and they can return to the forest floor.
The resilient ants quickly move
into a vacant crack in the bark.
Some animals don't just survive,
they thrive in the new conditions.
(wild call)
(relaxing music)
Leaf cutter ants swarm through the trees.
Able to carry pieces of leaf
weighing 20 times their body weight,
they're born to work.
These are no ordinary ants.
It's believed their a separate species
to the ones who nest underground,
and they've developed a unique behavior.
They've swapped the forest
floor for the treetops.
By building their nests in the canopy,
they avoid the annual floods,
so, despite the rising waters,
they continue undisturbed.
Colonies can contain up
to 8,000,000 individuals,
making it one of the
most dominant creatures
in South America.
And one of the river islands'
most resilient residents.
Worker ants are sent
out to collect supplies.
Foraging far and wide,
they're able to find their way home
by laying out a thermal trail.
The pheromone is so powerful,
one gram of the scent
would be enough to lay an ant trail
all the way around the world.
Only the freshest and
juiciest leaves are selected.
Powerful jaws slice through
the cellulose with ease.
(dreamy music)
Once loaded up, the ants
then begin their journey
back to the nest.
Leaf cutter ants cultivate
a special fungus garden
deep within the nest.
(thoughtful music)
And are almost entirely
dependent on the fungus for food.
Maintaining the garden is crucial
to the survival of the colony.
Only the queen is able
to produce offspring.
She's capable of laying
thousands of eggs per day,
most of which are destined
to become workers.
The ants are true forest specialists,
and, out of the reach of the flood waters,
they continue to dominate.
Other insects have not adapted
to their new aquatic home quite so well.
Some are forced to venture
across the water's surface
in search of dry land.
It's a crossing fraught with danger.
Arowana lurk beneath.
The fish patrol close to the surface,
scanning for prey.
No insect is safe.
As the flood waters rise,
more and more get washed into reach.
It's a time for the arowana to fatten up
before the long dry season returns.
(splashing)
Some of the waterways'
more unusual creatures
are also taking advantage
of the new food available.
Needlefish lie just beneath surface.
Their slim profile helps
them to avoid detection.
They hunt by sight and are ready
to take advantage of any stragglers.
(water shwooshing)
Unlucky spiders are picked off with ease.
Carnivorous fish are not
the only underwater animals
enjoying a glut of food.
One of South America's largest animals
lurks in these waters.
The Amazonian manatee is an iconic symbol
of the Anavilhanas and
Mariua Archipelagos.
(reverent music)
Hiding out in the quiet backwaters,
they gorge on the food that arrives
with the flood waters.
For the manatee, this is a time of plenty.
And also a time to rear their young.
These shy mammals give
birth to a single calf
once every two years.
The mother will spend time
teaching the youngster
the best routes through
the maze of river channels.
The calf will need all its
mothers knowledge and support
with the dry season fast approaching.
It's now August
and the rainy season is coming to an end.
Water levels are finally starting to fall.
The animals and plants that
have survived the floods
can look forward to drier times ahead.
Eking out a living on
the ever-changing islands
can be a challenge,
but there are always ways
and means of doing so.
As the flood waters start to fall,
spectacular fish begin to appear
in the shallows of the forest.
Cardinal tetras are
found deep in the heart
of palm forests along the black waters
of the Rio Negro.
(speaking foreign language)
This family makes the
eight-hour round trip
from their village each day
in order to gather the tiny fish.
(thoughtful music)
(swirling water)
Their catch is destined
for exotic fish tanks
around the world
and provides the family with
a vital source of income.
Come midday, it's time to
head back to the village.
(hum of motor)
On their return, the
fish are quickly sorted.
The highly prized cardinal tetras
are separated and piled into boxes.
A thousand fish sells
for around five dollars.
A decent income, but
the family supplements
by hunting and fishing.
Once the morning's work is done,
the pace of village life slows.
(relaxing music)
By the end of September,
the heavy rains cease
and the water engulfing the river islands
has fallen by almost a third.
As the levels drop, beaches reappear.
For many, life starts to become easier.
Butterflies feed on freshly exposed land.
Migrant birds return to nest.
(bird calls out)
Newly exposed plants burst back into life
with a flush of green.
Squirrel monkeys are less fearful
of the world below as the
retreating flood waters
lead the dangers away.
Which is also good news for the sloths.
But for the islands' wet season visitors,
it's time to move out.
The manatee mother and calf
have feasted for the past four months.
They must now prepare to
return to the main channels
and begin their dry season fast.
And fish are also forced to leave
the islands' flooded forest
and return to the deeper river channels.
(triumphant music)
The Anivilhanas and Mariua Archipelagos
spread along a 1,000 kilometer
stretch of the Rio Negro.
They provide a home for
some of the hardiest animals
in the world.
As flood waters engulf
the islands each year,
those that live here are forced to endure
incredible extremes.
But animals have developed ways of coping
and have learned to master
their ever-changing environment.
It's either sink or swim
here in the floating
forests of the Amazon.
(dramatic music)
- [Voiceover] Deep in the
heart of the Amazon rainforest
lies the largest collection
of river islands in the world.
Thousands of kilometers
from the nearest ocean,
these are some of the most
unusual habitats on Earth.
Stranded on the mighty Rio Negro,
(crash of thunder)
the islands are engulfed
by seasonal floods,
changing their landscape completely.
Everything living here is forced to adapt
or die.
This is life on the floating
forests of the Amazon.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music)
The Amazon Rain Forest
covers 4,000,000 square
kilometers of our planet.
Sprawling across almost half
of the South American continent,
it is fed by the might Amazon River.
And at its heart are a group of islands
knows as the Anavilhanas
and Mariua Archipelagos.
More than a thousand islands stretch along
the Rio Negro branch of the Amazon River
and together make up
the largest collection
of river islands in the world.
Thousands of kilometers
from the nearest ocean,
these river islands are unique.
Surrounded not by coral reefs
and crystal clear waters,
but by flooded forests
and hidden dangers.
This is home to some of
the most unusual creatures
in the world.
(tiger growls)
(otter snarls)
Flooded for six months of the year,
the islands are a mass of submerged trees
and wandering vines.
This is a world like no other.
The forest floor becomes the river bed.
Fish feed from the treetops.
And canopy dwellers are stalked
by creatures that lurk beneath.
It's May and the flood
waters are starting to rise.
The lives of the animals
that call the islands home
take a dramatic turn.
(rustling of leaves)
Only two primates live here,
red howler monkeys
and the more common squirrel monkeys,
who have the run of the canopy.
(gentle music)
Because they spend much of the year
cut off from the mainland,
they've learned to adapt
to life above the water.
It's early morning and a large group
is heading out on a foraging expedition.
(adventurous music)
The monkeys make the most
of the daylight hours
as they move through the canopy.
They're on the lookout
for fruits, flowers,
and insects that make up their diet.
Long tails provide them
with excellent balance.
And aided by nimble hands and feet,
they're able to investigate
any opportunity.
But the canopy offers slim pickings.
Surrounded by water, the archipelagos
do not support the abundance of food
that is available to monkeys
elsewhere in the Amazon.
Some of the young males aren't impressed
with what's on offer.
So they decide to venture down,
deeper inside the flooded forest.
(gentle music)
The rewards are worth it.
Young monkeys have
incredibly good eyesight
and they're able to spot food
amongst the dense vegetation with ease.
They found a favorite.
The Clitoria flower's sweet
nectar is irresistible.
After a frantic morning foraging,
one of the youngsters is
desperate for a drink.
But it's a risky business.
Black caiman lurk below.
An alarm call alerts him to the danger,
but he's not out of trouble yet.
(dramatic music)
The slightest slip could be
fatal for the plucky primate.
Finally, he makes it back to the canopy,
where he's safe for now.
Giant reptiles are not the only predators
patrolling these waterways.
(tribal music)
None has a more fearsome reputation
than the piranha.
Blood in the water will whip them
into a feeding frenzy.
(swirling water)
These red-bellied piranhas
could strip a monkey to the bone
in a matter of seconds.
(swirling water)
Jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth
are designed to slice off
bite-sized pieces of flesh.
(water swirling and splashing)
As the waters continue to rise,
many animals become cut off.
A three-toed sloth is forced to brave
the treacherous waters
in search of a new home.
Despite the dangers, it has no choice.
Built for life in the treetops,
sloths are surprisingly good swimmers.
They paddle efficiently
with their long arms
and are able to move much faster
than they do on land.
But not quickly enough to go unnoticed.
(dramatic music)
Green anaconda are always on the lookout
for an easy meal.
This is an opportunity
too good to be missed
for one of the forest's
deadliest predators.
Chemoreceptors on the snake's tongue
help it track its prey's
movements through the water.
Finally, the sloth makes
it to a suitable tree,
but it's a long way to the top
and time is against it.
(music building in tension)
(splashing)
Once caught, the sloth
stands no chance of escape.
After such a big meal,
the giant reptile will last for weeks
or even months until it has to hunt again.
Life on the river islands is ever-changing
as water levels continue to rise.
The flood waters originate
hundreds of kilometers away,
high up in the Andean peaks.
(rushing water)
In December, as
temperatures begin to rise,
melt water from the
mountains starts to pour down
the Amazon's many tributaries.
(rushing water)
They flow east and gather forces.
(crash of thunder)
(rain pouring down)
These are joined by rainwater
as the wet season begins in earnest.
(dramatic music)
On the Rio Negro, rainfall is measured
not in centimeters but in meters.
The river bursts its banks and overflows,
flooding the river islands.
Amazingly, the rainforest
creates almost half
of the yearly rainfall itself.
(rushing water)
While the other half blows
in from the Atlantic Ocean.
(rain pouring down)
The islands of the Anavilhanas
and Mariua Archipelagos are transformed.
Water penetrates for a
distance of up to 20 kilometers
on either side of the main channels.
Whole islands disappear underwater,
and in places, only the treetops remain.
By June, the floodwaters have risen
by up to 10 meters
but there's still more to come.
Curtains of green hide the islands'
mysterious inner world.
Trees and plants have developed
a number of techniques for surviving
their months underwater.
Some choose to hibernate.
Some lose all their leaves.
And some even continue to photosynthesize
while submerged.
(lively music)
Throughout the river islands,
animals are adapting to the new challenges
the waters bring.
(bird calling)
Over two hundred species of birds
live on the islands of the
Anavilhanas Archipelago.
While some are looking for food,
others are looking for love.
Living out of reach of the flood waters,
birds are able to put all their energy
into courtship.
(bird singing)
A male streak-throated hummingbird
uses its enchanting
song and simple display
to attract potential mates.
(bird singing)
Although the flash of tail
feathers is impressive,
it's usually the best song
that wins the female's heart.
Deeper in the forest, another bird
goes to even greater
extremes to find a mate.
The wire-tailed manakin.
There are over 50 species
of manakin in the world
and the majority of these are found
in the forests of South America.
Stiff tail feathers give
the birds their name.
A male surveys the forest
from his private display perch.
He's ready to strut his stuff
at the first sign of a female.
It doesn't take long for one to arrive.
But unlike most manakins,
who display on their own,
wire-tailed manakins dance in pairs
as they attempt to win
the female's affections.
The pair take to the stage.
(upbeat music)
It's a dance off
and both are desperate to impress.
The female sizes up her
suitors from a distance.
Keeping a close eye on proceedings.
(music intensifying)
The dance comes to an end
with a show of dominance
and the female makes her choice.
All the loser can do is look on
as she leads the victor away.
(fluttering of wings)
Manakins are not the
only island inhabitants
preoccupied with passing on their genes.
Throughout the islands,
the larger and more established trees
have been waiting all year
for the flood waters to arrive.
Now, finally, they get what
they've been waiting for.
The trees use the waters
to distribute their seeds
far and wide.
(splashing)
(splashing)
The pods of a munguba tree
have spent the dry season maturing.
Now they burst open in spectacular style,
revealing seeds hidden
amongst the giant balls of fluff.
The seeds are scattered in the wind.
Each is attached to a parachute
to carry it on its way.
The seeds will be transported
throughout the islands,
hopefully, germinating where they land
and helping to maintain the forest.
But the munguba trees need to be quick.
Fresh food doesn't go unnoticed for long
on these islands.
(cheerful music)
Tui parakeets make the most
of the freshly opened seed pods.
The munguba tree is a favorite.
They use their beaks to pry the seeds
from their fluffy cocoons.
It doesn't take long for the hungry birds
to strip a pod.
At this time of the
year, there's more food
than they could wish for.
And they quickly move on to the next tree.
Parakeets are not the only animals
to take advantage of the fruit in trees.
Some seeds make a break for freedom
and float down into the forest
where more hungry mouths lie in wait.
(splashing)
(splashing)
While trees adapt to life in the water,
fish adapt to life among the trees.
(dreamy music)
South American trout, or brycon,
leap from the water to be
first to the falling seeds.
(splashing)
They can jump up to four
times their body length
in their quest for food.
Each mouthful is a
priceless source of protein
for the hungry fish.
(splashing)
Even though the seeds of the munguba tree
don't last long, some trees have learned
to use the fish to their advantage.
(dreamy music)
Amazonian flooded forests
are the only place in the world where fish
act as the major seed disbursers.
Trees can rely on more
than 200 species of fish
to distribute their seeds.
Many eat the fleshy fruit
before spitting out the unpalatable seed.
And by doing so, they help the trees
to deposit their seeds
throughout the archipelagos.
The flooded islands are inundated
with aquatic visitors of all
different shapes and sizes.
(suspenseful music)
But despite the wealth of food,
the islands are not
always the easiest place
for fish to live.
The quantity of decaying
leaves in the water
means that oxygen levels are low.
Bacteria and other microorganisms
use up supplies as they
break down the leaves.
As more and more of the
river's oxygen is used up,
very little is left for
the animals that live here.
The electric eel is a deadly predator.
But without a regular supply of oxygen,
it will not be able to hunt.
Like many fish in the black waters,
it's forced to the surface to gulp air.
Its mouth acts like a lung,
absorbing oxygen from the world above.
Another air-breather is the gigantic,
pike-like, pirarucu.
One of the largest known
freshwater fish in the world,
fully grown adults can
weigh up to 200 kilograms.
The three-meter-long
monsters rise to the surface
every 10 to 15 minutes to breathe.
This armor-plated giant
has survived for nearly 100 million years.
The Anavilhanas and Mariua Archipelagos
still provide a safe haven for them
and many other creatures.
(bird chirping)
These ancient islands were formed
during a time of change in the Amazon
over 1500 years ago.
Then, the black waters of the Rio Negro
did not flow so freely into
the mighty Amazon River.
Conditions were much calmer.
Sediment arriving from the
Rio Branco to the north
started to settle.
Joined by waters from the
Rio Negro's upper reaches,
pockets of forest started to form.
They developed into the
islands we see today.
(dramatic music)
Over time, the Rio Negro
once again picked up pace
and started to flow back into the Amazon.
The islands were left
and survive to this day.
But they wouldn't exist at all
if weren't for the white
waters of the Rio Branco.
Where, even to this day,
life doesn't just survive,
it flourishes.
(wild call)
One of the Rio Branco's
most charismatic creatures
is the giant river otter.
The otters spend most
of their time hunting.
Moving as a pack,
they're able to corral fish
before picking them off one by one.
(splashing)
(dramatic music)
Fresh fish make a fine breakfast.
Otters need to fuel
their energetic lifestyle
and can crunch through
up to four kilograms
of fish a day.
Catching the fish with their mouths,
they then hold them with their forepaws
as they devour their prey, scales and all.
But these deadly predators
have a softer side
and when breakfast is over,
it's time to play.
(splashing)
Giant river otters live
in large family groups
and it will be some time
before last year's cubs
head off to form families of their own.
(splashing)
Family life revolves around the den.
The mother remains hidden
while she raises the next generation.
With several dens dotted
around their territory,
the family move regularly
in the search for fish
and to avoid unwanted
attention from predators.
Just a few months old,
the cubs must be carried
as they're still too young to swim.
The family head off up river.
(laid back music)
Arriving at their next den,
the first priority is
to get the cubs inside
where it's safe.
The father keeps watch
while his family settles
into their new home.
(calling softly)
The males scent mark the entrance
to warn others that they
are now in residence.
It's a pungent concoction that will keep
even the nosiest neighbors away.
(relaxing music)
All along the Rio Branco,
life flourishes on the
sediment-rich waters.
The river banks are dotted with wildlife.
(bird calling)
Including the largest
rodents in the world.
Closely related to the guinea pig,
capybaras are equally at
home in or out of the water.
But the wealth of animals
attracts unwanted attention.
(capybara calls out)
A jaguar stalks the river bank.
Capybaras make a tasty meal.
The Amazon's apex predator
is rarely found far from the river,
and the abundance of
food on the Rio Branco
makes it an ideal hunting ground.
(capybara calls out) (splashing)
When escaping dangers,
the giant rodents can dive
and remain underwater
for up to five minutes.
(dramatic music)
The jaguar stalks off silently
to continue its search for food.
(sounds of the rainforest)
Back on the river islands,
the mid-morning peace is shattered.
(monkey howling)
Red howler monkeys can be heard
throughout the islands.
These secretive primates don't only use
their roaring calls to deter predators,
they also use them to
mark their territory.
(monkey howling)
Unlike their island neighbors,
the squirrel monkeys,
they tend to travel in smaller groups
and stick to the top of the canopy.
Excellent acrobats, the monkeys
rarely come down to the ground,
and during the floods,
they're even more reluctant,
all too aware of the
dangers that lurk beneath.
(gentle music)
It's now late July and water
levels are at their peak.
The forest floor has sunk
under 15 meters of water.
The flood waters bring about a change
in everyone's lives.
A colony of fire ants has been forced out
of their underground home
by the rising water levels,
providing an easy meal,
despite their painful sting.
(dramatic music)
This tree will provide a safe haven
until the waters fall
and they can return to the forest floor.
The resilient ants quickly move
into a vacant crack in the bark.
Some animals don't just survive,
they thrive in the new conditions.
(wild call)
(relaxing music)
Leaf cutter ants swarm through the trees.
Able to carry pieces of leaf
weighing 20 times their body weight,
they're born to work.
These are no ordinary ants.
It's believed their a separate species
to the ones who nest underground,
and they've developed a unique behavior.
They've swapped the forest
floor for the treetops.
By building their nests in the canopy,
they avoid the annual floods,
so, despite the rising waters,
they continue undisturbed.
Colonies can contain up
to 8,000,000 individuals,
making it one of the
most dominant creatures
in South America.
And one of the river islands'
most resilient residents.
Worker ants are sent
out to collect supplies.
Foraging far and wide,
they're able to find their way home
by laying out a thermal trail.
The pheromone is so powerful,
one gram of the scent
would be enough to lay an ant trail
all the way around the world.
Only the freshest and
juiciest leaves are selected.
Powerful jaws slice through
the cellulose with ease.
(dreamy music)
Once loaded up, the ants
then begin their journey
back to the nest.
Leaf cutter ants cultivate
a special fungus garden
deep within the nest.
(thoughtful music)
And are almost entirely
dependent on the fungus for food.
Maintaining the garden is crucial
to the survival of the colony.
Only the queen is able
to produce offspring.
She's capable of laying
thousands of eggs per day,
most of which are destined
to become workers.
The ants are true forest specialists,
and, out of the reach of the flood waters,
they continue to dominate.
Other insects have not adapted
to their new aquatic home quite so well.
Some are forced to venture
across the water's surface
in search of dry land.
It's a crossing fraught with danger.
Arowana lurk beneath.
The fish patrol close to the surface,
scanning for prey.
No insect is safe.
As the flood waters rise,
more and more get washed into reach.
It's a time for the arowana to fatten up
before the long dry season returns.
(splashing)
Some of the waterways'
more unusual creatures
are also taking advantage
of the new food available.
Needlefish lie just beneath surface.
Their slim profile helps
them to avoid detection.
They hunt by sight and are ready
to take advantage of any stragglers.
(water shwooshing)
Unlucky spiders are picked off with ease.
Carnivorous fish are not
the only underwater animals
enjoying a glut of food.
One of South America's largest animals
lurks in these waters.
The Amazonian manatee is an iconic symbol
of the Anavilhanas and
Mariua Archipelagos.
(reverent music)
Hiding out in the quiet backwaters,
they gorge on the food that arrives
with the flood waters.
For the manatee, this is a time of plenty.
And also a time to rear their young.
These shy mammals give
birth to a single calf
once every two years.
The mother will spend time
teaching the youngster
the best routes through
the maze of river channels.
The calf will need all its
mothers knowledge and support
with the dry season fast approaching.
It's now August
and the rainy season is coming to an end.
Water levels are finally starting to fall.
The animals and plants that
have survived the floods
can look forward to drier times ahead.
Eking out a living on
the ever-changing islands
can be a challenge,
but there are always ways
and means of doing so.
As the flood waters start to fall,
spectacular fish begin to appear
in the shallows of the forest.
Cardinal tetras are
found deep in the heart
of palm forests along the black waters
of the Rio Negro.
(speaking foreign language)
This family makes the
eight-hour round trip
from their village each day
in order to gather the tiny fish.
(thoughtful music)
(swirling water)
Their catch is destined
for exotic fish tanks
around the world
and provides the family with
a vital source of income.
Come midday, it's time to
head back to the village.
(hum of motor)
On their return, the
fish are quickly sorted.
The highly prized cardinal tetras
are separated and piled into boxes.
A thousand fish sells
for around five dollars.
A decent income, but
the family supplements
by hunting and fishing.
Once the morning's work is done,
the pace of village life slows.
(relaxing music)
By the end of September,
the heavy rains cease
and the water engulfing the river islands
has fallen by almost a third.
As the levels drop, beaches reappear.
For many, life starts to become easier.
Butterflies feed on freshly exposed land.
Migrant birds return to nest.
(bird calls out)
Newly exposed plants burst back into life
with a flush of green.
Squirrel monkeys are less fearful
of the world below as the
retreating flood waters
lead the dangers away.
Which is also good news for the sloths.
But for the islands' wet season visitors,
it's time to move out.
The manatee mother and calf
have feasted for the past four months.
They must now prepare to
return to the main channels
and begin their dry season fast.
And fish are also forced to leave
the islands' flooded forest
and return to the deeper river channels.
(triumphant music)
The Anivilhanas and Mariua Archipelagos
spread along a 1,000 kilometer
stretch of the Rio Negro.
They provide a home for
some of the hardiest animals
in the world.
As flood waters engulf
the islands each year,
those that live here are forced to endure
incredible extremes.
But animals have developed ways of coping
and have learned to master
their ever-changing environment.
It's either sink or swim
here in the floating
forests of the Amazon.
(dramatic music)