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EP01: VOICES OF NATURE

For thousands of years, Korea was known for its staggering natural beauty. Now it is better known for its decades of conflict. This is what defines North and South Korea to the outside world today, but beyond the battle scars and the fortifications, there is another side to this troubled peninsular. South Korea still boasts areas of great wilderness with intriguing animals, some of which share extraordinary relationships with humankind. It is in these connections, rather than in division, that we truly see Korea.

At the southernmost tip we follow a pod of Pacific bottlenose dolphins through the volcanic islands of Jeju. They click at each other as they encounter a human at depth. But the dolphins know this diver well – they have shared the ocean with the Haenyeo, or ‘Sea Women’ for thousands of years. We travel onwards to the isolated island of Marado where three generations of sea women are preparing for an important dive. Today is the start of the conch season and these women will work hard, whatever the weather, to maximise their catch.

In the grounds of an ancient palace on the mainland, a raccoon dog family takes advantage of a rare event. Just once every five years, hundreds of cicada nymphs emerge from gestation below ground, providing an easy feast for the raccoon dogs as they voraciously fill their bellies. Those that escape their jaws make for the safety of the trees where they metamorphose into their flying form.

On the mudflats of Suncheon Bay we find a habitat that is neither land nor sea. Only recently has the ecological value of mudflats been recognised. A staggering 50% of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by phytoplankton – microscopic algae – that are found here in great abundance. That is why the mudflats are known locally as ‘The Lungs of the Earth’. Plankton is far from the only lifeform here. The mud of the bay is rich in nutrients and supports one of the most diverse ecosystems on the peninsula. Here, we follow the story of a young mudskipper; he has just has emerged for his first mating season but his journey to find love is paved with obstacles . . .

In the mountainous forests of central South Korea, Park Yong Soon, a traditional falconer, reveals an intimate relationship with a very special goshawk. He caught her from the wild – as is the tradition in Korea – and is building a bond with her. She is a magnificent hunter, able to manoeuvre with great agility through the forest in pursuit of prey. But the falconer knows their relationship may be short-lived. In Korea, a bird of prey is free to return to the wild whenever it chooses.

From swarms of fireflies and Baikal teal, to giant-footed birds and fish-eating spiders, Korea is home to unique and extraordinary wildlife; and to some equally extraordinary people. At 94 years old, Wal Soo Rae is not only the oldest living Haenyeo, but the oldest diver anywhere in the world. We are treated to an amazing event when Wal Soo Rae free dives for what could be the very last time. She may be hanging up her mask and fins, but her way traditional way of life will continue for many years to come.



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