A look at the vast, arid lands in the heart of Asia. These deserts and dry grasslands are so hostile that they push life to the limit. The animals that live here are some of the earth's toughest.
In the heart of Asia lie vast, arid lands. These deserts and dry grasslands are so hostile that they push life to the limit. Here, one of the rarest animals on earth, the Gobi bear, searches desperately for water, and the bizarre-looking long-eared jerboas use their striking features to catch prey. Asiatic lions must do whatever it takes to find food, and juvenile cormorants resort to cannibalism to survive.
On the arid grasslands, Pallas cats need ingenious ways to get close to their prey, Mongolian gazelles must battle harsh winters and human barriers, and takhi are terrorised each night by Mongolian wolves.
Life in the arid heart of Asia demands extraordinary resilience – those that live here are the continent's great survivors.
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CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ quiz: Arid Heart
Become a master of the arid heart of Asia!
Clips
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Cormorant cannibals wreak havoc
Duration: 03:03
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Wild takhi horses versus a lone wolf
Duration: 02:03
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Trapped along the tracks
Duration: 01:28
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The world's loneliest bear
Duration: 02:59
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | David Attenborough |
| Production Manager | Natalie Cross |
| Executive Producer | Roger Webb |
| Series Producer | Matthew Wright |
| Producer | Nick Green |
Broadcasts
Sun 8 Dec 2024 18:20- Sunday 13:50Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One except Wales & Wales HD
- Mon 30 Dec 2024 04:20
Gazelle migration: stopped by the tracks
By Sam Rowley, Assistant Producer
Filming wolves and horses on the endless steppe
By Luke Barnett, Cinematographer
The world’s rarest bear
by Nick Green, Producer / Director
The challenges of filming in Asia’s arid heart
By Matthew Wright, Series Producer