1
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:37,760
The end of the Arctic summer, and
the sun hasn't set for three months.


2
00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,880
It's hard to imagine
the bitter cold will soon return.


3
00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,400
Some will welcome
the chills of autumn, but for most,


4
00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,920
time is running out before they
will have to retreat to the south.


5
00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,520
Early autumn in the Canadian Arctic,


6
00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,480
and polar bears are gathering
on the coastal strip,


7
00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,640
waiting for the sea to freeze.


8
00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,800
But a life spent
alone on the sea ice


9
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,000
is no preparation
for a crowded beach.


10
00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,920
Such close contact with other
bears must be stressful.


11
00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,280
Surely tempers will flare.


12
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:51,120
Over half a tonne of bear
slams into the other.


13
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,840
Polar bears will fight
to the death over mates,


14
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,080
but not in autumn.


15
00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,240
Now these fearsome predators display


16
00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,920
a surprisingly tolerant side
to their natures.


17
00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,440
Being marooned on land means
the bears no longer have access


18
00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,440
to the seals they usually hunt


19
00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,360
and they have to
scrape by on whatever they can find.


20
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:38,400
Like bears the world over,
they're not choosy feeders.


21
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,440
They even turn vegetarian,


22
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,560
delicately picking out
berries from between the thorns.


23
00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:55,800
There are plenty to go around


24
00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,120
so there's no need
to squabble over them.


25
00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,600
Any fighting is just for fun.


26
00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:22,000
The bears select sparring partners
who are well-matched


27
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,120
and they always pull their punches,


28
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,600
no-one wants to get hurt
in a play-fight.


29
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,640
Perhaps these bouts are a way
of testing rivals


30
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,040
in case they ever meet again
out on the sea ice.


31
00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,760
One thing's for sure,
the famous loners


32
00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,320
are revealing a social,
playful side we rarely see.


33
00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,560
It's all just boisterous fun
but with so many big males around,


34
00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,480
the females keep their cubs
at a safe distance.


35
00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,840
The wary mother will lead her
young to a quieter beach


36
00:05:01,840 --> 00:05:05,720
along the coast while
she waits for the ocean to freeze.


37
00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:20,960
The sea ice is
now at its minimum extent.


38
00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,840
In the Canadian Arctic,
vast stretches of coastline


39
00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:28,880
are now unlocked
and ready to receive visitors.


40
00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:41,040
Belugas -
the white whales of the North.


41
00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:45,520
They're relying on open water
to reach an ancient rendezvous.


42
00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:53,560
It's a journey they make every
year along traditional routes.


43
00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:25,880
Baby belugas ride piggy-back, pulled
along by their mother's slip stream.


44
00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,560
This one is only a month old,


45
00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,320
and won't turn
white for another five years.


46
00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,960
Thousands of belugas are being
drawn to one special estuary


47
00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,240
in the Canadian Arctic.


48
00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,840
It isn't food that brings them here.


49
00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,600
Curiously, it's personal hygiene.


50
00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,000
When the tide is low
they swim into the shallows


51
00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,480
and flail around with great
enthusiasm.


52
00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,840
They're after a body scrub.


53
00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,160
The gravel acts as a loofah


54
00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,080
and thrashing their bodies across it


55
00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,520
helps to get rid of their old skin.


56
00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,720
Presumably the treatment keeps
them clean and streamlined,


57
00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,520
but it also appears to feel good.


58
00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,240
Bliss!


59
00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,880
The water in the estuary is warmer
and less salty


60
00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:25,480
and that seems to soften the skin
making the scrub more effective.


61
00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:58,040
This secluded estuary is only
a temporary whale spa,


62
00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:02,920
the ocean will soon freeze again
forcing the whales to travel south.


63
00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:17,200
Vast seabird colonies
are the jewels of the Arctic.


64
00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:34,160
Brunnich's guillemots have spent
the summer months packed together


65
00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,200
on vertical cliffs
beyond the reach of predators.


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00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,840
They are among the most numerous
seabirds in the Northern hemisphere.


67
00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:55,440
This colony alone
contains 100,000 birds


68
00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,840
and there are many more like it
all along the Arctic coastline.


69
00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,120
In just a few weeks
these cliffs will empty


70
00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,680
but before the guillemots can leave,
their chicks must fledge.


71
00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,120
Their feathers are now fully formed,
but their stubby wings


72
00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:21,640
are still too short for them to fly
properly - this will be a challenge.


73
00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:31,280
It's a 150 metre drop and they need
to make it all the way to the sea.


74
00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:35,520
Here goes.


75
00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,600
He falls short
and survives the crash landing.


76
00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,800
The chicks are manna from heaven
for an Arctic fox.


77
00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:07,000
The next chick is
accompanied by a parent.


78
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,040
Failed again.


79
00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,520
This looks better!


80
00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:45,920
Success!


81
00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:49,960
Aquatic landings
are certainly gentler


82
00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,400
and foxes can't reach you out here.


83
00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:59,680
The chicks will stay in their
parents' care for another month.


84
00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:15,800
The guillemots are not the only
ones preparing to leave,


85
00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,360
all across the Arctic millions of
summer visitors


86
00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,400
are beginning to return south.


87
00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,280
The guillemot chicks can't fly yet,


88
00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:52,160
so they and their families must swim
to their winter feeding grounds.


89
00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,760
It's a journey that will take them
a thousand miles south


90
00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,320
to the open ocean
and away from the approaching ice.


91
00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:13,000
The breeding season is over
and silence returns to the Arctic.


92
00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,280
But as the first storms of autumn


93
00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,880
sweep through the deserted
nesting grounds,


94
00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:30,560
they bring an unexpected bonanza
for the few that remain.


95
00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,920
The discovery doesn't remain
secret for long.


96
00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,720
It's a huge fin whale carcass.


97
00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,040
The polar bears have been drawn
from several miles away,


98
00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,200
guided by their extraordinary
sense of smell.


99
00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:07,880
Bears are arriving all the time,


100
00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:12,240
but there's plenty of room at this
18 metre long dining table.


101
00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,160
They're surprisingly relaxed,


102
00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,240
but with enough for everyone
there's no need to argue.


103
00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:31,160
The tastiest morsels are often
underwater.


104
00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:48,080
Others prefer some greens
with their dinner.


105
00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,120
After a well-balanced meal,


106
00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,160
there's nothing better
than some good company.


107
00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,200
Despite their reputation as loners,


108
00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,080
it's surprising just how sociable
polar bears can be.


109
00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,680
All across the Arctic
the temperature is now dropping


110
00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,240
and the sea is beginning to freeze.


111
00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:17,320
Every day over 20,000
square miles of ocean


112
00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,920
turn to ice as the cold
spreads south.


113
00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:30,920
At first, a thin, greasy film
appears on the surface


114
00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,080
Next, pancakes of ice start to
appear.


115
00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:12,520
The pancakes lock together
and form a continuous sheet.


116
00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,160
The Arctic Ocean is freezing again.


117
00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:41,320
At last the bear family can return
to the sea ice where they belong.


118
00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:57,200
It's been six months since the cubs
first emerged from the den.


119
00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,320
They've survived the hazards of
melting sea ice in spring


120
00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,360
and lack of food in summer


121
00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:09,080
and now, at last, they
are in their element again.


122
00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:18,640
As the north of our planet turns
away from the sun,


123
00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,400
the big chill travels south.


124
00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,840
Temperatures on
the tundra start to fall.


125
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,720
The shorter days and colder nights
trigger a dramatic change


126
00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,760
in the willows
and blueberry bushes.


127
00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:44,480
They stop producing green pigment
that harnesses the sun's energy


128
00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,760
and red and yellow pigments build
up in their leaves.


129
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:07,040
The tundra blazes with colour and
the whole landscape is transformed.


130
00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:27,560
A bull musk ox marks his territory
with scent from glands on his face.


131
00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,800
He's preparing for the breeding
season.


132
00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,200
He shadows his harem
of females as they graze


133
00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,320
the last of the summer grasses.


134
00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,400
He must be on his guard.


135
00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,320
An outsider is arriving,


136
00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,320
a large male whose intentions
soon become clear.


137
00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,680
The newcomer circles
the resident bull warily.


138
00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,640
The resident must take up
the intruder's challenge.


139
00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:38,600
This clash of Polar Titans could
easily become a fight to the death.


140
00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:55,240
The impact is like a car crash
at 30 miles an hour.


141
00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:21,440
A heavy skull and a helmet of horn
four inches thick


142
00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:25,160
provides some protection
for the musk ox's brain.


143
00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,640
Over the next half hour,
the advantage ebbs and flows


144
00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:47,720
as each tries to finish the duel.


145
00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:51,360
If one can turn the other and gore
its flank, the fight will be over.


146
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:06,320
The stakes rise as the risk
of injury, or even death, increases.


147
00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,560
The rival is out-manoeuvred.


148
00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,680
And the champion returns
to his females.


149
00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:39,000
By now most animals have migrated
south, but the musk oxen,


150
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:43,680
with their thick coats, will stay
and face the approaching winter.


151
00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,800
As autumn progresses,
the moisture in the air freezes


152
00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,760
and hoarfrost decorates the leaves.


153
00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:37,440
Ice crystals grow like diamonds
on every twig.


154
00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:58,360
All across the tundra, both the
rivers and the ground freeze solid.


155
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,680
Glassy cathedrals
form as the remaining water


156
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,080
becomes locked up as ice.


157
00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:45,000
Soon even the largest
waterfalls will be motionless.


158
00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,560
The tundra has been transformed
once again.


159
00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:56,600
It appears deserted.


160
00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,000
Caribou on their migration.


161
00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:10,120
Unlike the musk ox, caribou do head
south for the winter,


162
00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:12,800
but it's a long
and difficult journey.


163
00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:20,400
They use the frozen lakes as ice
roads - these are flat and firm -


164
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:24,760
but it seems hooves and ice were
never really meant to go together.


165
00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,880
The frisky males would be well
advised to keep


166
00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,680
at least one eye on the road
as the mating season begins.


167
00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,520
A cow is being closely
guarded by a mature bull,


168
00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,160
with his much larger antlers.


169
00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,840
The females are busy
feeding-up for the winter,


170
00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,840
but the bull has other
things on his mind.


171
00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,880
The cow is playing hard to get.


172
00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,920
She heads off
with her admirer in pursuit.


173
00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:37,960
Several other bulls
join in the chase.


174
00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:54,640
She's out in front but the amorous
males are gaining on her.


175
00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:08,520
The big bull breaks off his chase
to deal with a rival.


176
00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,760
But now he's fallen
behind the other challengers.


177
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,680
The younger bulls, with
their lighter antlers,


178
00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,720
keep up with the cow more easily,


179
00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,360
but as the pace slows,
the older bull catches up.


180
00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:33,520
Again he has to stop and fight.


181
00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,760
A decisive victory for the big male.


182
00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,080
He's earned the respect
of the vanquished bulls


183
00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,640
and they now trail in his wake.


184
00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:14,120
It's now become a game
of Grandma's footsteps,


185
00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:20,760
one look from the boss and the
young-bloods freeze in their tracks.


186
00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:34,040
The exhausted bull guards his prize,
but he'll need to recover


187
00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:38,080
before he is able to make the most
of his victory,


188
00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:41,000
and the herd continues
its journey south


189
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:46,080
to avoid the worst of the
advancing cold.


190
00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:58,320
From the ocean to the tundra,


191
00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,280
the north of our planet is now
completely frozen.


192
00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:09,520
The Antarctic.


193
00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:13,760
In the far south,
autumn can be a particularly savage


194
00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:15,800
and unpredictable time.


195
00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,360
South Georgia is a splinter of rock
in the middle


196
00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:25,920
of the vast Southern Ocean.


197
00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:30,080
It's only a hundred miles long
and is battered by the elements.


198
00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:41,000
This ocean generates some
of the largest waves on the planet,


199
00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,760
they gain size and power as
they travel around the globe,


200
00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,160
uninterrupted by land
for 12,000 miles.


201
00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:55,840
As they buffet South Georgia,
they also bring food.


202
00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,080
A seal carcass.


203
00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:05,360
A prize worth braving the surf for.


204
00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,800
Giant petrels are the vultures
of Antarctica,


205
00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,080
and are always the first to
the spoils.


206
00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,920
The word is out,
and the hordes move in.


207
00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:48,200
Like feathered dinosaurs
they lock beaks in battle.


208
00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:37,040
These butchers provide a service
for some unlikely meat-eaters.


209
00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:45,240
With the carcasses now opened,
pintail ducks arrive for a meal.


210
00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:53,000
There's plenty of good food here
and none of South Georgia's


211
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:58,000
inhabitants can afford to be fussy
with winter looming.


212
00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:08,840
After the feast it's
time for a rinse and spin.


213
00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,840
The breeding season is finally over


214
00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,440
and the petrels will soon
be heading out to sea


215
00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,520
to avoid the worst of the winter.


216
00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,920
A snowstorm is
an omen of things to come.


217
00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:51,640
There is now little left to eat
and South Georgia's beaches


218
00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:54,440
will soon be abandoned
to the cold and ice.


219
00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:06,440
Further south still,


220
00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:10,680
and the first storms are striking
the continent of Antarctica.


221
00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,960
The Adelie penguins must
rear their half grown chicks


222
00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:39,800
to adulthood before winter
hits in just a few weeks' time.


223
00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,760
The chicks are only three weeks old.


224
00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,320
Their downy coats aren't fully
waterproof yet


225
00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:52,400
and they cluster
together for warmth.


226
00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,840
These creches are essential
during bad weather


227
00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:04,920
as most of the adults
are away at sea,


228
00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:07,840
fishing for their fast growing
families.


229
00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:18,560
When the parents return,


230
00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:22,000
their offspring quickly leave
the comfort of their peers.


231
00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:30,880
Both chicks are ravenously hungry.


232
00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:40,800
But there may only be enough
food for one.


233
00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:46,520
This race could determine which
chick has the better prospects.


234
00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:09,360
Most Adelie pairs will only manage
to raise a single chick each season.


235
00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,560
And this may not be it.


236
00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:25,040
At least number one
is getting stronger by the day.


237
00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:35,960
With one meal delivered, the
parents must quickly find another.


238
00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:51,040
To rear their chicks
before the onset of winter,


239
00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,680
the penguins must work
round the clock.


240
00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,280
The parents can travel
over 100 miles


241
00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,520
to reach the best fishing grounds


242
00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:17,600
and may be gone for several days
at a time.


243
00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,760
They return with a kilogram of fish
and squid in their bellies,


244
00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:36,640
feed their chicks, and then go
off again to repeat the process.


245
00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:47,480
The job must be finished before
the sea freezes over again.


246
00:36:54,800 --> 00:37:00,000
At seven-weeks-old, the chicks are
losing the last of their baby down,


247
00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,400
and are now fully equipped
to take the plunge.


248
00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,880
Confidence is all that's lacking.


249
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,640
Perhaps it'll help
if the parents lead by example.


250
00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:23,960
There...effortless,
and as graceful as any fish.


251
00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:38,320
It seems penguins are not born
with a love of water.


252
00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:56,000
Staying submerged
is the next problem.


253
00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:02,400
Buoyancy control is clearly
a skill that needs practise.


254
00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,200
Well, it's a start(!)


255
00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:20,080
And at least they can now reach
the ice floes.


256
00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:30,760
Swimming is the first
of many lessons.


257
00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:35,840
They must next learn to recognise
danger in all its forms.


258
00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:04,400
A leopard seal.


259
00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:16,360
Even high up on an ice floe,
the penguins aren't safe.


260
00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:22,800
Each year, leopard seals
will take 5,000 of them


261
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,640
from this colony alone.


262
00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:37,520
The Adelies that survive
drift out into the Southern Ocean.


263
00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:58,400
They will spend the next five months
feeding at sea,


264
00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:03,080
avoiding the great freeze
that is about to envelop Antarctica.


265
00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:23,120
The edge of the sea ice advances
by up to two and a half miles a day.


266
00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:35,120
Eventually, over 5 million
square miles of ice


267
00:40:35,120 --> 00:40:38,000
will surround the continent
of Antarctica,


268
00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:40,360
effectively doubling its size.


269
00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:51,480
The great white wilderness
is empty.


270
00:40:53,240 --> 00:40:55,280
But not for long.


271
00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:12,240
Bizarrely, it's now that
the Emperor penguins arrive,


272
00:41:12,240 --> 00:41:15,520
just as all the other penguins
have left.


273
00:41:27,320 --> 00:41:30,880
These giants are now
at their heaviest.


274
00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:35,720
They've been feeding at sea
all summer and can weigh 40 kilos.


275
00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:03,000
From the edge of the sea ice,
they head towards their colony...


276
00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:09,400
..but an obstacle course of jumbled
ice blocks stands in their way.


277
00:42:13,240 --> 00:42:17,600
The males are particularly fat
at this time of year.


278
00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:23,080
This will be crucial for their
survival in the months ahead,


279
00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:27,600
but it doesn't make squeezing
through narrow gaps any easier(!)


280
00:43:02,760 --> 00:43:05,520
With the worst behind them,


281
00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:10,720
they start a 20 mile march
into the freezer to breed.


282
00:43:10,720 --> 00:43:14,000
The only animals to do so.


283
00:43:23,840 --> 00:43:28,000
By tobogganing they can travel
at twice their walking speed


284
00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:31,080
and it takes the weight
off tired feet.


285
00:43:52,200 --> 00:43:56,280
Their destination is the
thicker ice, closer to shore,


286
00:43:56,280 --> 00:44:00,520
which will stay solid long enough
for them to safely rear their chicks


287
00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:02,840
throughout the months to come.


288
00:44:10,560 --> 00:44:15,800
Their colony is in the lee of
icebergs trapped in the frozen ocean


289
00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:19,480
which will shelter them
from the bitter Antarctic winds.


290
00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:27,920
Newly formed pairs
promenade together.


291
00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:51,000
Courtship demands that both partners
strike and hold a variety of poses.


292
00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:54,680
It's an important process
as the bond between the couple


293
00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:57,680
will have to be an exceptionally
strong one.


294
00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:13,400
The final act lacks the elegance
of the prelude


295
00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:16,000
but at least it's quick.


296
00:45:21,240 --> 00:45:24,680
The egg is laid a few days later.


297
00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:28,720
It contains the female's
last reserves.


298
00:45:28,720 --> 00:45:31,120
She now has nothing more to give


299
00:45:31,120 --> 00:45:34,640
and must pass the egg to the male
to incubate.


300
00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:41,680
The couple must be quick.


301
00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:45,680
If the egg rests on the ice
for too long it'll freeze.


302
00:45:49,960 --> 00:45:53,560
With their eggs
safe in the care of the males,


303
00:45:53,560 --> 00:45:57,640
the females start the long journey
back to the sea.


304
00:46:09,920 --> 00:46:15,720
The sun is also leaving
and will be gone for many months.


305
00:46:18,320 --> 00:46:21,920
The precious eggs,
balanced on the males' feet,


306
00:46:21,920 --> 00:46:26,120
will make the terrible ordeal
ahead worthwhile.


307
00:46:36,280 --> 00:46:39,880
With no food
and only each other for warmth,


308
00:46:39,880 --> 00:46:43,200
they will attempt to keep
the next generation alive


309
00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:47,480
while surviving in the most brutal
conditions on earth.


310
00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:53,040
Not all of them will succeed.


311
00:46:57,800 --> 00:46:59,880
At both ends of our planet,


312
00:46:59,880 --> 00:47:03,680
the sun sets for the last time
in autumn.


313
00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:08,680
A season of change comes to an end


314
00:47:08,680 --> 00:47:13,240
and one of endless darkness
and bitter cold begins.


315
00:47:29,320 --> 00:47:32,480
Next time, winter in the poles.


316
00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:35,840
The harshest and coldest
conditions on earth.


317
00:47:46,040 --> 00:47:49,920
Ice takes a grip
of the frozen planet.


318
00:48:05,920 --> 00:48:09,320
The spectacular return
of the Emperor penguins


319
00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:12,440
was a key event
for the Frozen Planet team.


320
00:48:19,120 --> 00:48:21,120
The crew will have to operate


321
00:48:21,120 --> 00:48:23,920
in the most dangerous of all
polar environments -


322
00:48:23,920 --> 00:48:26,040
the edge of the sea ice.


323
00:48:27,040 --> 00:48:31,280
They have to fly in everything
they'll need for a month


324
00:48:31,280 --> 00:48:33,320
of living on the frozen ocean.


325
00:48:36,680 --> 00:48:42,080
On board are slow motion cameraman
John Aitchison.


326
00:48:42,080 --> 00:48:45,080
Underwater cameraman
Didier Noirot.


327
00:48:45,080 --> 00:48:48,240
And director Chadden Hunter.


328
00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:53,440
With the plane gone,
the team are on their own.


329
00:48:53,440 --> 00:48:56,320
This is home for the next month.


330
00:48:56,320 --> 00:48:58,640
But it doesn't look like much
right now.


331
00:49:00,360 --> 00:49:04,080
Their tents should be secure
on the permanent sea ice


332
00:49:04,080 --> 00:49:07,840
but they're still miles from
the ocean where they hope to film.


333
00:49:07,840 --> 00:49:10,120
The locals are keen
to get acquainted


334
00:49:10,120 --> 00:49:13,840
with anything
of a familiar shape and size.


335
00:49:14,840 --> 00:49:18,040
The Emperors are welcome
neighbours around camp,


336
00:49:18,040 --> 00:49:21,520
but the team need to film them
returning from the water


337
00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:24,360
and to do that
they face a daunting task.


338
00:49:24,360 --> 00:49:27,360
They must find a path
to the open sea


339
00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:30,960
through a shifting landscape
of jagged sea ice.


340
00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:35,440
Their first scouting trip
doesn't look promising.


341
00:49:35,440 --> 00:49:39,960
Neither maps nor Sat Nav help
in this ever-changing environment.


342
00:49:40,960 --> 00:49:44,320
The only clue that the ocean
lies somewhere to the east


343
00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:47,120
is a steady procession of penguins.


344
00:49:48,120 --> 00:49:51,360
Any suggestions, Didier?
We must find a way.


345
00:49:51,360 --> 00:49:54,320
Yes. And we will find a way.


346
00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:58,400
I like the attitude.
The penguins have found a way.


347
00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:03,280
It seems the Emperors will be
the key to reaching the ice edge.


348
00:50:03,280 --> 00:50:05,040
OK, let's go.


349
00:50:06,520 --> 00:50:09,120
With their penguin guides
leading the way,


350
00:50:09,120 --> 00:50:12,400
snowmobiles are brought in
to haul 500kgs of equipment


351
00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:15,520
through the icy maze.


352
00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:21,720
It's tough going
for film crew and penguins.


353
00:50:21,720 --> 00:50:25,320
When the ice ridges halt progress,


354
00:50:25,320 --> 00:50:28,080
it's time for some
back-breaking work.


355
00:50:33,040 --> 00:50:38,120
The next three days are spent
chiselling through mile after mile


356
00:50:38,120 --> 00:50:40,000
of broken sea ice.


357
00:50:52,280 --> 00:50:55,440
Once finally clear
of the ice boulders,


358
00:50:55,440 --> 00:51:00,400
they spot their goal - a patch
of open ocean with penguins.


359
00:51:06,760 --> 00:51:09,000
John is first in position.


360
00:51:09,000 --> 00:51:12,280
He hopes to capture
the most striking images


361
00:51:12,280 --> 00:51:15,720
by using a computerised
slow motion camera.


362
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:20,800
But attempts to film the penguins
underwater are halted


363
00:51:20,800 --> 00:51:22,720
by an unwelcome visitor.


364
00:51:22,720 --> 00:51:26,040
We just saw the head
of a massive leopard seal


365
00:51:26,040 --> 00:51:30,200
so we'll get closer
to see what's going on.


366
00:51:30,200 --> 00:51:34,680
We must be careful because those
guys can come out very quickly,


367
00:51:34,680 --> 00:51:36,960
out of the hole, and give a bite,


368
00:51:36,960 --> 00:51:40,720
but being red like that, we should
be quite protected, you know?


369
00:51:40,720 --> 00:51:45,840
Being dressed in red
may be Didier's idea of safety,


370
00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:49,960
but the rest of the crew have
a healthy respect for leopard seals.


371
00:51:49,960 --> 00:51:55,000
They can be fiercely territorial
and are not afraid to attack humans.


372
00:51:55,000 --> 00:51:59,760
I think I can run faster than him
on land.


373
00:51:59,760 --> 00:52:01,560
That's very exciting.


374
00:52:01,560 --> 00:52:05,440
That's the first time I've ever seen
a leopard seal in my life


375
00:52:05,440 --> 00:52:08,040
and he's come straight out
of the hole and starts...


376
00:52:08,040 --> 00:52:10,400
walloping towards us.


377
00:52:10,400 --> 00:52:12,360
There's a lot of adrenalin.


378
00:52:12,360 --> 00:52:15,400
With the seal frightening
the penguins away


379
00:52:15,400 --> 00:52:20,160
and hassling the crew,
it's time to try a new hole.


380
00:52:25,600 --> 00:52:28,280
Oh, hello.


381
00:52:29,280 --> 00:52:31,280
Can you see him?


382
00:52:33,880 --> 00:52:38,320
While the seal's around, there's
little hope of filming the penguins,


383
00:52:38,320 --> 00:52:42,240
but now a far greater threat
is posed by the changing weather.


384
00:52:43,240 --> 00:52:46,360
That dark headland in the distance
is Cape Washington.


385
00:52:46,360 --> 00:52:50,160
That's our last sign of mainland.
We can't see anything else.


386
00:52:50,160 --> 00:52:52,960
Once we lose sight of that mainland


387
00:52:52,960 --> 00:52:56,840
that means we're out here
on our own on the sea ice.


388
00:52:56,840 --> 00:52:59,680
This visibility
is getting lower and lower.


389
00:52:59,680 --> 00:53:03,520
It's started snowing and this wind
is just blowing off shore


390
00:53:03,520 --> 00:53:07,600
so, if all this ice heads out,
we don't want to be on it.


391
00:53:07,600 --> 00:53:10,440
I think we're going to can
filming for the day.


392
00:53:15,480 --> 00:53:20,840
All the signs suggest that a
big Antarctic storm is on its way.


393
00:53:24,120 --> 00:53:29,280
Winds pick up to 70mph and everyone
retreats to their tents.


394
00:53:31,640 --> 00:53:34,520
High winds then turn to heavy snow.


395
00:53:36,960 --> 00:53:40,960
On the driest continent on Earth,
a big snowfall is rare.


396
00:53:43,320 --> 00:53:48,200
White-out conditions take the
penguins and film crew by surprise.


397
00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:54,680
Each day they must dig out
their buried equipment.


398
00:53:54,680 --> 00:53:57,080
Filming has ground to a halt.


399
00:54:03,840 --> 00:54:09,000
One week and a metre of snow later,
the headland is visible again


400
00:54:09,000 --> 00:54:13,160
and the team are raring
to get back to the ice edge.


401
00:54:14,160 --> 00:54:17,960
They follow their old route
back through the frozen maze


402
00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:20,240
and, with no leopard seal in sight,


403
00:54:20,240 --> 00:54:23,720
it's time for another attempt
with the pole cam.


404
00:54:23,720 --> 00:54:28,680
It's cumbersome, but it allows the
team to capture underwater images


405
00:54:28,680 --> 00:54:31,720
without having to risk
the icy water themselves.


406
00:54:35,360 --> 00:54:39,680
That is OK? That's perfect.
They are coming. I can see some.


407
00:54:39,680 --> 00:54:41,520
Oh, wow!


408
00:54:41,520 --> 00:54:45,640
Penguins coming in the hole.
This is awesome. This is great.


409
00:54:45,640 --> 00:54:50,400
The aim now is to film the penguins'
dramatic exit from the hole.


410
00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:53,760
The only problem...which hole?!


411
00:55:02,920 --> 00:55:05,240
These penguins keep outsmarting us.


412
00:55:05,240 --> 00:55:08,840
We tried to switch holes
to film them coming up


413
00:55:08,840 --> 00:55:12,120
and they all just completely
came up behind us.


414
00:55:12,120 --> 00:55:17,600
Whatever the crew try there's always
someone who hasn't read the script!


415
00:55:18,840 --> 00:55:23,600
John has been filming but he
can't view his slow motion shots


416
00:55:23,600 --> 00:55:25,880
until they're downloaded
to a computer.


417
00:55:27,080 --> 00:55:30,640
While he waits,
Didier seizes his chance.


418
00:55:30,640 --> 00:55:32,760
Come, my friend. Come.


419
00:55:32,760 --> 00:55:36,040
If you can't beat them, join them.


420
00:55:36,040 --> 00:55:39,520
It's time to go scuba diving
in the coldest waters on the planet.


421
00:55:39,520 --> 00:55:43,120
I will see you on the other side.


422
00:55:48,280 --> 00:55:50,880
The team are 300 miles from help


423
00:55:50,880 --> 00:55:54,480
and have only a small hole
as their lifeline to the surface.


424
00:55:59,400 --> 00:56:01,840
A magical world opens up.


425
00:56:01,840 --> 00:56:03,520
For the first time


426
00:56:03,520 --> 00:56:09,120
Didier now shares the penguins'
perspective from beneath the ice.


427
00:56:23,280 --> 00:56:27,280
This is Antarctica
at its most enchanting.


428
00:56:29,280 --> 00:56:32,080
For Chadden,
after weeks of struggle,


429
00:56:32,080 --> 00:56:35,920
the sequence quite literally
falls into his lap.


430
00:56:35,920 --> 00:56:37,720
Whoa!


431
00:56:38,720 --> 00:56:40,240
Sorry!


432
00:56:41,720 --> 00:56:43,960
I think I'm in the way.


433
00:56:50,680 --> 00:56:53,440
Just come a little this way.
There we go.


434
00:56:57,320 --> 00:56:59,800
I'm getting run over by penguins(!)


435
00:57:01,640 --> 00:57:05,200
I think it worked.
It's very difficult to tell.


436
00:57:05,200 --> 00:57:07,120
John's camera is finally capturing


437
00:57:07,120 --> 00:57:12,200
the super slow motion images
of the Emperors' dramatic return.


438
00:57:15,000 --> 00:57:17,760
With the penguins performing
perfectly


439
00:57:17,760 --> 00:57:19,920
it was all falling into place.


440
00:57:19,920 --> 00:57:22,000
The team were finally able
to capture


441
00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:25,400
Antarctica's most spectacular
belly flop.


442
00:57:30,600 --> 00:57:35,520
For a free Open University
illustrated poster of polar regions


443
00:57:35,520 --> 00:57:38,400
call the number on the screen


444
00:57:38,400 --> 00:57:45,160
or order online
by going to bbc.co.uk/frozenplanet


445
00:57:45,160 --> 00:57:48,280
and follow the links
to Open University.


446
00:58:05,680 --> 00:58:08,360
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd


447
00:58:08,360 --> 00:58:11,040
E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk