Nature

SMITS

There's an island in the Caribbean that early European sailors called the Isle of Enchantment. But today, many of the charismatic creatures that those first explorers encountered are on the brink of extinction. Now, a dedicated group is fighting for their survival.

DIEZ

It's a way of life. It's actually a vocation, it's not a job. You do it with passion. You do it because you think it's important to do.

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They'll go to extraordinary lengths to protect its animals.

MIGNUCCI

Moving two animals that are 600 pounds, they could die.

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The team uses cutting-edge science and even seduction to help vulnerable species.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

We provide the dating service, we provide the room just for them to make love, sweet love.

Bird squawks

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This is Puerto Rico. In the heart of Puerto Rico's rainforest, a vast natural sinkhole provides the perfect location for a strange structure. This is the world-renowned Arecibo telescope...

Beeping

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...a gigantic metal ear listening for whispers of life from far beyond our planet.

Beeping continues

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Its extraterrestrial mission continues day and night. But the forest around it echoes with its own alien voices.

Frog calling

Water dripping

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This might sound like E.T. lost in the woods.

Calling continues

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But it is actually a tiny frog called the coqui.

Calling continues

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Although it is no bigger than a thumbnail, the male's ear-splitting call has been recorded at over 100 decibels.

Frog calls

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It is thought to be the loudest frog in the world. The males use their call as a mating song to attract female coquis.

Frog calls

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Their chorus can be heard all over the island.

Calling continues

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And the frog's nightly serenade has a special place in the hearts of Puerto Ricans. Hey, yo, where my coquis at? Let 'em know how we get down Come on, sing along I just love that sound I'm Puerto Rican and proud, boy For those who don't know my steez I've been doing this since the '80s Here to represent, a true boricua from the heart I don't do this for the love of the money I do this for the love of the art The Taino tribe, which ruled Puerto Rico over 1,000 years ago, even carved its image into the rocks, and it remains a national symbol to this day.

WOMAN

Once we hear that song of theirs, we just fell in love with it.

MAN

Coqui, coqui. Let 'em know how we get down Come on, sing along

WOMAN

Coqui, coqui. I just love that sound Hey, yo, where my coquis at?

MAN

Coqui, coqui. It's beautiful. It's -- it's something that's part of us. Come on, sing along I just love that sound

Frog calls

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Despite people's fondness for this little frog, they have not always protected its forest home. Puerto Rico is 1,000 miles from Florida, on the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea. The main island of the archipelago is only 100 miles long. When Columbus first landed here in 1493, it was covered with ancient rainforest. Gradually, as the modern world encroached, the island's natural resources were diminished. By 1900, only 5% of its forests remained. One special creature, which can be found nowhere else on the planet, was pushed to the brink of extinction.

Parrots squawking

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The Puerto Rican Amazon parrot. At one point, there were only 13 of these precious birds left in the world. Today, they are still so rare, each individual is fitted with a radio transmitter so it can be tracked. And they remain the island's most endangered species. The Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program is based at a secret location in the rainforest. It's a captive breeding center for these birds. In specialized enclosures, they are encouraged to mate.

Birds squawking

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Their progress is monitored around the clock. The chicks they produce will be released back into the wild. And this year, they plan to let out the largest flock of Puerto Rican Amazons so far into El Yunque National Forest.

Birds squawking

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The man running this rescue mission loves these birds. Jafet Vlez-Valentn has devoted his entire life to saving Puerto Rico's parrots.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

Originally, when I began to work in this program, I thought it was going to be something temporary, but once I start learning about them, working with them in the wild, working with them in captivity, you literally fall in love with the species, and it's a decision I will never, ever regret.

Birds squawking

VELEZ-VALENTIN

We need to have happy, healthy, fertile pairs. If we have that, chicks will be a byproduct. Sometimes we call ourselves matchmakers for parrots, e-Harmony for birds. And when you're working with a pair and you're able to study their behavior and finally make a good match, it's great.

SMITS

But sometimes there are problems. A female has not been producing fertile eggs. So the island's specialist wildlife vet, Dr. Antonio Rivera, will sedate her and take a closer look.

RIVERA

The Puerto Rican parrots are very hard-tempered. they could die in your hands just because they're mad. They don't want you to handle them. I make sure that they're strong, that they're breathing. I try not to stress them too much, because they're different. They're very special.

SMITS

Antonio makes a small incision and then uses a tiny camera probe to inspect her ovaries.

RIVERA

I see the cranial pole of the kidney, and then the ovary should be right there, and there is what looks like an undeveloped ovary down there, and that might mean that she's having problems, that's why she's not producing any chicks.

SMITS

This female cannot produce fertile eggs, but Jafet has observed that she still has a strong, maternal, nest-building instinct.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

I will try to work with her, providing her fertile eggs about to hatch, and she will be our next foster mother.

SMITS

But there's always a danger that surrogate parents will reject and even destroy newly-adopted eggs. The first 24 hours are critical to determining if she will make a good foster mom. The Puerto Rican mainland has over 300 miles of coastline......from rugged, rocky shores......to the canals that meander through the mangroves. Beautiful beaches. And vast beds of sea grass in the shallow seas. This is home to the island's most endangered marine mammal. Puerto Rican manatees cruise these waters, spending most of their time feeding on the sea grass. But while they graze, they are vulnerable to being struck by speeding Jet Skis and boats. There are fewer than 700 manatees alive today in Puerto Rico. And with so few left, the survival of each individual is important. Just outside the capital city of San Juan is the Manatee Conservation Center. Tony Mignucci rehabilitates injured and orphaned manatees here. He has three pools where manatees in need can be cared for. The smallest pool holds baby Tureygu, who became separated from his mother at birth. He is still being fed formula six times a day. Guacara is in the biggest pool. Unfortunately, he was so badly injured after being hit by a boat, he will never swim well enough to be returned to the ocean. But he is happily spending his retirement playing on his float. And in the middle pool are two juvenile manatees that Tony is preparing to return to the wild. Both are getting used to wearing tail collars so they can be satellite tracked after their release.

MIGNUCCI

In this tank, we have Yuisa and Aramana. They were brought in as calves. Aramana, the male, was orphaned by its mother in the town of Dorado 4 1/2 years ago. Yuisa got separated from its mother because of high tide and bad weather, and the mom couldn't find it anymore. So we brought her. She is only 2 1/2 years old, and she has outgrown the older male. Our last release was six years ago, and what's special about this release is this will be our first time releasing a pair together. They have been in the pool bonding for the past six months in the hope that they will stay together. If they did, it would be a beautiful story.

SMITS

Aramana and Yuisa need to weigh at least 600 pounds, the weight of three men, before they can be released. So Tony's team of students and volunteers prepares two manatee-sized vegetarian feasts every day so that they can put on enough weight. Each of these youngsters eats 25% of their weight in fruit and vegetables a week, including 25 lettuces a day. Before the manatees can be released, the team needs to ensure that they are in good health. Manatees are aquatic mammals that have lungs and breathe air, so if managed carefully, they can survive out of water. Dr. Antonio Rivera has learned to be a highly versatile vet. As well as helping the Parrot Recovery Program, he has been working with the manatees for 15 years. Today, he will drain a small abscess on Aramana's back.

Indistinct talking

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To carry out this surgical procedure, the team will need to turn him over on his belly.

Indistinct talking

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But he prefers lying on his back.

Man shouts

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Manatees don't always respond well to sedation.

MAN

Three.

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So Tony's team applies a "group hug" to restrain him during surgery.

All shouting

RIVERA

We do get on top of the animals, and we wrestle them down. So we have 13 of my students and technicians on top of the animal, and they know how to hold him down. We're going to open Aramana's abscess to drain. If we do not open it, then it's going to keep building up and building up and it's not going to be able to cure, so we have to open it with a blade. Okay...

SMITS

Using a sharp scalpel on a bucking manatee is dangerous.

Conversation in Spanish

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RIVERA

For people that haven't seen this, it's kind of disgusting. it is like a big pimple.

Man speaking Spanish

CARLY

Oh, my God.

SMITS

Aramana's abscess is worse than Antonio expected. He's going to have to drain the infection.

RIVERA

I have to make a larger opening there.

Woman speaking Spanish

Conversation in Spanish

RIVERA

CARLY

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaking Spanish

SMITS

Aramana is becoming stressed. He hasn't taken a breath in over a minute.

MIGNUCCI

Unlike land mammals that breathe all the time, marine mammals are voluntary breathers, so, actually, if you put them out of the water, their nostrils will be closed. And they have to think to be able to breathe.

RIVERA

We may have to stop for a short time. And he hasn't been breathing like we want to.

Conversation in Spanish

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They pour water over Aramana's nose to mimic the feeling of surfacing for air in the hope that he will take a breath. He could die if he doesn't breathe soon.

TAMARA

Breath.

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Much to the team's relief, he starts breathing.

RIVERA

Okay. We're done.

Conversation in Spanish

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Tony is hoping Aramana will recover quickly so he can be returned to the ocean.

MIGNUCCI

We have to change protocol, providing the antibiotics orally, which is a challenge, but, also, we have to clean that wound. If we slack off, then we're not going to have a releasable animal.

SMITS

For now, Aramana is content, playing in the water as his pool fills up. The warm tropical waters surrounding Puerto Rico are some of the richest in the Caribbean.

Dolphins clicking, squeaking

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They're home to coral reefs and other precious oceanic life. Five threatened species of sea turtles can be found in these waters. Carlos Diez is a world-renowned turtle conservationist. He captures critically endangered hawksbill turtles as part of a research program that is helping to save the species. Hawksbills are a valuable commodity, prized for their shells and meat. Carlos gathers evidence to help make laws to protect them.

DIEZ

Like this.

Speaks Spanish

DIEZ

When we started our work 25 years ago, we started with the hawksbill turtle, which is a very rare species. It's critically endangered. And there was a demand for international trade, and there were many gaps in its biology that we were able to help answer.

Speaks Spanish

DIEZ

We learn things about the growth rate and how fast those animals can mature. That tell us, you know, how many turtles will be in the future or if it is feasible to harvest them or not in a sustainable way.

SMITS

Carlos provided vital evidence to support a new international agreement to ban hawksbill turtle shell trade.

DIEZ

Okay.

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Since the ban, their numbers have been rising steadily in key nesting areas. But Carlos isn't stopping here.

DIEZ

Now that turtles are coming back, that means that we will have more interaction with humans, because we share some of their areas, we share nesting beaches, we share the reef because man wants to do marinas and wants to do ports. And there's a lot of problem with habitat degradation.

SMITS

Carlos is now turning his attention to one idyllic stretch of beach where another species of vulnerable turtle lays its eggs. Dorado Beach is one of the most important nesting sites for leatherback turtles in the whole Caribbean. Unfortunately, this beach also attracts developers eager to cash in on its natural beauty. For now, turtles still haul their enormous bodies out of the water to nest at night. Leatherbacks can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and measure over 6 1/2 feet.

DIEZ

Leatherbacks are amazing. In the old days, they were considered sea monsters. They are the largest turtles in the world. It's a big animal. Some people compare it with a Volkswagen.

SMITS

Using only her back flippers, she will dig a hole some 2 feet deep. Without ever seeing what she's making, she delicately creates a chamber.

DIEZ

They manage to make a perfect hole, basically like a bottle, you know, it has a neck and then suddenly becomes wide. And then -- then she will start laying the eggs.

Turtle grunts

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Leatherback females lay about 80 eggs per nest.

Turtle grunts

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Each egg is almost as big as a tennis ball. They will hatch in two months' time. Once her eggs are laid, she gently presses sand into the hole.

Turtle grunts

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She then returns to the ocean and will never see them again. In his fight to protect leatherback turtle nest sites, Carlos must occasionally swap his flippers and snorkel for trousers and a shirt. He's presenting the case for Dorado Beach in the Puerto Rican courts. Carlos isn't the only person to give evidence.

Speaks Spanish

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The judge's verdict will decide whether or not the turtle nest sites will be protected.

Man speaking Spanish

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Without this intervention, Dorado Beach could be sold to the highest bidder, leaving the turtles with an uncertain future.

Speaking Spanish

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Puerto Rico's natural habitats are under constant threat from one dominant species. The human population here has doubled in the last century. Now, after years of neglecting their environment, many Puerto Ricans want their island to be green again. Today, more than 60% of the island's forest have started to recover.

Birds chirping

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Many of the spectacular native species are being given a chance to thrive once again.

Chirping continues

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Some, like the Puerto Rican parrot, have been rescued from the edge of extinction. At the breeding center, the infertile female and her new parrot partner have settled in to being foster parents. The female has been incubating the adopted eggs as if they were her own. Now, on the grainy monitors, the team watches as her eggs start to hatch.

Chick chirping

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The technique of sneaking fertile eggs under good mothers has dramatically improved the number of chicks they've been able to hatch.

Chick chirps

VELEZ-VALENTIN

Back in 1979, the first chick was ever produced in captivity, and after that, a good year for the program was maybe one or two chicks per year. When you look at right now, as of today, chick number 43 of the season just hatched this morning. We are very excited because this guy, in about two months, it's going to be a fledgling. And probably within the next couple of years, it's going to be a free flying Puerto Rican parrot, another one for the wild.

SMITS

While the new chicks are enjoying their home comforts, last year's hatchlings are now juveniles living as a flock in the main aviary.

Birds squawking

VELEZ-VALENTIN

We call this cage flight school because this is the first big step before they are finally selected for the release group.

SMITS

Releasing this flock could boost the wild population of 200 parrots by more than 10%.

Birds squawking

VELEZ-VALENTIN

There we have Pink Heart. Pink Heart is a 1-year-old male and seems to be one of the best candidates for the release group. Before we installed the dog tags, we used beer caps. And one bird that was identified as Heineken, and another bird start showing some behavior as a pair. They are flocking together, flying together, spending a lot of time together, and they will be released together into the wild.

SMITS

Heineken, Pink Heart, and the whole flock receive regular training to build up the strength of their wing muscles in this aerial gym.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

When you have a group of birds in captivity, you've got fresh water every day, fresh food every day. The only thing you got to do is just wake up in the morning, stretch your wings, get the food, and forget about the rest of the day. Well, we don't want that to happen to the birds we are going to release into the wild. We don't want them to become couch potatoes.

SMITS

It's not just about exercise. If they are to make it in the wild, they must learn to avoid predators.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

When a hawk attacks a group of parrots, we have been able to time how long it takes them to kill a parrot. And, usually, if the parrot can fly for more than a minute and 30 seconds, the chances for the hawk to get them will be very, very, very low. So we want to make sure that they can fly over three minutes without losing their stamina. So that's why it looks like we are harassing an endangered species. We are not doing that. On the contrary, we are making sure they will survive in the wild.

MAN

Dos, uno, vamos.

Watch beeping

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Time is up for today's training. Heineken and Pink Heart's flock is almost ready to be released into the wild. If they remain strong, they will be freed in just a few weeks.

Insects chirping

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In one of the nest boxes, an unsuspecting parrot pair is dozing with two newborn chicks and one unhatched egg. The monitors reveal an unexpected intruder in the nest box. The Puerto Rican boa is one of the island's top native predators. This one has broken in looking for an easy meal. Unless the parents wake up soon, the chicks are doomed. The moment they realize the danger, they attack. Sharp beaks and talons drive the snake away.

Squawking

Chick chirps

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Incredibly, both chicks and the unhatched egg are safe. The Puerto Rican Amazon is clearly a fighter. That's good news for such a vulnerable species.

Chick chirps

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On the southwestern tip of the island lies Puerto Rico's most alien landscape. These are the Cabo Rojo salt flats.

Birds chirping

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They are a mecca for wading birds.

Chirping continues

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Species such as the plover nest here.

Chirping continues

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Surrounded by water that is both super-saturated with salt and a rather unusual color, the pink comes from a high concentration of colorful microorganisms that thrive in these salty conditions. Humans have harvested the salt in these saltpans for thousands of years. At the manatee pools, they use this same salt to turn freshwater into ocean water. It's been two weeks since Aramana started his course of antibiotics, and he's now due for a checkup.

RIVERA

We had to work a lot to make sure the infection went away, but it finally receded, and they have a small scar, but that's all that's left, and in time, we'll barely be able to see that.

SMITS

Now they must pass a crucial weigh-in. They need to have plenty of fat reserves while they learn how to feed themselves in the ocean. They must weigh at least 600 pounds each.

MIGNUCCI

725 pounds.

SMITS

Yuisa is a big girl.

Conversation in Spanish

SMITS

But Aramana is smaller. And if he doesn't weigh enough, he won't be released.

MIGNUCCI

639 pounds. Heavy enough.

SMITS

Tony can now make the final preparations for their release. Sunrise at Dorado Beach. 60 days after the leatherback turtle eggs were laid, tracks in the sand show that most have hatched. But there are still a few stragglers emerging. These baby leatherbacks have dug their way upward through 2 feet of sand. Sea birds patrolling the beach are always ready to strike. The baby turtles have only one option......to make a mad dash for the ocean. While the drama unfolds on the beach, the courtroom drama that will determine the fate of future turtle generations is reaching its climax. The local community loves their turtles. But the decision to protect the beach still hangs in the balance. The local people have presented a compelling case, and the court declares the beach a protected zone.

Cheers and applause

DIEZ

It is very important because this beach will be now protected, especially from urban development and light pollution.

SMITS

In the future, when these hatchlings are adults, they will be able to return to Dorado and find a safe haven to lay their own eggs. Back on land, another nest of hatchlings is growing up fast. In just a few weeks, the foster parents' adopted brood has developed from bald, blind, and helpless hatchlings......to chubby chicks......and into demanding juveniles.

Squawking

SMITS

Soon they will grow feathers. And it won't be long before they are moved into the aviary to learn how to fly.

Birds squawking

SMITS

But first, this year's class in the flight school must graduate.

Bird squawking

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Every parrot that's about to be released will be fitted with a radio transmitter so Jafet's team can track them in the wild.

MAN

Trim it down.

SMITS

24 of the parrots have made the grade. But there are always a few high-school dropouts.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

Some of the birds, like the case of Pink Heart, he didn't make the cut. His feathers were not in perfect condition. The bird was not flying properly, his landing skills were not the best.

Birds squawking

VELEZ-VALENTIN

And he was over-preening a little in certain areas of his body. So we are going to keep that bird under training for another year and see if we can successfully release him next year.

SMITS

After a month of acclimatizing at a secret location deep in the rainforest, the day has come for Heineken and the successful graduates to be released.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

Once you open the cage, you are wondering what's going to happen, how are they going to behave, are they going out of the cage fast or slow. It's time, "Okay, place your bets -- who's going out first?" Then you got the sudden movement.

Birds squawking

VELEZ-VALENTIN

It's just amazing when you can see their bright colors finally flying free in the wild.

SMITS

The release introduces 24 new parrots into the wild. Heineken is still with his partner. Jafet is optimistic that they will soon be raising their own family. These Puerto Rican parrots almost became extinct. But, thanks to the breeding program, they're making a remarkable comeback.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

This year, we got over 700 parrots in the wild or being bred in captivity. We are going to have thousands of them within the next 50 years.

SMITS

At the manatee center, Aramana and Yuisa's pool is being drained for the last time.

Conversation in Spanish

MIGNUCCI

This is the morning. Everybody is anxious. We need more coffee. Everybody's going to come here in a couple of minutes and start working.

SMITS

In true Puerto Rican style, everyone wants to help the manatees. And Tony's used this to his advantage. The National Guard... the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources... the Police Force... and dozens of volunteers have all come together to move the manatees. Once the manatees are safely loaded onto military trucks, the convoy has an 11-mile drive to the beach. This is the last big hurdle before their return to the ocean. The journey is stressful for all involved, especially the manatees. There's a risk they could stop breathing, or worse, suffer a heart attack.

MIGNUCCI

Moving two animals that are 600 pounds is quite dangerous. They could move and hit someone, injure them. But also in the transport, these animals are fragile. They could die.

SMITS

Tony and his team monitor their vital signs constantly, checking their breathing and heart rate and regularly cooling them off with water.

TEAM

Respiro!

Siren wailing

TEAM

SMITS

News of the release has spread across the island, and a large crowd has gathered to give the manatees a send-off.

Conversations in Spanish

SMITS

Jafet and Carlos have come to lend their support on this momentous day. And Vet Antonio is on hand to give the final "all clear."

Conversation in Spanish

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The team attaches a radio transmitter to each manatee's tail collar so that they can be tracked in the ocean. After one year of being monitored in the wild, the collars will be removed.

MIGNUCCI

Just like when you're raising a kid and when you're letting them go to college, you have to step back a little bit. That's a little bit of what we're doing right now, is that moment where they have their graduation. Their graduation is that they have been rehabilitated. Now they're going to college.

Conversation in Spanish

SMITS

At last, the moment they have all been waiting for.

MIGNUCCI

He's free.

SMITS

This is the culmination of five years' dedicated rehabilitation.

MIGNUCCI

Hopefully, they will become a couple, and that is what is important in terms of conserving the species. And in a very, very reduced population of 500 to 700 animals, every animal counts. So if Yuisa lives to her full life expectancy, she can contribute potentially 20 more manatees to the population in Puerto Rico. And in a dwindling population, small population like this, that is a huge help.

SMITS

Yuisa and Aramana are finally in the ocean together. They will acclimatize in this fenced-off bay. Then, after three months, the gates will be opened, and they will be free to explore the wild. For now, there's just one thing to do -- celebrate.

All cheering

SMITS

WOMAN

We've been with them for so many years now, all day, all night at the beginning, and you get attached to them. For all that, this is the best.

RIVERA

This day is -- is amazing. This is a beautiful day. It's a day of achievement. This is a great day for conservation, which is really what this is all about.

All cheering

SMITS

It's been an exceptional year for wildlife conservation in Puerto Rico, but the teams know their work is not finished.

VELEZ-VALENTIN

We are working to get rid of our own jobs. Hopefully, we will get to the point that we will have so many birds that we will not need an aviary. And I hope this will happen to many, many other species.

SMITS

The future survival of Puerto Rico's natural wonders will depend on the continuing commitment of the island's people to its unique wildlife.

DIEZ

When you see people that used to eat turtles helping you out, kids going to a public hearing, or when you get politicians that support you, you know, then you feel that things are moving on.

All cheering

DIEZ

It's difficult, but we try. You know, we try, and we don't quit.

NARRATOR

Meet Brazil's most elusive, the giant armadillo. Nobody gets to see this. It's a cautious, gentle creature, but its burrow doubles as the world's wildest boardinghouse. Do you hear it? There's an animal inside. Day and night, guests come and go from this humble, but crucial, haven, thanks to the giant armadillo. To learn more about what you've seen on this "Nature" program, visit pbs.org.