South Korea: Earth's Hidden Wilderness Page #3

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He makes it across, but is not yet

completely out of harm's way.

Mudskippers, although hardly

considered a delicacy...

..are eaten.

They are also used

in Chinese medicine

and there is a profit to be made

for this fisherman.

A near miss.

The young mudskipper escapes and

moves on to unexplored territory.

Other species of mudskipper

can be territorial.

Some are highly aggressive.

He wisely moves on.

Eventually, the young male spots

a patch he likes the look of.

Far fewer rivals.

This will do very nicely.

A single female.

He performs his courtship dance.

She seems unimpressed.

But he shuffles a little closer...

..and tries again.

She is much larger,

so this is very much

her decision to make.

Just when it looks like

the young male's luck has run out...

..she appears to have

a change of heart.

He sucks her face...

..and she is not completely put off.

The pairing has been agreed.

But the next stage won't happen

in front of an audience.

Their mating will take place

below ground...

..safely inside a mud burrow.

North of the mudflats

of Suncheon

is a very different

but equally rich environment.

60% of South Korea is forested and

much of its biodiversity is found

in these ecosystems.

This peculiar-looking creature

is a beetle larva.

It is following a trail

across the forest floor.

A slime trail...

..left by its intended prey.

The helpless marsh snail

produces a foaming mucus

in an attempt to confuse

its attacker.

But to no avail.

The larva injects paralysing

digestive fluids

directly into the snail...

..and begins to feed.

It may seem cruel...

..but the beetle must feed

to fulfil its role in life.

The nutrients it has gained

will help its transformation.

Bioluminescent chemicals in its

abdomen begin to glow.

It is a firefly larva,

and once freed from its casing,

it lights up the dark skies...

..a spectacle South Korea

is renowned for.

Proof that in nature,

scenes of great beauty

can often conceal a darker reality.

In the southern province of Jeju,

the conch season

is drawing to a close.

For many years, the island was known

as Geumdo, meaning "forbidden",

because of the treacherous

conditions here.

The sea is rough

but the Haenyeo

have been diving all day.

There is still an abundance

of conch to collect.

The Haenyeo are highly sensitive

to any changes

in the underwater currents.

Even a small change down here can

signal life-threatening conditions.

But the Haenyeo are tenacious.

Today, despite the increasing risk,

they decide to stay in the water

and now, they must work quickly.

Finally, with their nets filled,

their work is done.

Exhausted from hours of diving,

they are vulnerable.

Having lost one woman to the sea

last year,

they know all too well

the cost of making a mistake now.

With a final effort, they drag

their heavy nets out of the water.

All that remains now is to weigh

the day's catch.

The signs are good.

The harvest has been

a successful one.

The risks that they have taken

have paid off.

But, the day has taken its toll...

..more so for some than others.

The Haenyeo will return to dive

again tomorrow.

But perhaps not all of them.

Wal Soo Ra has worked in the waters

of Marado for 80 years,

sharing them with the others

that live here.

She hopes that the knowledge

she has gained will be passed on...

..and that the Haenyeo culture

will continue to prosper here...

..existing in harmony with the seas.

The traditional ways of life

that endure in Korea today remind us

that people have thrived

for millennia,

living harmoniously

with the natural world...

..and its many fascinating

inhabitants.

In Korea today, as in much of the

developed world...

..things are changing quickly.

But wild Korea still

has its treasures...

..and its place

in the country's heart.

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