The man gazed out across the icy tundra, before turning to look into the camera, his eyes heavy and solemn.

'Earth is home to a multitude of habitats, from the lush savannah to the sweltering rainforests to the snow topped mountains of the Himalayas. But none, perhaps, are as desolate, or as changing, as this.'

He pauses once more, the camera panning across the white-grey, before focussing, finally, on a tree, standing forlorn in the distance.

'The Arctic.'

The silence of the ice and the cold reverberates for a moment.

'The forces of our planet have shaped Earth's environments and habitats over the millions of years it has held life. But now, our world is changing, faster than ever before. Our planet is warming at an unprecedented rate, and the rate our wildlife is being forced to adapt at is equally unprecedented. This is not the future, this is a phenomenon happening here and now, for all to see. Our world is fragile, the animals even moreso, but this wild landscape is also home to some of the most extraordinary creatures on the planet- and the most resilient.'

A cry, and the scene has changed, a Sámi man, in warm waterproofs, herds perhaps one hundred reindeer, aboard a snowmobile. Snow is kicked up into the air as he circles the moving horde, shouting commands at his two brothers who are at the back, watching for stragglers. The footfalls are heavy as the deer run, panicked and confused, between a group of towering pines, and finally into a large enclosure.

'This is Noël. His family have been herding reindeer for generations. Like the wildlife, he too has been forced to adapt to the ever changing times. Snowmobiles have replaced horses and feet, and snowsuits are worn instead of deerskin. Only a few Sámi rely on the reindeer as they once did, generations before, but to those who do, the rising temperatures are one of their greatest concerns.'

'The reindeer move with the food, and so must Noël. He was born in Norway, but claims Swedish citizenship. In the past, reindeer kept him in food and warmth, selling their meat, hides and antlers, but increasingly, tourism is his sole source of money. And even then, there is fierce competition, and the tourism industry requires him to give up the seminomadic traditions which have existed amongst his family for as long as there are records. Now, though, he believes he has found an innovative solution to the problem facing traditional Sámi everywhere. Indeed, Sámi or not, the changing economic landscape of the Arctic is affecting everyone, whether they are Russian, Alaska Native, Greenlandic or, indeed Sámi.'

There is a hearty barking noise, as if from a large dog, and then a responding, louder bellow. The scene switches, and on the screen, is a small, tottering calf, clearly days old at most, legs long and spindly.

'Every calf born is important to Noël, for they are his and his family's future. But this one is of special importance. As a participant in a clinical trial operated by Uppsala University, Sweden, in collaboration with Munich Agricultural Institute, and utilising pioneering gene modification techniques, this reindeer may spell the future for all herd owners, across this fragile landscape. At a time when space is becoming increasingly scarce for the natural reindeer migrations, and the rising temperatures are drastically affecting reproduction rates within this ancient population of deer, Noël is keen to experiment with new farming and breeding techniques, and, in his opinion at least, this has been something of a success.'

The calf wobbles once more, leaning against its mother, inside a small but outside pen. In the background, more reindeer stand or lie languidly, in a much larger enclosure, some snow having been cleared off to reveal the sparse grass underneath. Its nose flickers, for a moment, a bright red, then off, once more.

'Just days old, this calf is at the forefront of a new age, not just in reindeer breeding and husbandry, but for the entire world. By synthesising glow-in-the-dark fairy lights into reindeer DNA, scientists have been able to replicate the vibrant luminescence that had hitherto only existed artificially. In fact, this Rudolf, named after a German prince in honour of one of the Munich university, may cause a revolution in lighting techniques. Already, plans are being developed on the use of reindeer in and outside of the Arctic as navigational guides, house decorations and even traffic lights. Although the future remains uncertain for these noble beasts, we can at least know that there is a future.'

We are left with a last, lingering look at the tottering creature, before the screen fades to black.