ORF-E | 2023
English
1 x 45 min -or- 1 x 52 min
Worldwide

Austria‘s Arlberg mountain is one of the world‘s most famous skiing destinations and attracts the international jet set. The region‘s flora and fauna are no less glamourous – but have to make do with a less luxurious, more challenging lifestyle. In late summer a chamois kid and its mother roam the Arlberg, but lush pastures are rare now and the two animals seek out shady slopes. A young bearded vulture has only been here for a few months and is still struggling to establish its own territory. The local golden eagles are reluctant to share their space with the new arrival. The vast pine forests on the Arlberg are testimony to the determination of the region‘s flora and fauna to survive and thrive. They provide refuge for many of the local inhabitants, offering shade, safety and a place to cool down for chamois, deer and many different bird species. The rocky peaks are changing and beginning to crumble as the permafrost thaws. Rockfalls and landslides are becoming more common and can decimate local wildlife and the landscape in just seconds. A closer look reveals the many different effects of climate change on the Arlberg region, but it is likely that the wilderness here will survive. Some species will suffer, but those able to adapt will weather the changes. The stunning Arlberg is a microcosm of the challenges facing the modern world – and an example of nature‘s resilience and perseverance.