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Every year, spectacular seasons
transform our planet.
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00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,400
They're the driving force
of all life on Earth...
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00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,800
..bringing opportunities
and huge challenges.
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00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,640
Spring bursts with new life.
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00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,280
But it's a race to grab
fleeting chances.
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00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,440
Summer is all about
glorious abundance,
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00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,240
but the heat can push
animals to their limits.
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00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:44,080
Autumn is nature's great gold rush.
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00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:49,600
But competition is fierce.
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00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,640
Winter creates
a frozen wonderland...
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00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,200
..and only the most resourceful
will survive.
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00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,520
In every corner of the planet,
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00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:15,400
animals rise to overcome
the seemingly impossible,
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00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,880
and use extraordinary tricks
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00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:20,480
to thrive against the odds...
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00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,960
..as the seasons create
the greatest shows on Earth.
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00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:39,600
Winter.
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00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,840
The sun's power is weakening.
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00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,480
It's getting colder and darker.
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00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:49,960
The land is going into
suspended animation.
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00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,400
In this magical world, animals are
faced with formidable challenges.
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00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,360
And when temperatures plummet,
the first big challenge
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00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:03,720
is keeping out the cold.
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00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,600
This extreme season
needs inventive solutions.
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00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,000
In the Highlands of Scotland...
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00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,480
..a ptarmigan has to cope
with temperatures
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00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,240
approaching -30 degrees centigrade,
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00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,720
so it grows more feathers
to keep the heat in.
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00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,640
It even has feathers on its feet...
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00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:34,440
..and its eyelids.
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00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,400
In North America,
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00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,200
a red fox keeps warm
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00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,640
by wrapping himself up
in his extra-thick tail.
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00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,200
Arctic foxes grow
one of the thickest coats
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00:02:58,200 --> 00:02:59,400
in the animal kingdom.
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00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,120
Her tiny ears and stubby legs
reduce heat loss...
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00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:09,880
..and even the pads of her feet
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00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:11,240
have a covering of fur.
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00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:16,680
Even when it drops to -70...
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00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:19,920
..she's quite comfortable.
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00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,240
But other animals
have more inventive ways
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00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:27,440
to stave off the cold.
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00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,280
Finland, on the Arctic Circle.
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00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,160
Temperatures here can fall
to -45 degrees centigrade.
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00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:42,160
The snow is so heavy,
it can bend the sturdiest of trees.
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00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,880
But among the drifts lives one of
the world's smallest predators,
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00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,400
with a ruthless approach
to keeping warm.
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00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,560
A least weasel.
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00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,320
She's tiny, barely 20cm long.
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00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:12,840
She's grown a new white coat
for winter.
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00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,520
It keeps her almost
invisible in the snow.
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00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,120
Great for hiding from predators,
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00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,320
but it's not thick enough
to protect her from the cold.
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00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,600
Even shivering can't
generate enough heat.
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00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,520
But this ingenious weasel
has a plan.
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00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,240
She starts by diving under the snow.
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00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,480
Snow is 95% trapped air,
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00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,040
so it keeps the heat in,
like a giant duvet.
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00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:09,560
There's a network of tunnels...
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00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:12,840
..but they're not hers.
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00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,640
They belong to voles.
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00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,040
Voles spend the winter
in their snow tunnels,
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where they think they're safe.
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00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,680
But with her skinny, flexible body,
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00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,200
the weasel can easily
navigate the maze.
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00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,680
There's nowhere for a vole to hide.
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Spotted.
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00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:18,640
The vole is fast.
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00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,440
But the weasel is faster.
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00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,440
But there's more to this
than just a meal.
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00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,160
Once the weasel has eaten
the hapless vole,
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00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:36,720
she delicately plucks its hair.
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Then she weaves it into her nest,
building herself a furry cocoon.
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Bed...and breakfast...
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00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,240
..in one convenient package.
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00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:10,240
Many animals must rely on their wits
to survive the bitter cold.
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00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,000
In the mountains of central Japan,
winters can be brutal...
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00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,040
..with some of the deepest
falls of snow in the world.
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00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,600
But there's a surprising animal
eking out a living here.
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A monkey.
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00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:35,600
Aside from people,
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00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,200
these Japanese macaques
live further north
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than any other primate on Earth.
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Their coats are unusually thick
to protect them
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00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,240
from the freezing temperatures.
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00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,160
Even when
it's -20 degrees centigrade,
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00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:53,800
a mum and her baby can cope.
88
00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:03,600
But as the temperatures fall,
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00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,280
the monkeys need to find
extra calories to stay warm.
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00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,920
These are some of the cleverest
monkeys on the planet,
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00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,720
and they are so resourceful,
they'll never go hungry,
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no matter how cold it gets.
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00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,880
They can eat almost anything.
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00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,960
And, at this time of year,
nothing goes to waste.
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00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,320
As a last resort,
when all other food is gone,
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they'll even eat the bark of trees.
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This is smarter than it seems.
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00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,120
Just beneath the woody layer
is the sap wood,
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where the tree stores
its precious nutrients.
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00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:50,600
It gives them just enough
calories to keep them going.
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00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,040
But this is not their only clever
trick to get them through winter.
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00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,840
There's warmth to be found here.
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00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,400
Japan is a land of volcanoes.
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00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,640
Below the ground,
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00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,080
this volcanic activity
brings hot water
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00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:21,680
bubbling to the surface.
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00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,520
Even in the depths of winter,
it's a thermal spring,
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00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,840
and these ingenious monkeys have
learned how to make the most of it.
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00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,160
Snow monkeys have become
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00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:38,600
spa monkeys.
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00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,080
In their bath, it's a comfortable
41 degrees centigrade.
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00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,080
With constant warm water to bask in,
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these monkeys live
a life of leisure.
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00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,600
And the youngsters
have plenty of time to play.
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00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:27,120
Thanks to their resourcefulness,
these clever monkeys will survive,
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00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,360
no matter what winter
throws at them.
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00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,920
Some overcome the cold
with their wits,
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00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,160
but others survive
through sheer brute force.
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Bison.
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00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,800
They've lived just like this
since the last Ice Age.
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They're throwbacks from a time
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00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,200
when the world
was much, much colder.
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00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:07,920
They can live through some of
North America's most bitter winters.
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00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,200
Temperatures here in Yellowstone
can drop below -50 centigrade.
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00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:21,640
They use their giant heads and necks
like a plough to sweep the snow away
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00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,160
and reach the grass beneath.
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00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,240
And they'll just carry on grazing,
regardless of the weather.
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00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,920
Thanks to his Ice Age ancestors,
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00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,680
this bison is perfectly evolved
to deal with the cold.
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00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,360
His body is huge,
weighing in at nearly a tonne,
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00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,080
and the bigger and rounder he is,
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00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,120
the better his body
retains the heat...
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00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,720
..meaning he can maintain his core
temperature with minimal effort.
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00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,280
And his thick, double-layered
fur coat keeps the heat in.
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00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,320
Next to his skin,
he has a dense, woolly undercoat,
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00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,240
with more than 2,000 hairs
per square centimetre.
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00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:28,600
His hair is so insulating that
even when snow falls on his back,
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00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:29,680
it doesn't melt.
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00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,920
Bison can keep warm
down to -30 without even trying.
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00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,000
Only when it drops below this
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00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,200
will they need to use extra energy
to keep warm.
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00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,960
These hard-core grazers
stay all winter
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when others are forced to leave.
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00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,640
So they have the meadows
all to themselves.
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00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,400
But when it comes
to battling the elements,
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00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,880
this is the ultimate place to do it.
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00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:16,280
Antarctica.
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00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,160
The coldest place on earth.
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00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,520
Temperatures can plummet
to -94 degrees centigrade.
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00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,960
You have to be a true specialist
to survive a winter here.
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00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:40,880
Emperor penguins.
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00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,600
At over a metre tall,
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00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,000
they're the largest penguins
in the world.
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00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:51,600
They've been out at sea, fishing...
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00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,680
..building up an insulating
layer of fat, nearly 3cm thick.
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00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:08,680
And now they're about to face
the toughest winter...
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00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:11,360
..on Earth.
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00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,280
Because penguins take so long
to raise their chicks,
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00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:23,520
they must start early.
160
00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:32,280
And that means incubating their eggs
through the planet's deepest winter.
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00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,600
When she's laid her single egg,
the female must return
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to the sea to feed.
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So it's over to the father
to incubate it...
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..all through winter.
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00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,480
He protects it in a little pocket
of skin just above his feet.
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00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,160
He is now responsible for keeping it
safe and warm
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00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:04,760
for nearly four months...
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00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,400
..just as the world's
coldest weather is closing in.
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00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,400
Antarctica is entering
six months of darkness.
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00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,960
Winter here is merciless.
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00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,640
The winds can top 120mph.
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00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,800
These are the darkest, coldest,
windiest conditions
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faced by any creature on earth.
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00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,120
But through it all,
the emperor penguin dad battles on.
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00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,560
He's still incubating
his precious egg,
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00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,920
perched on his feet,
just above the ice.
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00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,840
He and all the other fathers
have found an inventive way
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00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,200
to make it through
when times get really bad.
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00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,840
They come together
for the world's biggest huddle.
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00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,040
Penguins don't normally
enjoy being this close...
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00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,280
..but they have no choice.
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00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:53,720
By crowding together as a team,
they can cut heat loss by half.
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00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,720
After his stint on
the edge of the flock,
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each penguin patiently queues
for his turn on the inside.
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00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:07,240
It's recently been discovered
that their huddle is so effective,
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00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,800
the heat inside can build up
to around 40 degrees centigrade.
187
00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:16,240
That's nearly 80 degrees warmer
than the temperature on the outside.
188
00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:20,240
So every now and then,
they must break formation
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00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:21,560
to cool down.
190
00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:30,240
Throughout the male penguins'
four-month tour of duty,
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00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,440
the sun never rises once.
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00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:41,360
But just occasionally,
there's a glimmer in the darkness.
193
00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,760
Charged particles from the sun
crash into the atmosphere
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00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:49,960
above the South Pole...
195
00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,560
..and blaze across the sky.
196
00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:01,320
It's the Southern Lights.
197
00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,400
The penguins barely seem to notice,
198
00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,240
but in a brutal season,
it's a moment of magic.
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00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,240
Winter is full of spectacle.
200
00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,440
When the temperature drops
below -6 centigrade,
201
00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,840
water vapour in the air
turns directly to ice.
202
00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:32,200
These microscopic crystals attract
more and more water droplets...
203
00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,480
..and they grow into snowflakes.
204
00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,400
In just one second,
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00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,120
a million billion
are made by the clouds.
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00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:50,480
In ten minutes, that's enough snow
for everyone on the planet
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00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:51,960
to build their own snowman.
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00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:59,600
Each flake is tiny, but together,
they can blanket the landscape...
209
00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:03,600
..turning it into a wonderland.
210
00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,080
It's a complete transformation,
211
00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,880
and even the animals
seem to enjoy the novelty.
212
00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,160
But for some, there is a problem.
213
00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,920
A thick blanket of snow
will hide their food.
214
00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:05,040
So if they're going to find
anything to eat,
215
00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,400
they have to come up
with some new tactics.
216
00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,320
In North America,
a red fox relies on its ears
217
00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,480
to listen for mice
scuttling around out of sight.
218
00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,080
In China, pandas have come up
with their own special technique
219
00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,440
for clearing snow off
a bamboo branch.
220
00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,160
Before they eat it,
they spin it round their muzzles
221
00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:41,360
to brush it clean.
222
00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,480
But some have switched
their diet altogether.
223
00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,200
In the mountains
of south-west China,
224
00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,680
where winter snow lies a metre deep,
225
00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,920
the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey eats
the lichen that drapes the trees.
226
00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,600
The lichen can survive
the freezing cold
227
00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,200
of these high mountains.
228
00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,120
This surprisingly nutritious food
229
00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:21,760
means the monkeys can stay
in these mountains all year round.
230
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,360
But in some parts of the world,
231
00:21:34,360 --> 00:21:37,480
the heavy snows of winter
create an extreme challenge.
232
00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,480
And survival takes a bit of cunning.
233
00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,200
In Yellowstone in North America,
234
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:55,600
an otter family has woken up to
discover their home river is buried.
235
00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,120
They don't have anywhere to fish.
236
00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:05,640
They're going to have
to relocate for winter.
237
00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,400
In the same neighbourhood, a coyote
is having similar difficulties.
238
00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,480
Finding a meal round here
isn't going to be easy.
239
00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,360
The otters have struck lucky.
240
00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,600
There's an opening in an icy lake...
241
00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,280
..and there are still fish here.
242
00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:51,040
It's fine for them...
243
00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,040
..but for the coyote,
life is trickier.
244
00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,320
He's no fisherman,
245
00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,920
but he is a master thief.
246
00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,120
The otters are suspicious.
247
00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:11,520
The coyote would steal
their fish in an instant,
248
00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,160
so they look for somewhere
to hide it.
249
00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,400
The coyote might not be able
to see the otter
250
00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,080
but he can hear him.
251
00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,720
He knows there's a fish here
somewhere.
252
00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,160
Stashing it under the snow
won't fool a coyote.
253
00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:37,440
He can smell it.
254
00:23:58,400 --> 00:23:59,800
Bingo.
255
00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,280
They're not called wily for nothing.
256
00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,800
As snow changes their world,
257
00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:15,040
animals need to use every trick
in the book to find food.
258
00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:22,120
But there is one animal
that uses it to gain an advantage.
259
00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:27,720
Wolves.
260
00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,720
These Canadian wolves are
some of the biggest in the world.
261
00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,040
They are opportunists
and they'll travel long distances
262
00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:41,440
in the search for food.
263
00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,800
Deep snow usually
makes moving difficult,
264
00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,400
but sometimes,
it creates an opportunity.
265
00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:56,680
This wolf pair
is looking for a bison.
266
00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:04,000
But they're hard to catch.
267
00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:24,120
And finding them in
this huge wilderness is tough.
268
00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,960
This is where the heavy snowfall
offers a clue.
269
00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,360
The bison have left deep tracks -
270
00:25:40,360 --> 00:25:42,400
tracks the wolves can follow.
271
00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,040
These two are working alone,
without the help of a pack.
272
00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,880
And they're after
very dangerous prey.
273
00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,680
Bison have sharp horns
and weigh a tonne,
274
00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:12,880
ten times the weight of a wolf.
275
00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,520
But the wolves have no choice.
276
00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:20,600
A bison would keep them fed
for a week,
277
00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,920
and in winter,
you have to take a chance.
278
00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,280
Finally, they pick up fresh scent.
279
00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,000
The herd must be close.
280
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,320
The hunt is on.
281
00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:20,120
The wolves move up a gear.
282
00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,720
They can maintain
this speed for miles.
283
00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:29,040
The bison are tiring.
284
00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,720
The weaker ones fall back...
285
00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,840
..and the wolf couple
are getting closer.
286
00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:50,720
A trip is all it takes.
287
00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:56,440
Thanks to the snow...
288
00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:00,920
..the wolves are now
a step ahead of starvation.
289
00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,840
And the rest of the herd live
to fight another winter battle.
290
00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:16,360
Dealing with the challenge
of deep snow
291
00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:19,320
forces animals to raise their game.
292
00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,840
But winter has another
weapon in its arsenal.
293
00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:30,840
As days become shorter than nights,
294
00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,080
the temperature on the ground
begins to drop.
295
00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,120
At zero degrees centigrade,
water turns to ice.
296
00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:53,520
Little by little,
whole worlds transform.
297
00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,360
At the poles, even the sea freezes.
298
00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:16,400
To survive the ice,
you need to be resourceful.
299
00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,920
In North America, a freezing river
is a challenging place
300
00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:31,480
for a small bird.
301
00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:35,360
But this tough little dipper has
extra-thick waterproof feathers.
302
00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:39,360
It will happily dive
right under the ice
303
00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,600
if it thinks there's something
worth eating.
304
00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,120
In a frozen Russian river...
305
00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:56,520
sockeye salmon creep under
a ceiling of ice to lay their eggs.
306
00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,960
It might look crowded, but here,
307
00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:03,560
they're safe from attack
by birds of prey.
308
00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:12,600
In northern Canada,
309
00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,680
the winter freeze has created
a surprising opportunity.
310
00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,320
This is a land of lakes and bogs...
311
00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:27,960
..but in winter, it's encased
in a sheet of ice two metres thick.
312
00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:36,720
And there is one animal
that has managed to turn this
313
00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:37,800
to its advantage.
314
00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:43,600
Caribou.
315
00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:51,560
Food is hard to come by,
316
00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,760
so they must spend their winter
constantly on the move.
317
00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:02,960
Despite their warm coats,
deep snow is a struggle for them.
318
00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:04,960
Trudging through it
saps their energy.
319
00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:11,800
But the caribou have discovered
320
00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,240
that snow doesn't build up
on the ice
321
00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,320
because powerful winds blow it away.
322
00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:24,280
So now, the lakes and rivers become
nature's very own ice roads.
323
00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:26,680
It means they can travel
more quickly,
324
00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:28,320
saving precious energy.
325
00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:33,680
On the other side of the world...
326
00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,200
..winter ice is also
bringing opportunities for some.
327
00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:45,640
Siberia.
328
00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:52,840
For seven months of winter,
this is a bitter place.
329
00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,920
Temperatures can drop to
-67 degrees centigrade.
330
00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:01,880
It's enough to push
some animals to the edge.
331
00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:07,920
A sika deer.
332
00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:15,240
When the trees are bare,
there's very little for them to eat.
333
00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,560
The weaker ones often don't make it,
334
00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:26,200
But these casualties are just
what another animal is looking for.
335
00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,080
An Amur leopard,
336
00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:32,480
the world's rarest big cat.
337
00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,320
She is a powerful predator,
but in winter,
338
00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,440
she is not above
a little scavenging.
339
00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,480
This frozen carcass will keep
for a week,
340
00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:50,960
so it is a real lifesaver.
341
00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:54,240
But it is not just for her.
342
00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:57,280
She has a cub.
343
00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:00,960
Less than a year old -
344
00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:02,040
and he's hungry.
345
00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,760
By making the most
of this frozen food,
346
00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:29,720
she has also taught her cub
a valuable lesson.
347
00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:35,320
In the depths of winter,
348
00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:39,520
even predators don't waste energy
hunting if they don't have to.
349
00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:55,440
In Antarctica, the freeze-up
has come in spectacular style.
350
00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:01,360
In winter the continent
doubles in size.
351
00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:06,800
It's now bigger than the USA.
352
00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:16,720
A Weddell seal.
353
00:34:16,720 --> 00:34:18,680
SEAL BARKS
354
00:34:23,240 --> 00:34:26,080
At least she has a retreat
from the icy world above.
355
00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:35,000
The sea down here is a constant
-2 degrees centigrade.
356
00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:38,640
That is over 50 degrees warmer
than it is on the surface.
357
00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,840
And it has been like this
for 25 million years.
358
00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,160
Beneath the layer of ice,
359
00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:02,800
this enchanted kingdom is protected
from the extreme temperatures above.
360
00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:09,720
It's a wonderland
of the strange and beautiful.
361
00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:28,640
In this safe, stable world,
362
00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,040
life explodes.
363
00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:43,440
But even here,
winter cold can crash the party.
364
00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:52,360
As temperatures plummet
on the surface,
365
00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:54,960
it triggers the growth
of something sinister.
366
00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:04,360
This is a brinicle -
367
00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:07,840
super-cooled water
sinking from above,
368
00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:10,080
forming a pillar of ice.
369
00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:25,200
For the creatures of the seabed,
370
00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:27,320
it is a stealthy finger of death.
371
00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:54,760
A river of ice
imprisons everything in its path.
372
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:17,000
Even those that think they have
beaten the extremes of winter
373
00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:18,400
can get caught out.
374
00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:30,920
As winter takes hold, there are
even greater tribulations coming.
375
00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:35,400
Now animals not only
have to battle the conditions,
376
00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:38,320
they also have to battle each other.
377
00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:43,640
For some, it is over food.
For others, it is over mates.
378
00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:46,560
But winter raises the stakes
on everything.
379
00:37:56,560 --> 00:38:01,760
In Russia, black vultures -
the world's largest birds of prey -
380
00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:04,200
fight over scarce scraps
in the snow.
381
00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:10,360
With their three-metre wingspans,
it's all about intimidation.
382
00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:20,520
In Canada, winter is the time for
young male polar bears to tussle,
383
00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:24,280
sorting out their status without
doing each other serious damage.
384
00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,840
But it's in South Georgia
in the South Atlantic
385
00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:33,480
where the biggest
winter brawls happen.
386
00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:37,600
Weighing in at four tonnes,
387
00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:40,360
these elephant seals
are the world's largest.
388
00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:45,280
It's a battle of the big boys
to establish who's in charge.
389
00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:55,280
But there is one place
390
00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:57,880
where winter hardships
force even the weakest
391
00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:00,440
to step up and be bold.
392
00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:05,720
Alaska.
393
00:39:05,720 --> 00:39:07,800
The Chilkat River.
394
00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:10,080
While all other rivers are frozen,
395
00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:14,280
a freak of geography keeps one short
stretch of the Chilkat ice-free.
396
00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:21,360
It attracts the world's
biggest gathering of bald eagles.
397
00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:30,920
And they are here...
398
00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:33,560
..for salmon.
399
00:39:39,240 --> 00:39:43,480
Over 3,000 eagles
are gathering in the trees.
400
00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:46,800
They might have travelled
1,000 miles for this feast
401
00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:49,040
and they are ready to fight for it.
402
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:56,720
With more eagles
than fishing opportunities,
403
00:39:56,720 --> 00:39:59,360
the challenge here
is keeping hold of your catch.
404
00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:09,880
As the salmon begin to run out...
405
00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:12,800
..tempers boil over.
406
00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:04,160
This youngster is right at
the bottom of the pecking order.
407
00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:07,400
He just can't catch a break.
408
00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:22,000
Even when he manages
to catch a fish,
409
00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:24,080
he stands no chance of keeping it.
410
00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,480
It only takes one adult
to come close
411
00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:34,400
and he loses concentration.
412
00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:37,080
There goes his meal.
413
00:41:39,560 --> 00:41:42,760
To survive, he is going to have
to play by their rules...
414
00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:47,320
..and stand up to his tormentors.
415
00:41:54,360 --> 00:41:57,520
With bald eagles,
attitude is everything.
416
00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:03,480
Hunger drives him to do
the unthinkable and fight back.
417
00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:14,280
It works.
418
00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:37,200
He has earned his right
to fish this river.
419
00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:39,840
He'll make it through
this winter just fine.
420
00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:52,160
On the Canadian tundra,
421
00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:54,160
there is another battle looming.
422
00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:59,360
And it is winter's
ultimate heavyweight fight.
423
00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:06,680
Female caribou are ready to mate.
424
00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:12,360
It needs to be now so their young
will be born in early spring.
425
00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:18,880
So the massive caribou bulls
must compete with each other
426
00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:20,440
to father the calves.
427
00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:25,680
The younger males watch from
the sidelines
428
00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:27,880
as the heavyweights
eye each other up.
429
00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:44,440
Serious fights are rare
430
00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:47,280
but when they happen,
they can be very dangerous.
431
00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:55,200
But while this old bull
has been dealing with a rival,
432
00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:58,440
the young bucks have been trying
their luck with his female.
433
00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:07,120
He must break off his fight
and chase them away.
434
00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:23,640
The younger males may be
lighter on their feet...
435
00:44:25,520 --> 00:44:28,720
..but his bulk means
he can muscle his way past.
436
00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:36,240
Another rival steps in
with a challenge.
437
00:44:41,960 --> 00:44:44,520
But the old bull
easily deals with him.
438
00:44:56,000 --> 00:45:00,280
As the chase slows down,
he can finally impose some order.
439
00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:08,880
Now he's shown who is boss,
a look is all that is needed.
440
00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:22,760
Only when he is sure he has made
his point can he claim his female.
441
00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:33,320
The caribou may have a bruising
battle for their chosen females...
442
00:45:37,800 --> 00:45:41,360
..but for other animals,
competing for the right to mate
443
00:45:41,360 --> 00:45:42,840
is even more challenging.
444
00:45:48,840 --> 00:45:53,440
In a forest in Finland,
a black grouse is preparing
445
00:45:53,440 --> 00:45:54,600
to put on a show.
446
00:46:09,320 --> 00:46:12,160
It's the most important
performance of his life.
447
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:17,680
It will determine whether
or not he gets to breed.
448
00:46:30,040 --> 00:46:33,480
Only one male will get the chance
to mate this year
449
00:46:33,480 --> 00:46:36,680
and that male
will have all the females.
450
00:46:37,960 --> 00:46:39,920
The others will get nothing.
451
00:46:41,840 --> 00:46:45,840
With such high stakes,
the competition is intense.
452
00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:08,800
The females begin to arrive
and the dance-off moves up a gear.
453
00:47:17,720 --> 00:47:19,760
More and more males join in.
454
00:47:27,560 --> 00:47:31,000
These birds can wait years
for an opportunity to mate.
455
00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:32,960
Some will never
get the chance at all.
456
00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:40,280
The females seem to have spotted
a potential winner.
457
00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:45,640
It is half dance...
458
00:47:46,920 --> 00:47:48,600
..half handbags at dawn.
459
00:47:56,720 --> 00:47:59,320
One last lunge is all he needs
to win the bout.
460
00:48:07,120 --> 00:48:08,320
It's all over.
461
00:48:08,320 --> 00:48:10,120
The loser slips away.
462
00:48:15,840 --> 00:48:18,040
The best performer
is the strongest male...
463
00:48:20,080 --> 00:48:22,120
..and that's just what
the females are after.
464
00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:26,640
His strength will be passed
to their chicks,
465
00:48:26,640 --> 00:48:29,840
giving them the very best start
in life.
466
00:48:37,000 --> 00:48:39,320
As the battles
of winter are settled,
467
00:48:39,320 --> 00:48:42,640
there are tantalising signs
that the season is changing.
468
00:48:48,840 --> 00:48:53,400
For some animals, it's their
one chance to meet a partner.
469
00:49:03,680 --> 00:49:07,840
A male polar bear has been
wandering the Arctic ice alone
470
00:49:07,840 --> 00:49:09,840
all through the dark winter.
471
00:49:11,120 --> 00:49:15,120
But as the sun returns, it triggers
his desire to find a mate.
472
00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:19,400
It's not an easy search.
473
00:49:23,000 --> 00:49:24,920
In these vast wastes,
474
00:49:24,920 --> 00:49:28,000
potential dates are few
and far between.
475
00:49:35,680 --> 00:49:39,760
Eventually, he picks up
an unmistakable scent.
476
00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:44,000
A female.
477
00:49:46,160 --> 00:49:47,840
She could be ten miles away...
478
00:49:50,920 --> 00:49:52,400
..so he follows her tracks.
479
00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:12,200
There she is.
480
00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:17,920
She is half his size,
481
00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:20,760
so first-date nerves
are understandable.
482
00:50:29,720 --> 00:50:31,560
He needs to win her over gently.
483
00:50:43,120 --> 00:50:45,160
He waits for her
to make the first move.
484
00:50:55,840 --> 00:50:58,120
She leads him off to higher ground.
485
00:51:11,360 --> 00:51:13,880
Their relationship is brief.
486
00:51:15,240 --> 00:51:17,000
And when they part company...
487
00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:21,880
..they will probably
never meet again.
488
00:51:26,560 --> 00:51:30,840
The wastes of the Arctic might
seem a tricky place to find a mate,
489
00:51:30,840 --> 00:51:33,320
but there are places that,
at first glance,
490
00:51:33,320 --> 00:51:35,080
seem even more unlikely.
491
00:51:37,560 --> 00:51:40,360
This is the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.
492
00:51:45,280 --> 00:51:46,480
It goes through one of
493
00:51:46,480 --> 00:51:49,560
the greatest seasonal
temperature swings on Earth.
494
00:51:52,360 --> 00:51:55,440
In summer,
it can reach 50 degrees centigrade,
495
00:51:55,440 --> 00:51:58,200
and in winter, it is -40.
496
00:52:00,200 --> 00:52:04,120
But these are perfect conditions
for a Bactrian camel
497
00:52:04,120 --> 00:52:06,520
to practise
his seduction techniques.
498
00:52:10,080 --> 00:52:12,120
Freezing winds have
come from the north...
499
00:52:14,320 --> 00:52:16,680
..and they have brought snow
to the desert.
500
00:52:18,680 --> 00:52:21,760
This male suddenly has
a limitless water source -
501
00:52:21,760 --> 00:52:23,240
he can eat the snow.
502
00:52:26,720 --> 00:52:30,080
He is no longer tied
to sporadic water holes.
503
00:52:30,080 --> 00:52:34,200
He is free to wander miles across
the desert looking for mates.
504
00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:38,280
And when he finds a female,
505
00:52:38,280 --> 00:52:40,840
he has an unusual way
of getting her attention.
506
00:52:43,080 --> 00:52:46,000
He urinates on his legs,
507
00:52:46,000 --> 00:52:49,040
then, using his tail,
flicks it over his back.
508
00:52:53,720 --> 00:52:55,160
If he plays it right,
509
00:52:55,160 --> 00:52:57,560
he might attract
as many as 20 females
510
00:52:57,560 --> 00:52:58,920
before winter is over.
511
00:53:08,600 --> 00:53:12,400
While camels are looking for
new mates in the Gobi Desert,
512
00:53:12,400 --> 00:53:14,480
on the other side of the world,
513
00:53:14,480 --> 00:53:18,080
older relationships are
about to be rekindled.
514
00:53:30,720 --> 00:53:34,520
In Antarctica, the long, cold winter
is coming to an end.
515
00:53:36,480 --> 00:53:38,960
The sun has finally returned.
516
00:53:51,640 --> 00:53:55,680
The male penguin has survived
100 days fighting the cold
517
00:53:55,680 --> 00:53:57,640
to keep his precious egg warm.
518
00:54:00,320 --> 00:54:02,320
He has lost nearly
half his body weight.
519
00:54:05,400 --> 00:54:09,080
As he enjoys
the first warming rays of sun,
520
00:54:09,080 --> 00:54:10,840
he hears a familiar sound.
521
00:54:14,200 --> 00:54:16,600
Figures are appearing
on the horizon.
522
00:54:22,480 --> 00:54:24,640
His mate has come back.
523
00:54:39,760 --> 00:54:41,880
There is a great cacophony of calls
524
00:54:41,880 --> 00:54:44,600
as couples find each other
in the throng.
525
00:54:56,440 --> 00:55:00,440
Reunited, he can finally
introduce her to a new arrival.
526
00:55:03,640 --> 00:55:06,160
All his effort was worth it.
527
00:55:20,640 --> 00:55:22,680
With enormous commitment,
528
00:55:22,680 --> 00:55:26,440
these parents have given their
chicks the very best start in life.
529
00:55:29,320 --> 00:55:32,360
They are ready to join
the family firm
530
00:55:32,360 --> 00:55:34,560
as the ultimate winter survivors.
531
00:55:45,680 --> 00:55:49,000
Winter brings huge challenges
to animals caught in its path.
532
00:55:50,840 --> 00:55:53,000
Some have to battle
freezing temperatures.
533
00:55:54,920 --> 00:55:57,720
Others have to struggle
to find food in the snow.
534
00:56:01,240 --> 00:56:04,200
And some have to fight off
fierce competition.
535
00:56:07,720 --> 00:56:08,720
But through it all...
536
00:56:09,960 --> 00:56:11,520
..animals find mates...
537
00:56:13,200 --> 00:56:14,760
..and some even raise a family.
538
00:56:17,440 --> 00:56:18,440
By being clever...
539
00:56:22,960 --> 00:56:24,160
..resourceful...
540
00:56:25,800 --> 00:56:27,000
..and brave...
541
00:56:30,040 --> 00:56:34,560
..you can survive, and even prosper,
542
00:56:34,560 --> 00:56:36,360
no matter what winter brings.
43135
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