Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:07,863 --> 00:00:10,863
NARRATOR: The symbol
of a wild continent,
2
00:00:11,023 --> 00:00:14,383
bears are forever linked
with North America.
3
00:00:15,463 --> 00:00:19,263
It is a cold, harsh environment
where polar bears, black bears
4
00:00:19,423 --> 00:00:22,063
and grizzlies must
push their limits.
5
00:00:23,703 --> 00:00:26,023
Each day is a fight for survival.
6
00:00:27,663 --> 00:00:31,263
Competing against the elements,
against a changing world.
7
00:00:31,423 --> 00:00:33,143
and against each other.
8
00:00:37,903 --> 00:00:40,823
Along a remote river,
brown bears seek out
9
00:00:40,983 --> 00:00:42,543
an early season feast.
10
00:00:43,903 --> 00:00:46,303
And a courageous family
battles for salmon
11
00:00:46,463 --> 00:00:48,583
among the world's largest bears.
12
00:00:50,103 --> 00:00:53,863
In the coastal rainforest,
an ancient race of black bears use
13
00:00:54,023 --> 00:00:56,943
a genetic mutation
as a unique advantage.
14
00:00:59,543 --> 00:01:03,223
And to the north, polar bears
develop new hunting strategies
15
00:01:03,383 --> 00:01:05,423
as their world rapidly warms.
16
00:01:07,103 --> 00:01:11,823
An old bear searches for new prey,
while a young family runs a gauntlet
17
00:01:11,983 --> 00:01:13,183
of hungry rivals.
18
00:01:15,223 --> 00:01:20,623
They are a keystone predator
and a symbol of our last wild lands.
19
00:01:23,223 --> 00:01:26,303
But this wild frontier is changing
20
00:01:26,463 --> 00:01:29,303
and these bears will be tested
as never before.
21
00:01:31,703 --> 00:01:36,263
It is a world not where the strong,
but where the brave and the creative
22
00:01:36,423 --> 00:01:39,623
will rise as the ultimate survivors.
23
00:01:51,383 --> 00:01:53,103
On the Alaska peninsula,
24
00:01:53,263 --> 00:01:56,303
the summer solstice
sparks an epic migration.
25
00:02:04,503 --> 00:02:09,503
After years in the ocean,
1.5 million salmon move inland.
26
00:02:12,623 --> 00:02:16,663
They swim upstream on a fatal
and instinctive journey.
27
00:02:20,303 --> 00:02:22,463
Guided by their sense of smell,
28
00:02:22,623 --> 00:02:25,023
they follow trail markers
to their birthplace.
29
00:02:26,303 --> 00:02:29,863
And once there,
they spawn a new generation.
30
00:02:34,543 --> 00:02:38,023
But a rocky ledge on the
Brooks River blocks this path.
31
00:02:39,783 --> 00:02:43,583
For these exhausted salmon,
it is a monumental challenge.
32
00:02:48,463 --> 00:02:52,263
But for a lucky bear,
it is a welcome meal.
33
00:02:53,783 --> 00:02:55,023
Perched on this ledge,
34
00:02:55,183 --> 00:02:57,823
a brown bear may catch
30 salmon each day.
35
00:03:01,663 --> 00:03:04,623
By nature,
bears are solitary creatures,
36
00:03:04,783 --> 00:03:07,423
aggressively defending
large territories.
37
00:03:11,183 --> 00:03:12,983
But word spreads quickly.
38
00:03:13,143 --> 00:03:16,983
And soon, almost 80 bears
may gather along this river.
39
00:03:22,183 --> 00:03:25,303
For these bears, fishing is life.
40
00:03:25,463 --> 00:03:30,023
They must eat an entire year's worth
of food in only six months.
41
00:03:34,103 --> 00:03:38,223
Hundreds of thousands of fish
will fight their way over the falls.
42
00:03:40,503 --> 00:03:44,983
It triggers one of the greatest
concentrations of bears on earth.
43
00:03:50,303 --> 00:03:54,383
Into this fray, a female
called Courageous emerges.
44
00:04:02,823 --> 00:04:05,543
Immediately, she retreats
to the river's edge,
45
00:04:05,703 --> 00:04:09,383
away from the large males -
with good reason.
46
00:04:11,463 --> 00:04:13,983
She is joined
by her three young cubs.
47
00:04:16,543 --> 00:04:20,583
They will stay with her for over
two years, learning how to fish
48
00:04:20,743 --> 00:04:22,423
and how to survive.
49
00:04:25,303 --> 00:04:30,303
Twins are most common and it takes
a special bear to raise three cubs.
50
00:04:33,383 --> 00:04:37,063
Courageous shares this river
with the largest males.
51
00:04:38,663 --> 00:04:42,263
They are a clear and present danger
to her young family.
52
00:04:47,423 --> 00:04:50,983
And each day, she must
weigh up risk versus reward
53
00:04:51,143 --> 00:04:52,783
in a high-stakes gamble.
54
00:05:02,343 --> 00:05:06,263
As brown bears feast,
another species gathers on shore.
55
00:05:11,383 --> 00:05:15,943
They are forced together by melting
ice, not by spawning salmon.
56
00:05:18,063 --> 00:05:20,703
It is an annual ritual
on Hudson Bay.
57
00:05:21,943 --> 00:05:24,983
Polar bears must spend
four months on land.
58
00:05:28,983 --> 00:05:32,663
They are without access to seals,
their main food supply.
59
00:05:37,343 --> 00:05:40,343
This young family
is determined to survive.
60
00:05:41,863 --> 00:05:43,903
But this is not her element.
61
00:05:50,983 --> 00:05:52,623
In a warming Arctic,
62
00:05:52,783 --> 00:05:56,903
she may now wait an additional
four weeks for the ice to return.
63
00:06:00,783 --> 00:06:03,703
Even large males like Judge
are affected.
64
00:06:05,063 --> 00:06:08,303
He will lose two pounds of fat
for every day on land.
65
00:06:13,183 --> 00:06:16,543
For polar bears,
life is never in balance.
66
00:06:26,343 --> 00:06:29,663
Ringed seals are their preferred prey
67
00:06:29,823 --> 00:06:32,663
and the Arctic spring
is their peak hunting season.
68
00:06:34,503 --> 00:06:37,303
These bears consume
80% of their annual diet
69
00:06:37,463 --> 00:06:39,303
between March and June.
70
00:06:40,943 --> 00:06:43,783
After that,
they face months of deprivation.
71
00:06:45,183 --> 00:06:48,743
But for now, they are at their
heaviest weight of the year.
72
00:06:53,703 --> 00:06:57,743
In fact, they are
so fat, they float.
73
00:07:04,783 --> 00:07:08,543
In the summer heat, Judge
and another large male still find
74
00:07:08,703 --> 00:07:11,343
some time to beat each other up.
75
00:07:31,623 --> 00:07:34,703
These bears will spar
in the water for hours.
76
00:07:35,463 --> 00:07:39,143
It is a time when
they should be conserving energy.
77
00:07:40,743 --> 00:07:43,423
Instead, they battle to exhaustion,
78
00:07:43,583 --> 00:07:47,343
for seemingly no other reason
than fun.
79
00:07:59,583 --> 00:08:02,263
But not every bear
is content to wait.
80
00:08:03,343 --> 00:08:06,263
This young female works
an Arctic stream.
81
00:08:07,343 --> 00:08:11,263
She searches for Arctic char,
a northern cousin of the salmon.
82
00:08:16,023 --> 00:08:19,183
She does not have a
4-inch layer of fat like Judge.
83
00:08:21,303 --> 00:08:24,223
But she is fighting to survive
in a warming climate.
84
00:08:27,543 --> 00:08:30,423
Fishing is an adaptation
only recently observed.
85
00:08:32,383 --> 00:08:34,903
A rapid response
to a changing world.
86
00:09:09,023 --> 00:09:13,743
Perhaps the most successful species
is the North American black bear.
87
00:09:15,863 --> 00:09:21,303
They survive in almost any habitat,
from alpine to interior lowlands.
88
00:09:25,863 --> 00:09:31,103
Experts at filling a niche,
they are the ultimate opportunists.
89
00:09:31,263 --> 00:09:33,743
Adapting to any situation...
90
00:09:35,063 --> 00:09:38,823
..except perhaps the presence
of other bears.
91
00:09:41,143 --> 00:09:42,743
The smallest of the three species,
92
00:09:42,903 --> 00:09:46,983
black bears weigh only half
of a fully grown brown bear.
93
00:09:49,743 --> 00:09:52,303
But in Canada's
Great Bear Rainforest,
94
00:09:52,463 --> 00:09:57,063
an ancient population of black bears
dominates a chain of remote islands.
95
00:10:09,383 --> 00:10:12,263
They are known as 'Kermode Bears'
96
00:10:12,423 --> 00:10:15,503
and share a bounty of salmon
with eagles and wolves.
97
00:10:19,743 --> 00:10:22,863
These rivers have remained
relatively undiscovered.
98
00:10:26,183 --> 00:10:29,223
Each fish may provide
up to 4,500 calories.
99
00:10:36,263 --> 00:10:39,583
Kermode bears
can afford to be picky,
100
00:10:39,743 --> 00:10:42,383
eating only the richest parts
of the salmon -
101
00:10:42,543 --> 00:10:45,183
the skin, the brain and the eggs.
102
00:10:48,543 --> 00:10:51,023
This high-calorie diet
means they grow larger
103
00:10:51,183 --> 00:10:53,183
than their mainland cousins.
104
00:11:02,903 --> 00:11:07,423
While brown bears gather in numbers,
black bears value privacy.
105
00:11:13,503 --> 00:11:17,143
But there are bears
gifted with an ancient mutation
106
00:11:17,303 --> 00:11:20,703
and they stand out
like a sore thumb.
107
00:11:46,223 --> 00:11:49,503
These Kermode bears
carry a recessive gene...
108
00:11:52,703 --> 00:11:56,503
..and one in ten black bears
are born with white fur.
109
00:11:59,103 --> 00:12:01,983
They are not albino
but the colour is so rare
110
00:12:02,143 --> 00:12:04,823
that there may be only 200 in
existence.
111
00:12:07,583 --> 00:12:10,503
They are known as Spirit Bears
112
00:12:10,663 --> 00:12:12,623
and they are linked
to an ancient myth
113
00:12:12,783 --> 00:12:16,263
where the Creator turned
one in ten black bears white.
114
00:12:18,623 --> 00:12:23,503
A way to honour the time
of glaciers, the time before humans.
115
00:12:33,343 --> 00:12:35,343
One bear, known a Ma'ah,
116
00:12:35,503 --> 00:12:38,663
has ruled the Qua'a River
for almost 20 years.
117
00:12:41,703 --> 00:12:44,423
Out-competing black and white bears
alike.
118
00:12:53,423 --> 00:12:56,343
Spirit Bears are more
successful at catching fish.
119
00:12:57,703 --> 00:13:01,143
Their white fur is more
difficult for salmon to see,
120
00:13:01,183 --> 00:13:03,103
especially in the daylight.
121
00:13:05,183 --> 00:13:09,423
They may catch 10-15% more salmon
than a normal black bear.
122
00:13:11,743 --> 00:13:14,503
Over the years, this
advantage adds up.
123
00:13:28,943 --> 00:13:32,863
Ma'ah is a perfect example
of the Spirit Bear's dominance
124
00:13:32,863 --> 00:13:36,663
and their special place
in this fragile ecosystem.
125
00:13:45,183 --> 00:13:48,103
At Brooks Falls, the salmon run
is hitting its peak,
126
00:13:48,143 --> 00:13:50,423
and each day, more bears arrive.
127
00:13:57,303 --> 00:14:01,223
By season's end, many of them
will weigh over 1000 lbs.
128
00:14:05,383 --> 00:14:08,583
The largest males choose
the best fishing holes.
129
00:14:08,623 --> 00:14:12,263
They simply wait for
the fish to come to them.
130
00:14:22,103 --> 00:14:25,703
Other bears are forced to take
a more active approach.
131
00:14:25,743 --> 00:14:28,663
Snorkelling, searching
for fish underwater.
132
00:14:36,343 --> 00:14:40,903
Some bears dash and grab,
plunging into the salmon run...
133
00:14:42,623 --> 00:14:45,103
..and seemingly hoping for the best.
134
00:14:46,743 --> 00:14:50,383
Each bear carves out a niche
in this crowded river.
135
00:15:00,463 --> 00:15:03,583
For now,
Courageous is forced to watch.
136
00:15:04,623 --> 00:15:06,903
The falls are just too crowded.
137
00:15:09,943 --> 00:15:11,983
And the tension is thick.
138
00:15:13,583 --> 00:15:15,543
Every move is monitored.
139
00:15:15,583 --> 00:15:18,263
Not by one bear, but by ten.
140
00:15:20,143 --> 00:15:22,623
It is a tenuous truce,
141
00:15:22,623 --> 00:15:26,383
based on body language
and quiet vocalizations.
142
00:15:34,103 --> 00:15:38,023
As young bears mature,
they challenge for position.
143
00:15:41,183 --> 00:15:44,543
But the best fishing spots
are highly coveted.
144
00:15:56,103 --> 00:15:58,703
This young male pushes the limits.
145
00:15:58,743 --> 00:16:00,823
He is not ready to back down.
146
00:16:07,223 --> 00:16:09,063
And once that line is crossed...
147
00:16:11,823 --> 00:16:13,623
..there are consequences.
148
00:16:34,103 --> 00:16:37,303
Courageous watches
and gathers her family.
149
00:16:38,823 --> 00:16:40,823
They retreat into the forest.
150
00:16:51,103 --> 00:16:53,703
Content to rest
and share a quiet moment.
151
00:17:22,743 --> 00:17:26,063
The summer heat
is in full force on Hudson Bay.
152
00:17:29,383 --> 00:17:32,143
And the biting insects
are unrelenting.
153
00:17:39,703 --> 00:17:42,743
The largest bears
claim the best locations.
154
00:17:45,783 --> 00:17:48,263
Judge has staked out a rocky ridge.
155
00:17:50,063 --> 00:17:53,703
It is a high vantage point
with easy access to the coast
156
00:17:53,743 --> 00:17:55,823
and the ocean breeze.
157
00:17:58,423 --> 00:18:02,463
Summer was thought to be a time
of 'walking hibernation',
158
00:18:02,503 --> 00:18:04,663
perhaps a time of fasting.
159
00:18:06,423 --> 00:18:09,863
It now appears that bears
actively search for calories.
160
00:18:10,983 --> 00:18:12,663
Berries and goose eggs.
161
00:18:14,263 --> 00:18:16,223
Caribou and beached whales.
162
00:18:18,543 --> 00:18:21,543
But open water limits these bears
163
00:18:21,543 --> 00:18:24,663
and summer is a time for whales
and seals to thrive.
164
00:18:26,823 --> 00:18:30,183
Over 50,000 beluga whales
summer in Hudson Bay.
165
00:18:32,263 --> 00:18:34,983
They seek the warm waters
of river estuaries.
166
00:18:39,103 --> 00:18:42,183
Here, they moult their winter skin,
167
00:18:42,183 --> 00:18:44,263
feed on schools of fish,
168
00:18:44,303 --> 00:18:45,863
and raise their young.
169
00:19:06,023 --> 00:19:08,703
It is a relatively
carefree existence.
170
00:19:10,863 --> 00:19:13,343
But Judge is about to change that.
171
00:19:20,503 --> 00:19:24,543
Gauging the outgoing tide,
he swims out to the pod.
172
00:19:25,543 --> 00:19:28,823
The whales are much faster and agile,
173
00:19:28,823 --> 00:19:31,423
so he must craft a strategy.
174
00:19:31,463 --> 00:19:33,623
Anticipating their movements,
175
00:19:33,823 --> 00:19:35,463
Judge closes the distance.
176
00:19:36,983 --> 00:19:40,663
And once the time is right,
he takes his shot.
177
00:19:47,303 --> 00:19:51,703
He may be trying to injure a calf
and retrieve it at low tide.
178
00:19:55,343 --> 00:20:00,503
But for now, the old bear will have
to wait and try again tomorrow.
179
00:20:06,743 --> 00:20:09,223
Not all hunts are near misses.
180
00:20:10,543 --> 00:20:13,983
A beached carcass has attracted
the attention of several bears,
181
00:20:13,983 --> 00:20:15,663
including Judge.
182
00:20:19,823 --> 00:20:22,783
Polar bears are known
to share meals.
183
00:20:22,943 --> 00:20:27,343
Dominant bears allow smaller bears
to feast beside them -
184
00:20:27,383 --> 00:20:31,863
as long as the proper respect
is shown.
185
00:20:32,983 --> 00:20:35,023
Another bear, called Determined,
186
00:20:35,023 --> 00:20:37,383
swims with her cubs
towards the shore.
187
00:20:40,783 --> 00:20:45,063
Less than half of first year cubs
will survive to adulthood.
188
00:20:51,063 --> 00:20:54,023
She is well aware of the danger
189
00:20:54,023 --> 00:20:56,823
but it is a risk
she's willing to take.
190
00:21:02,263 --> 00:21:06,943
Determined heads for the carcass
and the group of bears.
191
00:21:11,503 --> 00:21:14,503
Her bravery pays off
for her young family.
192
00:21:23,463 --> 00:21:27,503
As for Judge,
his patience has its limits,
193
00:21:27,503 --> 00:21:32,783
and soon he retreats to the ocean
to enjoy his meal alone.
194
00:21:35,623 --> 00:21:38,503
Whale carcasses are increasingly
seen in the north.
195
00:21:39,623 --> 00:21:42,863
And bears now actively hunt belugas
in the summer.
196
00:21:46,303 --> 00:21:49,143
It is another adaptation
that has been witnessed
197
00:21:49,143 --> 00:21:51,143
only in the last few years.
198
00:21:54,063 --> 00:21:57,263
One that has paid off
for this old bear.
199
00:22:07,223 --> 00:22:09,143
In the Great Bear Rainforest,
200
00:22:09,143 --> 00:22:12,183
another elder watches over her realm.
201
00:22:23,503 --> 00:22:28,023
Ma'ah emerged as a symbol of hope
for an entire ecosystem.
202
00:22:30,463 --> 00:22:35,623
It is a marine environment
that spans 6.4 million hectares.
203
00:22:39,423 --> 00:22:42,103
Once valued only as a trophy,
204
00:22:42,103 --> 00:22:43,943
Spirit Bears are now protectors
205
00:22:43,983 --> 00:22:46,623
of the world's
largest temperate rainforest.
206
00:22:48,703 --> 00:22:54,983
It is critical habitat for
minke whales, sea lions and orca.
207
00:23:05,783 --> 00:23:07,983
It is Ma'ah's calm demeanour
208
00:23:07,983 --> 00:23:10,503
that has allowed humans
to enter this world.
209
00:23:20,503 --> 00:23:24,503
Over centuries, Spirit Bears
have adapted to ocean life.
210
00:23:31,463 --> 00:23:34,503
Recently, other species
have followed suit.
211
00:23:35,583 --> 00:23:40,663
Coastal wolves have flourished
in the Great Bear Rainforest.
212
00:23:40,703 --> 00:23:43,103
They hunt,
not only on the island's deer,
213
00:23:43,263 --> 00:23:45,623
but also feed on salmon
and shellfish.
214
00:23:48,423 --> 00:23:51,823
And much like Ma'ah,
they have little fear of humans.
215
00:23:53,183 --> 00:23:56,823
Their main competitors
are bears and killer whales.
216
00:23:59,943 --> 00:24:04,063
Humans are still a novelty
in this land of shadow and sun.
217
00:24:32,543 --> 00:24:35,583
Courageous has moved her family
downstream.
218
00:24:36,623 --> 00:24:37,823
It is safer here.
219
00:24:39,863 --> 00:24:42,783
This section of the river
is populated by young bears
220
00:24:42,823 --> 00:24:44,543
and by family groups.
221
00:24:50,463 --> 00:24:54,663
Another family has staked out
a quiet bend in the river.
222
00:24:58,863 --> 00:25:01,703
Her cubs watch from
the safety of the trees.
223
00:25:07,823 --> 00:25:11,343
They study her moves
and wait for their next meal -
224
00:25:11,343 --> 00:25:13,223
for the most part.
225
00:25:32,223 --> 00:25:36,623
As she returns to shore,
her cubs scramble down to join her.
226
00:25:52,903 --> 00:25:55,703
Brooks River has a higher rate
of cub mortality.
227
00:25:57,303 --> 00:26:00,783
Only one out of three cubs
may survive their first year.
228
00:26:06,183 --> 00:26:11,263
Large males, intense competition,
and whitewater rapids
229
00:26:11,263 --> 00:26:13,943
make this a risky place
to raise a family.
230
00:26:19,263 --> 00:26:24,423
As the quiet family shares a meal,
Courageous too has found success.
231
00:26:26,863 --> 00:26:30,503
But she knows that
the best fishing is at the falls.
232
00:26:30,583 --> 00:26:33,823
And she is not content
to sit on the sidelines.
233
00:26:52,503 --> 00:26:57,863
Courageous steels herself
and leads her cubs upstream.
234
00:27:16,383 --> 00:27:19,743
These bears are over twice her size
235
00:27:19,743 --> 00:27:23,063
and may deal with intruders
with lethal force.
236
00:27:25,183 --> 00:27:28,863
It's a gamble
that she's willing to take.
237
00:27:32,303 --> 00:27:35,903
This is where
the best fishing spots are
238
00:27:35,903 --> 00:27:38,663
and she wants to give her cubs
every advantage.
239
00:27:43,863 --> 00:27:45,983
Their presence creates a stir.
240
00:27:47,543 --> 00:27:50,743
A stark reminder of the high stakes.
241
00:27:53,663 --> 00:27:56,383
Carefully, she moves forward.
242
00:27:56,383 --> 00:27:58,823
And Courageous leaps into the fray.
243
00:28:00,783 --> 00:28:03,583
She grabs a fish
just metres from the falls.
244
00:28:05,343 --> 00:28:07,663
Her cubs join her midstream.
245
00:28:07,663 --> 00:28:10,303
They share her meal, eating quickly.
246
00:28:18,143 --> 00:28:20,343
More bears arrive on the scene.
247
00:28:23,423 --> 00:28:26,783
And soon,
their escape route is cut off.
248
00:28:36,143 --> 00:28:38,023
In the Great Bear Rainforest,
249
00:28:38,023 --> 00:28:41,143
another Spirit Bear
emerges from the shadows.
250
00:28:55,143 --> 00:28:58,623
Warrior is a confident
and dominant bear.
251
00:28:58,663 --> 00:29:01,103
She is ready to challenge Ma'ah.
252
00:29:07,863 --> 00:29:11,383
She approaches slowly
and in the language of bears,
253
00:29:11,423 --> 00:29:13,103
she makes her move.
254
00:29:17,743 --> 00:29:19,303
She arches her back,
255
00:29:19,303 --> 00:29:22,023
seeking to intimidate
the old matriarch.
256
00:29:29,263 --> 00:29:34,063
Head down, she takes a step forward,
legs tensed for a charge.
257
00:29:36,303 --> 00:29:38,983
Ma'ah holds her ground for now.
258
00:29:38,983 --> 00:29:42,183
Her legacy will soon
be passed to Warrior,
259
00:29:42,223 --> 00:29:44,143
but she is not ready yet.
260
00:29:55,183 --> 00:29:58,263
It is a small step
in a long chess game.
261
00:30:23,463 --> 00:30:28,263
She is likely an offspring of Ma'ah
and she has reached breeding age.
262
00:30:30,383 --> 00:30:34,743
Soon, Warrior will pass her
special genes on to young cubs.
263
00:30:38,103 --> 00:30:43,183
Spirit Bears are more likely
to breed with other white bears.
264
00:30:43,223 --> 00:30:46,503
This real-time evolution
increases their numbers
265
00:30:46,543 --> 00:30:49,543
and strengthens
this genetic advantage.
266
00:31:05,583 --> 00:31:09,583
Along Hudson Bay,
the situation is tense.
267
00:31:10,903 --> 00:31:13,263
A young male has made a kill.
268
00:31:17,383 --> 00:31:20,823
It soon attracts
the attention of other bears.
269
00:31:22,823 --> 00:31:25,703
Seals are scarce in the summer.
270
00:31:25,743 --> 00:31:29,663
The bear relies on luck and the
outgoing tide to catch his prey.
271
00:31:38,703 --> 00:31:43,103
Polar bears can smell prey
up to 15 miles away
272
00:31:43,103 --> 00:31:47,143
and one seal may provide
a week's worth of calories.
273
00:31:50,423 --> 00:31:52,743
The bear runs off the intruder.
274
00:31:53,943 --> 00:31:56,703
More bears have caught the scent
of the kill.
275
00:31:59,103 --> 00:32:02,143
Soon, Judge appears on the horizon.
276
00:32:02,143 --> 00:32:04,143
The bear retreats.
277
00:32:06,103 --> 00:32:09,943
But the intruder has also
returned to claim his share.
278
00:32:13,903 --> 00:32:18,023
Judge's presence pushes
the two young bears over the edge.
279
00:32:25,903 --> 00:32:28,543
This is not play fighting.
280
00:32:28,663 --> 00:32:33,303
Each young bear is desperate for
calories and the stakes ride high.
281
00:32:55,383 --> 00:32:59,543
Yet another bear emerges,
drawn to the kill.
282
00:32:59,703 --> 00:33:03,343
And finally, Judge makes his move.
283
00:33:15,023 --> 00:33:19,223
He arrives
and simply takes what is now his.
284
00:33:21,983 --> 00:33:25,623
In a changing Arctic,
size still matters.
285
00:33:33,023 --> 00:33:35,743
And with that, the battle is over.
286
00:33:35,783 --> 00:33:38,743
Hunter and intruder retreat together.
287
00:33:38,783 --> 00:33:40,703
A hard lesson learned.
288
00:34:03,623 --> 00:34:05,823
Chasing the best fish,
289
00:34:05,823 --> 00:34:08,823
Courageous is now
in the heart of the falls.
290
00:34:16,743 --> 00:34:21,983
The largest bears in the world now
surround this bold little family.
291
00:34:23,623 --> 00:34:26,383
Showing weakness here
is not an option.
292
00:34:29,223 --> 00:34:32,423
Finally, a young male
crosses the line.
293
00:34:34,223 --> 00:34:36,343
And she responds with force.
294
00:34:39,263 --> 00:34:42,943
She stands up to the larger bear,
defending her ground.
295
00:34:47,383 --> 00:34:51,143
The cubs, as always,
watch and learn.
296
00:35:05,143 --> 00:35:07,703
Courageous returns to her cubs.
297
00:35:09,663 --> 00:35:12,103
She pulls them back to safety.
298
00:35:13,463 --> 00:35:16,743
She is already preparing
for the next push to the falls...
299
00:35:19,063 --> 00:35:21,543
..and the next lesson
for her young family.
300
00:35:39,023 --> 00:35:41,623
Each day, her cubs grow bolder,
301
00:35:42,743 --> 00:35:46,703
learning from their mother's bravery
and from her creativity.
302
00:35:49,103 --> 00:35:51,743
Downstream, they will practice
the fishing techniques
303
00:35:51,743 --> 00:35:53,663
learned at the falls,
304
00:35:54,743 --> 00:35:57,263
and maybe some of their mum's moves.
305
00:36:00,503 --> 00:36:04,143
Playfighting rituals
are found in all bears.
306
00:36:04,183 --> 00:36:07,663
From their first days,
they develop relationships,
307
00:36:07,703 --> 00:36:10,343
test boundaries
and assert dominance.
308
00:36:13,783 --> 00:36:17,983
These cubs are entering
a crucial time of life.
309
00:36:18,023 --> 00:36:21,023
Eventually,
Courageous will push them away
310
00:36:21,223 --> 00:36:24,903
as she prepares to mate
and raise another family.
311
00:36:29,783 --> 00:36:33,303
But she has taught them
valuable lessons
312
00:36:33,303 --> 00:36:37,463
and in time, they too will take
their place at the falls...
313
00:36:38,543 --> 00:36:41,383
..the leaders of a new generation.
314
00:37:27,023 --> 00:37:30,663
As Courageous and Ma'ah
prepare to hibernate,
315
00:37:30,663 --> 00:37:33,943
Determined leads her family
to the coast of Hudson Bay.
316
00:37:38,303 --> 00:37:41,703
The cold temperatures signals
the start of her hunting season.
317
00:37:46,103 --> 00:37:48,383
Their journey is just beginning.
318
00:37:51,703 --> 00:37:54,423
Only pregnant females hibernate.
319
00:37:54,463 --> 00:37:57,663
The rest must hunt
through the brutal winter.
320
00:37:59,543 --> 00:38:03,303
This adaptation stands alone
among the three species.
321
00:38:06,543 --> 00:38:09,983
By November, the ice builds quickly.
322
00:38:10,023 --> 00:38:12,023
And in the weeks
leading to freeze-up,
323
00:38:12,023 --> 00:38:15,543
over 150 bears
will pass through this area.
324
00:38:30,303 --> 00:38:34,703
Subadults and females are the first
to gather along the shore.
325
00:38:38,463 --> 00:38:40,863
They are drawn to the edge of ice.
326
00:38:41,943 --> 00:38:45,623
There is a short window
for an early season seal kill
327
00:38:45,623 --> 00:38:48,383
and these are much needed calories.
328
00:38:49,783 --> 00:38:54,783
Soon, the ice will be too thick
and hunting will become much harder.
329
00:38:56,383 --> 00:39:00,983
Determined will be forced
to play a chess game,
330
00:39:00,983 --> 00:39:05,743
staking out seal breathing holes
and hoping for the best.
331
00:39:08,983 --> 00:39:10,583
They patrol the coast,
332
00:39:10,583 --> 00:39:13,663
before giving way to large males
like Judge.
333
00:39:15,303 --> 00:39:19,143
Determined needs to get
to the ice, to find the seals.
334
00:39:20,343 --> 00:39:23,343
She nurses her cubs every few hours.
335
00:39:23,543 --> 00:39:26,463
It demands an incredible
amount of calories.
336
00:39:35,343 --> 00:39:39,063
The big freeze
is increasingly unpredictable.
337
00:39:39,103 --> 00:39:42,383
The ice may arrive 3-4 weeks
later than normal.
338
00:39:57,623 --> 00:40:00,983
An early season seal
is much more important to her
339
00:40:01,023 --> 00:40:02,983
than a behemoth like Judge.
340
00:40:04,583 --> 00:40:08,343
And now, she must run
a gauntlet of hungry bears.
341
00:40:15,743 --> 00:40:19,383
She arrives at the coast
and it is already crowded.
342
00:40:31,823 --> 00:40:36,223
Judge and another massive bear
have staked out the best beach.
343
00:40:42,423 --> 00:40:44,303
They stare each other down,
344
00:40:44,343 --> 00:40:47,503
each of them twice the size
of the young mother.
345
00:40:56,743 --> 00:41:01,423
Each fall, males pair up
for weeks at a time and wrestle.
346
00:41:04,103 --> 00:41:07,663
This play fighting may establish
a critical hierarchy
347
00:41:07,663 --> 00:41:09,223
for life on the ice.
348
00:41:11,783 --> 00:41:14,543
By spring,
they will compete for mates...
349
00:41:15,743 --> 00:41:19,463
..and those battles will result
in serious wounds -
350
00:41:19,463 --> 00:41:20,903
even death.
351
00:41:23,023 --> 00:41:26,383
For now, neither gets seriously hurt,
352
00:41:26,383 --> 00:41:29,143
but it remains an awesome spectacle.
353
00:41:34,983 --> 00:41:37,823
It is a tense situation
for Determined.
354
00:41:37,863 --> 00:41:41,343
This battle of giants
blocks her path to the ice.
355
00:41:49,063 --> 00:41:52,063
She retreats to the rocks
and finds a comfort zone.
356
00:42:10,063 --> 00:42:13,423
Determined is not
ready to cede ground.
357
00:42:13,463 --> 00:42:15,863
She needs to hunt
as soon as possible.
358
00:42:23,463 --> 00:42:26,743
But the two large bears
continue to battle,
359
00:42:26,743 --> 00:42:30,063
exhausted
but each refusing to relent.
360
00:42:39,543 --> 00:42:41,903
She must feed her family.
361
00:42:41,903 --> 00:42:45,503
Large males can survive
an entire year without food
362
00:42:45,503 --> 00:42:48,863
but a nursing mother needs calories
to produce milk.
363
00:43:07,943 --> 00:43:10,983
While Judge rules over his domain,
364
00:43:10,983 --> 00:43:12,983
Determined bides her time.
365
00:43:14,983 --> 00:43:17,023
Both are dominant bears,
366
00:43:17,063 --> 00:43:20,223
facing a changing world
in their own way.
367
00:43:27,543 --> 00:43:29,663
More than any other species,
368
00:43:29,663 --> 00:43:32,183
their world is changing faster
than ever...
369
00:43:33,383 --> 00:43:38,383
..and their will to survive
will be tested as never before.
370
00:43:47,663 --> 00:43:52,263
All bears live in a world
where challenges must be met head on.
371
00:43:53,943 --> 00:43:58,383
One where they must identify
and adapt to new opportunities.
372
00:44:06,503 --> 00:44:10,463
Warrior will carry a gene
that may save her species.
373
00:44:19,103 --> 00:44:22,903
Courageous will raise
dominant and daring cubs.
374
00:44:32,583 --> 00:44:36,343
And Determined will fight against
a changing world.
375
00:44:39,303 --> 00:44:41,583
Each of North America's bears
376
00:44:41,583 --> 00:44:45,943
are already showing how they can
adapt to change,
377
00:44:45,943 --> 00:44:48,183
demonstrating the creativity
378
00:44:48,183 --> 00:44:51,023
that will keep them
at the top of the food chain
379
00:44:51,023 --> 00:44:54,063
and ensure their place
380
00:44:54,063 --> 00:44:56,623
as the ultimate survivors.31690
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.