Planet Earth part two - press pack
Programme two: Planet Earth - Great Plains
The vast open wildernesses of African savannah, Asian steppe, Arctic tundra and
North American prairie are the great plains of the planet.
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Together they cover
more than a quarter of the land on Earth and one living thing is at their heart
–
grass.
This humble plant feeds the greatest gatherings of wildlife found anywhere on
Earth.
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The most abundant bird in the world –
red-billed quelea –
swarm across
the African savannah devouring grass seeds; while every year herds of
wildebeest mass in East Africa in search of new grass; and on the Arctic tundra
caribou migrate for 2,000 miles on a quest for good grazing.
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After filming for three years, Planet Earth finally captures the most
mysterious herd of all –
the shy Mongolian gazelle.
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It's thought that there are
two million on this remote corner of Asia, but no one really knows. And only a
handful of people have witnessed their annual migration.
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The highest living mammals exist 6,000 metres above sea level on the highest
grasslands in the world – the Tibetan Plateau.
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Although the plateau is frozen
and parched, wild yak and ass and a ground dwelling relative of the rabbit –
the pika –
inhabit these spartan plains.
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The elusive and bizarre looking
Tibetan fox is captured on film for the first time here as it hunts the pika.
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Soaked in monsoon rains and bathed in tropical sun, the tallest grassland
plains of Northern India hide a diverse range of animals from elephants and
rhino, to the smallest of all wild pigs – the rare pygmy hog.
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Like the Indian plains, the tropical savannahs of Africa grow lush in the wet
season, but during the dry season they can become a dust bowl.
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In Botswana,
massive herds of buffalo and elephant trek hundreds of miles in search of water
and new grass.
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Over six weeks, Planet Earth follows a pride of 30 lions –
one of the largest in
Africa –
as they attempt to hunt elephants around one of the few remaining
waterholes.
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Night after night, and driven by hunger, the lions size up different
elephants. Using the latest night vision equipment, the crew film the chaotic
battles that ensue at close quarters until, finally, the pride pursue and
overwhelm a thirsty adolescent elephant.
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Producer – Jonny Keeling
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Planet Earth Dairy
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Great Plains – Shot In The Dark
By producer Jonny Keeling
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Lions hunting elephants has only ever been seen by a handful of people on
Earth, so when we prepared to film this sequence we knew we were up against it.
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Basing ourselves at a camp deep in the African bush, we set about trying to
find a pride of lions reputed to be elephant killers.
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With experienced camerawoman Justine Evans on board, we finally caught up with
the lions.
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A pack of around 30 –
one of the largest in Africa –
surrounded our
open-backed vehicle in the middle of the night.
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It was petrifying sitting in
the pitch black with hungry lions next to the Jeep as there was nothing to stop
the cats from jumping into the back of our vehicle.
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Following the pride all night proved challenging. The bush was thick and the
African terrain was tough on the vehicles.
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Running repairs had to be carried
out, with the pride prowling noisily around just metres away in the darkness.
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Keeping constant watch on the lions all night and then trying to sleep during
the 50 degree heat of the day was exhausting.
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Our lack of sleep over six weeks
made it all the more difficult when the lions finally began to hunt. We needed
all our wits about us to avoid herds of panicked elephant charging out of the
darkness.
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As the lions and elephants battled it out, Justine and I sat in the thick of it
and captured the extraordinary hunt sequence –
using infra-red night vision
equipment.
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Not only was it incredible footage it was also documenting behaviour
new to science.
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But despite finally achieving our goal and filming the dramatic
hunt we had strived so hard to capture, the resulting carnage left us saddened
rather than euphoric.
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