Earth: One Amazing Day

1

[man narrating] For as long as humans

have existed on Earth,

we have looked to the heavens in wonder.

Fascinated by the countless stars

in the night sky.

But in all the unimaginable

vastness of space,

we found only one place like this.

It's a small blue planet,

with a rocky moon.

Travelling around a star.

It's just close enough

to be fed by its sun's energy,

but not blasted by its heat.

It spins on its axis,

so that for half a day

its surface basks in light,

then for half it cools in shade.

You might say, it's the lucky planet.

Because its rhythm of light and shade,

turns out to be a vital ingredient,

for life itself.

[birds squawking]

Earth, our home.

As far as we know, our planet is unique.

As far as we know,

one day spent here is the most

amazing thing in the whole universe.

[bird chirping]

[birdsong]

[bird chirping]

The magical dance of Earth and Sun,

has created millions of different kinds

of plants and animals,

alive on our Earth today.

Some, you see every day.

Others, are very rare.

But, we all have one thing in common.

Our lives are driven

by the rhythm of night and day.

- One hint of morning sunlight...

-[squawking]

and we respond in so many different ways.

-[birds squawking]

-[wings flapping]

[birds calling]

[plants rustling]

Some animals need it.

Others, hide from it.

Most of us, love it.

Some, even greet it with song.

[birds calling]

[koala calling]

[penguin chatter]

[sting rays boom into water]

Whatever way we choose to meet it,

sunrise is the power

that brings our world to life.

[zebras snorting]

Africa.

Here, the first hours of the day belong

not just to those who rise early,

but to those who stayed up late.

[swooshing]

This serval has been hunting

during the night.

[rustling]

But now he's pushing his luck.

He's out late,

trying for a final mouthful.

His high jumping technique is perfect,

for hunting amongst the long grass

of the African savanna.

He's looking for prey,

but mostly listening for it.

His enormous radar ears

can hear a pin drop.

Or a careless step

from a southern vlei rat.

[whooshing]

[screeching and mechanical whine sound]

Now the sunlight's growing stronger,

maybe it's time for bed.

On the other side of the world,

on an isolated group of Pacific islands,

there are animals who can't even think

about running around so early in the day.

They can't do anything until they've

been warmed up by the Sun's power.

The Galapagos Islands are home for some

of the most unusual animals on Earth.

Marine iguana.

Their morning ritual is always the same.

As the sun comes up on their island home,

they simply sprawl on the rocks,

lapping it up.

[insect buzzing]

Reptiles are pretty much solar-powered.

They need the sun's heat,

before they can move a muscle.

[crunching noise]

[snorts]

And they're not the only creatures

soaking up the sun.

Galapagos racer snakes aren't big enough

to trouble an adult iguana.

But, something smaller?

Away from the rocks where grown-ups live,

buried in the sand,

baby iguanas have been incubating

underground...

for over three months.

[rocks shifting]

Today when the Sun has warmed the sand,

they will emerge.

[ding]

It's time for this one,

to crawl out into the rest of life.

If she starts too early,

before she's warm enough,

she won't have the energy

to run very fast.

If she leaves too late,

then her enemies may be supercharged.

It's the biggest decision

she'll ever make.

[intense drumbeat]

She made it.

The snakes missed their chance.

But more babies are hatching.

And now the snakes are on alert.

It's the best opportunity

they will get to eat all year.

[dramatic music playing]

On flat ground a baby iguana

can outrun a racer snake.

But, others are waiting in ambush.

Another hatchling has his first glimpse

of a dangerous world.

[music fades]

-[rocks shifting]

-[dramatic music playing]

[dramatic music intensifies]

The snake's eyes aren't very good,

but they can detect movement.

So, if the hatchling keeps its nerve,

it may just be okay.

An amazing escape.

The biggest achievement

of any young animal's life.

Powered by our local star.

[animals calling]

Mid-morning.

As the Sun climbs higher,

its rays reach further.

Bringing magic wherever they touch.

[light twinkling]

Plants turn the light into life.

They take thin air and the Sun's energy

and with photosynthesis make new growth.

Conjuring up tangled forest worlds,

leaf by leaf.

[plants crackling and rustling]

It's the alchemy upon which

everything else on Earth depends.

A matter of life,

and death.

[insect squeaking]

[loud crush]

One plant can weave

its particular spell in a single clay.

This is bamboo.

It can grow almost a millimetre a minute.

The fastest growing plant in the world.

It's still only mid-morning.

Most of this has grown since dawn.

[loud crunching]

And since dawn,

this giant panda has been eating it.

The trouble with bamboo,

is that it's not very nutritious.

The trouble with pandas,

is that they're very fussy.

Bamboo is almost

the only thing they'll eat.

To get enough energy to feed herself,

this panda will need

to eat up to 14 hours today.

Longer probably, because she's nursing.

But for her cub, it's different.

She lives mostly on her mother's milk,

so chewing is only really her hobby.

Not yet a full-time job.

This morning, she has something

rare in the natural world.

Time to spare.

And, to explore.

[panda softly grunting]

Because of their specialised way of life,

giant pandas are amongst

the rarest animals in the world.

Cubs like her are more precious still.

There are only a few hundred alive.

A rare animal with the rarest luxury.

Time.

As the morning sun grows in strength,

it begins to brew a spell

of a different kind.

The Sun is pouring energy

into our atmosphere, heating it up.

It evaporates water from land and sea,

and builds clouds.

Across Africa, clouds and weather

are constantly on the move,

bringing rain and fresh grass

to different places at different times.

For millions of animals,

the job of every morning is to move

to where the rain

will make the grass grow next.

Whatever stands in their way.

This morning,

the need to keep moving will present a

particular challenge for one young zebra.

This foal could walk

less than an hour after birth.

She can handle almost anything.

But she's never faced

an obstacle like this.

Swollen by highland rain,

the river is fast and furious.

And full of dangers.

The young zebra is going to need

every bit of her mother's help,

if she's going to make it.

[zebras whinnying]

It turns out the biggest threat

isn't attack by other animals,

it's the river itself.

Her mother tries to lead the foal

to the shallowest waters,

but she's just too small.

And the current's just too strong.

The foal is on the verge of exhaustion,

but her mother will not give up.

[zebra whining]

While others are escaping,

she calls for her foal to keep going.

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