| [00:01.400] |
The eels are highly prized by the locals |
| [00:03.820] |
These Solomon Islanders hand feed them, not to fatten them up for dinner |
| [00:08.110] |
but to encourage them to stick around |
| [00:10.610] |
By scavenging on whatever's decaying here |
| [00:12.710] |
the eels clean the islanders' precious pools of drinking water |
| [00:17.380] |
And over time, the honorary guests have become tame |
| [00:21.660] |
One day, these adult freshwater eels will return to the sea to spawn |
| [00:27.100] |
after which they'll die |
| [00:29.990] |
For now, they're as good as pets |
| [00:34.620] |
Away from the coast, animals are thin on the ground |
| [00:38.510] |
The Solomons have only a quarter of the reptiles and birds that New Guinea has |
| [00:43.820] |
For mammals like echidnas and kangaroos |
| [00:46.710] |
the water proved too great a hurdle |
| [00:49.560] |
But some mammals did make it here |
| [00:52.070] |
When it comes to reaching new islands |
| [00:54.050] |
flying must surely have been the easiest way to get there |
| [00:57.880] |
But the 60 miles between New Guinea and the Solomons still proved a formidable challenge for many winged creatures |
| [01:05.450] |
With their four-foot wingspans |
| [01:07.710] |
giant fruit bats succeeded where other fliers failed |
