South Korea: Earth's Hidden Wilderness Page #2

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and cooperative society.

All the bees are dedicated

to the colony...

..at times vibrating their bodies

to produce heat and maintain

a perfect temperature

for the next generation.

But the bees are not alone

in the forest.

An Asian giant hornet

has identified their location.

The hornet studies the nest

before returning to its own colony.

This scout has information to share.

Using an advanced form

of chemical communication,

the scout passes on details

of the exact location

of the honey bees' nest.

The scout returns.

The bees shake in unison

to warn off the hornet.

But this time he is not alone.

The hornets do sometimes eat the

bees themselves

but they are more interested

in the protein-rich larvae inside.

Individual bees have no chance

against the hornets.

Gradually they weaken

the bees' defence.

There are many casualties.

But it will take more than this

to overcome the colony.

The bees prepare to fight back.

The counterattack is started

by a handful of worker bees.

It appears suicidal.

But the bees are programmed to lay

down their lives

for the survival of the colony.

And the tables begin to turn.

Bee stings can't kill the hornets.

But they do weaken them.

As the bees gain the upper hand,

pushing their attackers back...

..they now release the full force

of their defence for

the last remaining hornet.

They swarm, immobilising it.

The bees vibrate,

raising the temperature

at the centre to a level

the hornet cannot withstand.

And the hornet is cooked alive.

The bees have developed this

unique and effective defence

over millennia.

Many more bees than hornets died

in this encounter.

But their colony has survived...

..and will continue to thrive

here in the forest...

..until the next encounter.

200 miles away...

..the mud flats of Suncheon Bay

in the south of the Korean mainland.

During the monsoon,

they receive one of the highest

levels of rainfall anywhere

in Korea.

It can rain constantly here

for weeks at a time.

But it is not the

torrential downpours

that have shaped this landscape.

Suncheon Bay is a tidal ecosystem

that is neither land nor sea.

Each day, the tidal waters

of the bay withdraw

to reveal over eight square

miles of thick mud -

a seemingly inhospitable landscape.

But the local people thrive here,

as they have done

for thousands of years.

No modern vehicle can cross the mud.

Instead, the local people get around

here on specially designed boards.

It is hard going but the rewards

are huge.

The mud of the day is

rich in nutrients

and supports one of the most

diverse ecosystems in Korea.

Today the mud flat industry

is larger than ever before.

Seafood makes up a huge part

of the Korean diet.

And much of it comes

from Suncheon Bay.

Thousands of tonnes

are harvested here every year.

Yet, despite the increase

in fishing activity in the bay,

the mudflats are so rich

that they are quick to replenish

what is taken out

during the harvest.

Some of the most abundant

creatures here

are various forms

of mudskipper,

the misfits of the aquatic world.

They spend almost as much time

out of the water as they do in it.

And that's possible

as long as they remain moist,

allowing them to absorb

oxygen through their skin.

There are several different species

of mudskipper here.

Shuttles hoppfish

is among the smallest.

This male is just

five centimetres long,

and he has only just reached

sexual maturity.

Now this young hopeful

must find himself a mate.

70 miles north is Upo, the largest

natural swampland in South Korea.

This prehistoric wetland is

home to many rare species,

and it's a protected

conservation zone.

In summer much of Upo

is carpeted with lilies.

One of the most prolific

is the ancient and aptly-named

prickly water lily.

The jacana has developed

exceptionally long toes

to spread its weight

across the thin lilies

and create a bridge

above the spikes.

But even for jacana,

it takes a little practice.

Their reward is an abundance

of insect life

on the surface of the water.

As night falls over the wetlands,

another type of predator

takes their place on the lilies.

A raft spider.

For an ambush predator...

..location is everything.

She cleverly positions herself

where the traffic is busiest.

Highly sensitive to vibrations,

these spiders can detect

potential prey

beneath the surface

of the water.

But this is no ordinary

insect-eating spider.

She has bigger fish to fry.

She is poised, ready to strike.

The first attempt fails...

..and the prey escapes.

Patience, however,

is the fisherman's best weapon.

She bides her time...

Success!

The spider immediately sinks

its hollow fangs into the prey

to deliver

a lethal dose of venom.

And it's over within

a matter of moments.

20 miles away is Junam reservoir...

..the site of one of Korea's most

spectacular natural events.

A cloud of Baikal teal,

all soaring in perfect unison.

Junam reservoir is the largest

migratory bird sanctuary

in South Korea.

The lake never freezes,

making it a perfect winter stopover

for many migrating birds.

Each year, around a million of these

water birds arrive in Korea.

They migrate from eastern Siberia...

..in search of warmer climes.

They fly in dense formations,

wing tip to wing tip.

This hypnotic spectacle has earned

these visitors a unique place

in the heart of Korean culture.

In this part of the world,

many birds are seen as sacred.

One of the most revered species

lives in the mountainous forests

of central Korea.

Amongst the dense woodland,

an ancient tradition endures.

That of the falconer.

Yong Soon Park has recently

captured a goshawk from the wild,

and is crafting a sichimi.

Equipment like this

cannot be bought.

Each falconer must learn

to craft his own.

It is a part of the tradition.

The feather and bell

help to track his bird,

and the bull-horned head shows that

the bird belongs to him.

At least, for now.

Goshawks are as individual

as we are.

Some are nervous,

others are stubborn.

So the falconer must learn

to tailor his approach.

More than anything,

falconry requires trust.

Falconer Park has spent many,

many hours with his hawk,

to build that bond.

But however strong their connection,

it is also fleeting.

HAWK SQUEAKS:

HE MAKES CLICKING NOISES

The most important tradition

of Korean falconry

is that the falconers

do not keep their birds for life.

They accept that a hawk is wild

and can never be fully tamed.

HE SHOUTS:

The goshawk has short, wide wings,

allowing it to pass through gaps

at speeds of up to 40mph...

..and a long rudder-like tail

for sharp turns.

That makes it an extremely

successful hunter.

In Suncheon Bay, it's the mating

season for mudskippers,

and this young male is searching

for a suitable mate.

It appears the odds are stacked

against him.

In his quest,

he must cross open water

to reach a potential mating site

on the far side.

There are predators in these waters.

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