All language subtitles for Snow Wolf Family and Me 2of2_Subtitles01.ENG

HOWLING

At the end of the earth,

there's a world

where wolves have no fear of man.

I've got two of them,
five metres away.

My name is Gordon Buchanan.

I'm a wildlife cameraman.

I'm attempting to do something
extraordinary...

..to join a wild wolf pack.

I want to discover the true nature

of this feared
and powerful predator.

HOWLING

In the spring, I got closer
than I could ever have imagined

to a family of Arctic wolves.

I can see a pup!

Wow!

I fell in love
with three young pups

and watched over them as they grew.

If that's not being welcomed
into the pack, I don't know what is.

HOWLING

I'm going back to find out
if the pups have made it.

To try to get closer to wild wolves
than anyone before.

It's going to be tough,

but if I succeed,

it could change our understanding

of these incredible animals.

It's autumn in the Arctic

and I'm back to try and reunite
with my wolf family.

When I was last here six weeks ago,
the pups were in trouble.

The parents were off
on a hunting trip,

leaving them alone and starving.

I've got no idea
if they're still alive.

The wolf pack lives near
the North Pole

in one of the most remote places
on the planet.

Canada's Ellesmere Island

is the tenth-largest island
in the world

and it's almost totally uninhabited.

It's taken me four days
just to get here.

During the summer,

scientists put a GPS tracking device
on one of the wolves.

The signal shows that at least
that wolf is alive.

I'm getting butterflies, being
back in this familiar territory,

in the hope that I might see
the wolves again and see them soon.

I'm heading to the wolves'
last known position.

There's no sign of the pack,

but there is an abandoned den.

Well, I was hoping that, when
I touched down in this location,

the pups would be apparent.

This is an area that they've spent
a lot of time.

We've seen the satellite signal
from the radio-collared wolf

constantly returning to this area.

So, all the indication was that
this was a rendezvous site,

a place where all the wolves
get together, erm...

and there's no-one here.

HE HOWLS

There is someone at home.

But it's a weasel, not a wolf.

A few hours later,
the GPS sends a new signal.

Hang on, I see something down there.

There's a musk ox carcass.

That's a good sign.

No, there they are! There, look!

One, two, three pups.

Six adults.

A full hand.

Great!

I just was so worried that I wasn't
going to see the wolves again

and that,
if I was going to see them,

that they were going to be
without the pups.

So, to find the whole pack

and three pups...

..is the best thing ever.

All over the world,
wolves avoid people.

But here on Ellesmere,
these wolves have no fear.

Look, look, look, look!

Coming straight towards me.

I think...they remember me.

They have really grown.

Hey, chaps...

Just don't pull anything off
the helicopter,

we're going to need that!

Hey, pups.

Look at you.

You remember me, don't you?

They're completely transformed.
I don't even recognise them.

That's amazing.

Just wonderful.

I'm trying to get closer
to wild wolves than anyone before.

I want to take myself to the edge
with this ferocious hunter...

..to develop a new understanding.

The helicopter's heading back
to a tiny weather station,

about half an hour's flight away.

It's the only human settlement
for hundreds of miles.

You can tell
they're a little bit cautious.

The one in the middle,

who was the biggest one
when I last saw them,

still is.

I've got a funny feeling,

just by looking at their faces,

that that is a male

and two females.

I'm calling the male pup Banjo.

He looks really strong
and confident.

This female, I've named Lola.

And this one,

the shyest, least confident,

is Meg.

It's brilliant to see them.

But I'm worried about
what lies ahead.

The chances are that
only one or two of these pups

will live to see its first birthday.

There's six adult wolves
in the pack.

Three of them really stand out.

I certainly remember this yearling.

This is Scruffy.

He's very curious.

Luna, the mother,
is more protective.

She's keeping an eye on her pups

and me.

Romulus, the father,

the biggest, eldest male.

He's proud, strong...

..and aloof.

It still feels unnerving,

camping right next to
a pack of wild wolves,

even with my two crew members.

Ay-ah! Oh...!

That's hot!

There's been big changes
since I was last here.

The pack have all left the den

and they've got the pups with them.

They have travelled at least
20 miles from the den to here,

but I can imagine,
in the time that I've been away,

they've covered
many, many more miles.

I was here the moment they popped
their head out of the den

and I've kind of watched them
grow up.

And now that they're really learning
to become wolves...

..I want to try and find out
what's round the corner for them.

For the last few months, the sun
has been shining 24 hours a day.

In summer, the Arctic
bursts into life.

But times of plenty are short-lived.

Now, at the end of August,

the sun is dipping below
the horizon again.

From here on,

every day will be
half an hour shorter.

And in just over six weeks,

constant day

will have turned into
constant night.

The sun won't rise
for four whole months.

Temperatures can drop to minus 50.

Autumn is a critical time
for the pups.

I want to see if they can get
strong enough to survive

the brutal winter ahead.

It's been a long and exhausting day.

I'm going to try and get some sleep.

# Diddle li-de-dee

# Di-di-di dee

# The Big Rock Candy Mountain... #

Oh, yi-yi-yi! It's cold...

Next morning,
I put out remote cameras

by the carcass I spotted
from the helicopter.

That is a big, old beast.

It looks like a male musk ox.

Yeah, it's a male.

A fair old size.

God, the weight...!

The weight in the head alone
is incredible.

Most of the meat has gone.

There is... There's one leg left.

They'll definitely come back.

It's the perfect place
to set up the camera traps.

The second I move back,
the pups are in to investigate.

OK, we've got one of the pups
heading towards the carcass.

And there's their big brother,
Scruffy,

chief childminder.

It's not the most
appetising-looking meal, but...

..this is exactly what the pack
needs right now.

Especially the pups.

There's a lot of eating in a musk
ox.

Any pup that enters winter
slightly malnourished,

slightly underweight,

is just not going to have
the reserves

to see it through
those long, dark, cold months.

But, at the moment,
they have everything they need.

Companionship...

..protection...

and a whole lot of grub.

It's not at all what you'd imagine
a pack of wolves

feeding at a kill site
would be like.

I'm really surprised by
how little squabbling there is.

Not like the family I grew up in.

We fought over everything.

With this family,
strength is in the pack,

so every meal must be shared.

Curiosity has got the better
of one of the wolves.

It's Scruffy.

In the spring, Scruffy was the wolf
I got closest to.

He was fascinated
by my electric fence.

Scruffy...!

You little swine!

And my camping stool.

Absolutely no respect whatsoever
for people's private property!

And eventually, by me.

You are enormous.

You might only be one year old,

but you're a big old wolf.

Now that I'm back,
he's just as curious.

And I'm just as nervous.

Hey, Scruffy...

But if I'm going to be accepted
by this family,

I have to stay calm.

What Scruffy is doing
is sniffing me out.

These wolves very much kind of
see the world through their noses,

not through their...their eyes.

Scruffy's sense of smell
is like having a superpower.

His nose is thousands of times
more sensitive than mine.

I hope it's telling him I'm friend,

not food!

I still wouldn't turn my back
on him, though.

I always like to keep my eyes
on the wolf that's at my back.

Which I think's just wise.

The meat on the carcass
is running out.

That's bad news

for the wolves

and for me.

They're abandoning this kill.

And that's going to make it
a lot harder to follow them.

The pups aren't ready to hunt yet.

Their teeth are still growing.

I'm surprised they're going
with the adults.

Back in the spring,

the adults left the pups at the den
for long periods to go hunting.

Any food they caught,
they'd bring back to them.

But now that they're older,
it seems that Banjo, Lola and Meg

have no choice
but to travel with the pack.

Adult wolves can go 50 miles
in a day in search of food.

I'm concerned about the demands
this could place on the pups.

And I don't like being left behind.

I really hoped that I could
just pick up where I left off

and I'm realising that it's going
to be much, much harder this time.

Just looking at the mountains
in the distance,

this is all places
that the wolves can get to

and I'm going to try
and follow them.

Keeping up with the wolves
isn't going to be easy.

Next day, there's still
no sign of them.

I need help.

Great. Thank you very much.

An all-terrain quad bike
could give me a fighting chance

of staying with the family.

It'll be hours until I get a new
position from the GPS collar.

So, my best strategy now
is to go looking for them.

The distances covered
by Arctic wolves are immense.

Their territories can be up to
7,000 square kilometres,

much larger than for wolves
living further south,

because prey here is so scarce.

Grasses and other vegetation
are stunted,

supporting only the toughest
grazers.

One animal in particular

has adapted well to life
on this meagre diet.

The prehistoric-looking musk ox.

For the musk ox, this time of year
is all about the opposite sex.

Massive bulls,
weighing up to half a tonne,

patrol their herds,

sniffing females
to see who's in season.

Keeping an eye on rivals
is essential.

And showing them who's boss,
even more so.

These testosterone-filled bulls
are deadly right now.

This is not good for wolves,

because musk ox are one of
the few prey available.

I've spent the whole day
searching for the wolves,

but I haven't found them.

It's just so isolated up here.

Sometimes,
it feels like another planet.

I've been worrying about the wolves
all night.

But then, great news.

A GPS location from the collar

shows they're heading back
in my direction.

I think I've got them
but way, way, way off there.

I think it might just be
the six adults.

The pups aren't with them,
I don't think.

Oh, no, they are.

All of them.

The whole lot.

They look like hamsters!

They are just tiny specks
coming straight towards me.

I wonder how long it'll take them
to cover that ground.

Because I was over there myself
yesterday

and it took me about two hours
to get back here.

Holy mackerel!

They're just going straight down
the slope.

Almost down a cliff!

Amazing that they're taking
the pups on a journey like that.

You talk about the dangers
that they face.

You know, forget musk ox,
forget the weather,

kind of just dealing with the
landscape is incredibly dangerous.

Here they come...

So, they're going be here
in five minutes.

Great.

Really lovely just to see
the whole pack

picking their way across the tundra.

Where are the pups?

Really incredible that
they're following the pack.

One of the pups is going slower
than the others.

It's Meg.

She's looking skinny.

I hope she's OK.

They're heading straight
for the carcass.

They obviously haven't had
any success out hunting.

It's not surprising
the pups are hungry.

They must be absolutely ravenous

covering miles and miles
every single hour.

And the adults are well used
to periods of starvation.

It's just part of being a wolf.

Hunger is something new
to these pups.

Hunger is something they're going
to have to get used to.

I'm going move in
a little bit closer.

I think these pups
are happy enough with me.

They'll tolerate
a little bit more proximity.

They are completely absorbed
in what they're doing.

And, actually,
I think we've got to that stage

that they're not that fussed
about me at all.

If ever I was going to be attacked
by a wolf,

now it would seem like a good time.

Banjo's got the only meaty bit left.

Lola and Meg have decided
to leave him to it.

Back in the spring,

I remember one pup always dominating
the other two.

That must have been Banjo.

From their first days
inside the den,

pups compete
for their mother's milk.

Meg was always
at the back of the queue.

But, hopefully, she'll be fine,

so long as her family can
make a new kill.

HOWLING

HOWLING CONTINUES

I'm about to be serenaded.

HOWLING

I think I should just lie back
and enjoy this.

HOWLING

I would join in
but I think I'd spoil it.

HOWLING

Howling is the best way to rally
the pack before they move on.

HOWLS

They seem to be going for a wander.

I wonder if they'll let me
tag along?

Walking along the tundra with wolves
in front of me,

wolves by my side
and wolves behind me...

..you get this enormous sense
of...of freedom.

Really peaceful.

Hi, Scruffy.

Come on, lad.

Come on.

And I think
I've come to understand them.

I think...I think I know
where I stand with them.

They don't see me as a threat.
I don't see them as a threat.

Amazing opportunities like this
don't come around that often.

So, I think, you know, you just
have to trust your instincts...

..go with your gut,

walk with the wolves.

I'm really starting to feel
like part of this family.

Next morning, I'm delighted to see
my wolves are still around.

Scruffy's suddenly spotted something
and kind of trotted towards it,

and he's stuck his nose in a hole

and I think that it was a lemming
that he spotted.

Collared lemmings
are small, hamster-like rodents.

It's surprising how many there are
here in the barren tundra.

Lemmings live off roots, shoots
and insects...

..if they can find them.

They burrow into the soil,
making little chambers for sleeping.

But that's not always deep enough

to escape a determined
pair of wolf paws.

GROWLS

Scruffy's done well,

but a lemming's just a snack,

and it's the only food I've seen
my wolves catch since I got here.

The pack needs a proper kill.

For hours, all is quiet.

Then, suddenly, they spot something.

Just down there,
there's a herd of musk ox.

They're in hunting mode.

Romulus and Luna are out in front.

So, we've got three wolves moving
down towards the...the musk ox.

This could get really interesting.

They used the cover of the hill
to get much closer.

And now they're really close.

These wolves haven't made a kill
in coming up for two weeks now

and they will be getting
to that desperate point.

They will be getting hungry.

Their supplies from their previous
kill are running low

and they have to catch something,
they have to make a kill.

They have to get enough food
for these pups.

Now the wolves are having
a good old look.

And what each one of these wolves
is doing

is just trying to detect
any weakness,

any vulnerability
in any of the herd.

It's real David and Goliath stuff

when you see
the wolf standing beside a musk ox.

Oh, he's just charged it, look!

Behind the bull, the rest of
the musk ox have bunched together.

They're protecting a calf.

They've pushed it into the middle
of the defensive ring

and are standing head-on
to the wolves.

Whoa, charge again!

This is really dangerous
and the stakes couldn't be higher.

If my wolves make a kill, it could
save the whole pack from starving.

But even the slightest
injury could be fatal.

They don't dash in towards
a herd of musk ox

because that's going to spook them

before they can do
what they really need to do,

which is get a good, close look.

The pack have decided
this is too risky.

These wolves are only here

because they've become experts

at bringing down
these formidable animals.

But there's just not an individual
in this group that they can tackle.

It is just a waste of energy.

You can see the pups watching on.

These pups will be picking up
everything,

watching the moves
that the adults make.

They will only survive out here
if they make the right decisions.

If they don't make any mistakes.

I'm concerned about these pups.

Especially the timid one, Meg.

I would dearly love
to give them something to eat.

But the rules here are strict.

We're not allowed to feed them.

You are beautiful. Look at you.

Scruff, Scruff...

He is my favourite wolf.

He is so bold.

Incredibly curious.

I suppose that's just part
of being a wolf

that's just over one year old.

No...!

Breaking the camera trap.

No...!

Every day that goes by,

I'm feeling more and more
comfortable with my wolves.

I want to see if I can build
a whole new level of trust.

It's great that Banjo's
so confident.

But maybe I've taken this too far.

I just have to hold my nerve.

Scruffy...!

I don't like you going behind me,
you know that.

You are still a wolf.

Is it my scent that you're getting?

Rather him than me.

I haven't washed in weeks.

I think I can see
how this fearsome predator

eventually became man's best friend.

Hey, Scruffy...

Don't even think about it.

Look at the size of you.

He's actually quite nervous.

He's flinching
at the slightest sound I make.

I think I might be getting over
my slight fear of Scruffy.

I think he's just
incredibly inquisitive.

He just wants to have
a good old look.

I think I am understanding him
more than I did.

He's still an enormous wolf,

but he just wants
to get as close to me

as I want to get to him, really.

I suppose that's how it's working.

Having Scruffy touch me was amazing.

That's the first time
he's been so close.

My instinct tells me
I can get even closer.

Next morning,
my wolves have left again.

The GPS shows they're over
a day away by quad bike.

Too far to follow.

With the wolves gone,
other animals dare to surface.

An Arctic fox
is scouting for scraps.

Animals like these
depend on the wolves' kills.

A gyrfalcon pays a visit.

These are the largest falcons
in the world.

Normally, they hunt birds
and small mammals,

but this one's also been scavenging.

He's having to compete with a skua.

It's great to see
all this other life,

but I'm missing my wolf family

and my time is running out.

OK, we're running.

Yeah, it's getting colder
and colder.

It's getting well into
minus temperatures now.

And outside, with the wind-chill,
it's freezing.

Inside, it's not much better.

And I'm kind of rapidly realising
why no-one's tried to study wolves

in this part of the world
so far into the season.

I'm just kind of worried that
it's going to get to the point

where it's just too hard

and I'm going to run out of time.

And I'm...I'm desperate not to leave

without kind of having
some kind of closure

and finding out
that the pups are OK.

That they've kind of...the family
have done the best for them

and that they can survive
as the endless night approaches.

Next morning, the GPS shows my
wolves are still in the same spot.

It's well outside
their normal territory.

They must have gone there
looking for food.

Since it's too far
to go on the quad bike,

I've called in the helicopter.

We've got a good sense of how big
the pack's territory is

and this seems to be outside
their territory.

A long way outside their territory.

No, there they are there, look.

There they are.

OK, I'm trying to count them.

I think they're all here.

Can't quite tell.

And what they're doing here,
I don't know.

But then I see a dead musk ox.

That's why they're here.

They've almost travelled 100 miles
since the last time I saw them

and that's a long, long, long way
for a pup.

We've got... Actually this isn't...

I don't recognise that wolf.

No, I really don't know that wolf.

This is not our pack.

These aren't my wolves.

Two big males.

I don't quite know what's going on.

These wolves look a whole lot bigger
than mine.

We've got a number
of strange wolves.

I'm trying to look for someone
that I recognise.

It looks like a pack with
a lot of big, big, big wolves in it.

Look at this wolf.

Gosh, just looks so different.

Looks foreign.

Right. I'm going to get out.

Yeah, I am worried,

because this is the location
that I got the GPS collar from.

Right here.

And I arrive

and it's not our wolves.

If a wolf moves into
another wolf's territory...

..it's bad news.

My wolves probably came to check out
this rival pack's kill.

That's the most dangerous thing
a wolf can do.

I'm really worried.

Oh, gosh,
I hope nothing bad's happened.

I just don't know what's going on.

I have to wait for
the...the next GPS coordinate.

When the new position
eventually comes in,

it shows they're back
in their territory.

I can see them.

This is really strange.

I'm used to them
coming right up to me.

But they seem subdued.

One, two, three, four, five...

Can't see everyone
but I think they're all spread out.

But we've got the pups, all three.

Unless I was looking at
one of the adults. Erm...

Actually, I can only see
two of the pups.

Yeah...

I don't know where the third one is.

No. I can't see it.

Hey, guys.

Hey, wolves.

What's going on here?

One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight...

I can only see two of the pups.

Erm...
Hang on, it's got to be there.

It has to be there. Come on.

They're all starting to lie down.

It doesn't look good.

It's Meg that's gone.

She was the shyest pup,

always trailing behind.

That's the first time I've
seen them all together like that

and not been able to count everyone.

It is entirely likely that they
encountered the other pack

once they'd strayed into
their...their territory.

I've been contemplating
all the dangers

that the pups have faced
since I've been with them

and the one thing
that I actually overlooked

was the danger
that comes from wolves themselves.

If the rest of the pack ran away,

it may be that Meg
was just too slow.

It looks like she's been killed
by the rival pack.

What I wanted to do before I left
was to just...

..maybe have confidence
in the fact that

all the pups were going to be OK.

And I wanted to leave them...

..feeding on a big musk ox,
everyone happy and full.

But then, that's just...

..no surprise.

Life is hard up here.

And the High Arctic
is no place for the weak.

Looking at my family,
they appear to be grieving for Meg.

It's my last night in the Arctic...

..and the unstoppable winter
is on its way, fast.

I never imagined I'd get so attached
to wild wolves.

Getting so close makes me miss
my own family back home.

I desperately want to catch up
with my wolves again.

I've got to say a proper goodbye.

When I find them again,
they're still on the move.

Scruffy has spotted
some Arctic hare.

Being light and agile, he stands
the best chance of catching one.

Neither of them can afford to slip.

This'll be interesting.

If it was one of the older wolves,

I reckon that they'd give the pups
a bit of food.

But Scruffy's not letting go.

A real tussle going on.

Come on, Scruffy, give 'em a bit.

One hare doesn't go very far,

especially if you're like Scruffy
and you don't want to share it.

He's run off with it.

Banjo's running after him.

He's not going to give up,
look at him.

He's just chasing Scruffy
all over the place.

And this isn't a game.
It looks like a game.

But that pup is starving.

It's desperate for food

and Scruffy's not letting it
have any.

You know, Scruffy caught this hare.

He's not going to give it up
for anyone,

no matter how much he gets pestered.

Oh, look!
He's got...he's got it off him!

Look at that!

Well done, wee man, that's great.

There's quite a good bit of meat
and all of that will go.

That is high-energy puppy food.

I like this pup.

Banjo's persistence has paid off

and big brother, Scruffy,
has rewarded him.

That's the kind of wolf pup
that survives.

You have to be bold, you have to be
aggressive to make it out here.

Luna got some of that hare as well.

If Lola begs her mother enough,
she'll get a meal, too.

It's so great to see the family eat.

If they can keep getting snacks
like this,

the pups could make it.

HOWLS

It is extraordinary that you can be
this close to a pack of wild wolves.

You can sort of get a little bit
complacent about it

and then you remind yourself,
once you lose them

and spend hours and hours and
miles and miles searching for them,

that when you do find them
and you can just stand

less than 100 metres away,

it is really unique.

Now that they're bedded down,

this could be my best chance
to get close to the family.

I've had a lot of amazing
experiences with these wolves,

but this feels special.

Don't be afraid.
I'm just going to loiter about here.

What a beauty!

You know, as much as I've tried
to get close to this family,

there's a boundary,

there's this limit...

limit that they're comfortable with,

which is as it should be, really.

Steady.

To be surrounded by wolves
is simply incredible.

It's not something
that I'm at all fearful of...

..because I've seen
that the true wolf,

the real wolf,

doesn't at all
live up to the stereotype.

They are not a mindless,
ruthless killer.

They are an incredibly caring,
doting family member.

And the most important thing to
them is looking after their family,

looking after their young.

Getting this close to Scruffy
and the pups

convinces me that you can connect
with wild wolves.

Hey, how're you doing?

It's such a privilege to get to know
these intriguing predators.

That they're so relaxed
is truly extraordinary.

Having a stare-off with a wolf...

It is unbelievable.

And I really worry,

not just for the pups,

but for the...the rest
of the family,

all these beautiful creatures.

You know, what does the future
hold for them?

This is a place
that is wild beyond belief.

And I think wolves symbolise
more than anything

not just the wild...

..but...

Too close!

Selfie!

You're towering above me.

You're looking in a playful mood.

Gosh, that is incredibly close.

I could reach out and touch you.

There's a small stick...

That's as big as sticks come
around these parts.

The nearest tree is
1,000 miles to the south.

Fetch!

Look at this...

Our relationship with wolves
is so full of fear and distrust.

But it doesn't need to be.

This must have been what it was like
when man and wolf first met.

When there was no fear,

just curiosity.

But as soon as it's happened,

playtime's over.

The family needs to go hunting.

And I have to leave
before winter sets in.

I may never see
my wolf family again.

There's something brave and defiant
about these wolves...

..that they're able to survive here
at the top of the world

on the very edge of existence.

Wolves are one of the most feared
and persecuted animals

on the planet.

But their true nature
shows me how wrong we've been.

They are a highly intelligent
creature

that only does what it does

not just to feed itself

but to...to feed its family.

And when you put it into
a human context, it's...

it's remarkably similar
to our lives.

We are the strongest
when we're with our family.

We feel happy
when we're with our companions.

And the same goes
for wolves.

You know, power is in the pack
and power is in the family.

A huge part of me
would love to stay,

to follow their story,

to find out what happens next.

But I've got to go.

To return home to my family.