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Rarely seen, they have a
near-mythical reputation.
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They have boundless energy and are
able to dive deep...
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..and catch the fastest of prey.
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00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:28,920
Otters.
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My name is Charlie Hamilton James,
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00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,280
wildlife cameraman and otter
fanatic.
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I've been observing and filming
these shy but relentless animals
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for the last 25 years.
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00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:52,000
For me, otters are the ultimate
predator,
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00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,800
perfectly bridging the gap between
two worlds -
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00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,320
one dry, one wet.
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00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:03,080
Yet across the planet,
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their populations have hung in the
balance.
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00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,600
I've done what I can for their
conservation.
15
00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:12,280
However, many remain in danger.
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00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,040
But otters are fighters...
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00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:21,000
..supercharged with a huge amount
of spirit and determination.
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00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,200
And now, with the help of three
orphaned cubs...
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00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,000
..some ground-breaking
experiments...
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It's done it, that was it!
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00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,440
..and some incredible wild
encounters...
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..I'm going to reveal their
survival secrets
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and just why I think otters are
such a special group of animals.
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I spent my life searching for
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00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,440
glimpses of these rare and elusive
creatures.
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00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,280
They're nervous
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00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:08,600
and fearful of humans.
28
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,760
But there's one place where they're
bolder than most -
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00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,200
Florida.
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00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,600
Here, clear, spring-fed rivers
provide the ideal opportunity
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to film otters moving and hunting
underwater.
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Something few have ever done.
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00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,640
If I succeed,
it'll be the perfect way
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to begin a journey into their
seldom-seen world.
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They know I'm here.
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00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,600
They're far too inquisitive not to
have noticed.
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But they don't seem to mind.
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00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,800
There are more otters here than
anywhere I've ever been.
39
00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,160
But, typically, they don't
keep still for long.
40
00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,760
North American river otters can
cover over 40km a day...
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..and swim for 400m without
coming up for air.
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00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,400
If you're going to observe otters in
the wild, you need patience...
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00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:58,640
..and a bit of luck.
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I spot a telltale sign.
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A trail of bubbles.
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00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:18,600
Absorbed by foraging...
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..this is my chance to get close.
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00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,920
I want to see how it's hunting.
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00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,960
Something I've never achieved
before.
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00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:38,920
But I know just a flick of its tail
and it could be off in a flash.
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He's so focused.
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00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:45,400
I just need to hold my nerve.
53
00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,160
In 25 years of watching otters, I've
just got these little glimpses
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00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,760
occasionally of them underwater,
55
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and here, in a single morning,
56
00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,520
I've seen more otters underwater
than in that whole 25 years.
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00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,400
But what's been really interesting
is actually looking
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at how they're hunting.
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00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:26,120
It made me watch him and understand
and look at the way he was doing
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00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:27,960
stuff, the way he was swimming and
fishing,
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00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:29,360
in a completely different way.
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00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,760
In this one incredible experience,
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00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:40,080
a completely wild otter allowed me
to come here,
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hang out and watch him fish
underwater.
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00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,040
There's an otter right there.
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00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:57,080
HE CHORTLES
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00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,360
This place is so amazing.
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00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,960
There's just otters everywhere.
It is otter heaven.
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00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,000
I need to go get back in the water.
70
00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,920
It's all very well sitting here
talking to the camera
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00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,240
but I'd rather be swimming with
an otter.
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00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,960
The experience has reminded me why
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00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,120
otters have captivated me for
so long.
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00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,080
They are incredible predators.
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00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,240
Energetic,
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00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:27,960
inquisitive
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00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:29,000
and versatile -
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00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,680
..traits they share with their
extended family.
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00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:36,800
The mustelids.
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00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:41,080
An ancient and diverse group of
carnivores
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00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:42,560
that includes weasels,
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00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,240
stoats, badgers and martens.
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00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,240
Otters can be found on nearly every
continent,
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00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,880
from the Arctic Circle
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00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,080
to the swamps of Africa.
86
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:59,400
And from desert oases to the
tempestuous seas of Patagonia.
87
00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,520
But there are some things that unite
all otter species.
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00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,800
They have long, highly
flexible bodies...
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..a powerful tail
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00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:18,200
and webbed feet.
91
00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,880
Some can dive to 100 metres...
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00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:30,400
and hold their breath for over
four minutes.
93
00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,120
But despite their amazing physical
abilities,
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00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:45,600
all over the world, otter
numbers have been in decline.
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00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,240
BARKING
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00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,840
They've been hunted for sport
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00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:54,280
and for their fur.
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00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,600
They've lost their food to
human greed...
99
00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,240
..and have seen their habitat
poisoned and ruined.
100
00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:18,640
But given the chance, otters are
survivors
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00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,280
enduring against all odds.
102
00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:27,320
It's one of the reasons I've always
done what I can,
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00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:28,880
caring for otters in need.
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00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,760
I've even welcomed them into my
family.
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Otter!
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Otter!
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00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:42,400
Honey, a Eurasian otter
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00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,240
too dependent on humans to be
released...
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00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,840
..held a special place in my
heart.
110
00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:56,640
And the time I spent with her only
made by love for otters stronger.
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00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,480
To help me reveal what I believe
sets otters apart,
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00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,800
I'm going to follow three male
orphan river otters
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on their own story of survival.
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As they grow they'll be taught
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00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,720
the vital skills they'll need for
a life back in the wild.
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00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:26,400
After being abandoned by their
mothers, the orphans were brought
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00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,240
to Wild Instincts wildlife rehab
centre.
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00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,720
On arrival they were weak,
defenceless
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00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,520
and would not have survived the
night.
120
00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,440
Attempting to mirror their wild
diet,
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00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:44,520
centre manager Mark is giving
them chopped fish and milk formula.
122
00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,640
But he has concerns about the
weakest orphan.
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00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,200
He came to us with a kind of a
bad leg.
124
00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,240
He injured the joint on his right
rear leg,
125
00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,680
so we're not quite sure whether
it's going to heal enough for him
126
00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:02,880
to be released or not and he also
did a slight injury to the joint
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00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,120
right in here on this leg also
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00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,720
and even the good leg is not
necessarily a good leg.
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00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,360
So what we're going to do is try to
find a zoo for him
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00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,040
if he's not able
to be released back into the wild,
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00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:15,920
and if we're unable to find a zoo
then he
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00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,520
may have to be euthanized if we
can't find a place for him to go.
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00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,400
To keep any attachment to a minimum,
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00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:28,320
it's Mark's policy not to name any
of the animals in his care.
135
00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,560
Now eight weeks old,
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00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:37,400
the cubs need to tackle an essential
survival skill -
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..learning to swim.
138
00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,040
Curiously, baby otters don't
really like water.
139
00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:03,640
So Mark needs to teach them
their most important life lesson -
140
00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,600
that water isn't something to
be afraid of.
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00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,280
Just like their mother would in
the wild,
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00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,160
Mark makes soothing calls to
reassure them.
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00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:18,200
HE WARBLES SOFTLY
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00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:19,480
OTTERS CHIRP IN RESPONSE
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00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,640
Each time they try to get out,
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00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,240
Mark plops them back in.
147
00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,880
But their swimming lessons don't
last too long.
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00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:38,160
That's because of another
surprising quirk of otter biology.
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00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,160
Their coat doesn't become waterproof
until they are 12 weeks old.
150
00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:48,560
Until then, being wet
could lead to hypothermia.
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00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,320
So surrogate mum Mark
does what he can to help out.
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00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,920
Normally in the wild what they
would be doing is rolling around in
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the grass and the dirt
154
00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,960
to get some of the water off
themselves,
155
00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,080
so we can use the towels to help us
out a little bit.
156
00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,960
Wild otter cubs face exactly
the same issue,
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00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,480
so the adults only take them
for short dips
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00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,000
to stop them getting
cold and waterlogged.
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00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:40,040
It's exactly what I saw with a
family
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of giant river otters in
the Amazon.
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Wow, look at that. Tiny!
162
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That is really young. That
can't be more than six weeks old.
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He's got another one.
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00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,720
Giant river otters are highly social
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and with such young pups in the
water, the whole family helps out.
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00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:23,840
They're too small to start
swimming properly.
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It's just a taster session
168
00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,480
under the watchful eyes of
their parents and siblings.
169
00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:35,240
Eventually, they'll become
accomplished enough in the water
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to catch fast, wild prey.
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00:13:46,680 --> 00:13:50,680
Back in Wisconsin, otter foster
parent Mark is about to start
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00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:53,480
teaching the orphans how to fish.
173
00:13:54,560 --> 00:13:57,920
But first the orphan with the bad
leg needs a little extra help.
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00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:04,080
So Mark has designed a swimming aid
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00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,920
and is giving him a course of
aquatherapy.
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OTTER CHIRRUPS FRANTICALLY
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00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,400
So it looks like the little
apparatus we have put on there seems
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00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,640
to be accomplishing what we wanted
it to do. It keeps him afloat
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00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,320
and he's using his rear legs much
better than he was before without it
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00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,000
so hopefully this will be some good
therapy and get him on the path
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00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,200
to being what he needs to be.
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He's obviously a little fighter.
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As I arrive,
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Mark's just about to give them live
fish for the first time.
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00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:45,560
MARK WARBLES
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00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:48,760
Oh, my God.
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00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,280
Mark adds some minnows to the
paddling pool
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and hopes that hunting is more
instinctive than swimming.
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00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:05,800
How cute is that?
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00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:06,920
Go on, then.
191
00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,760
Yesterday we were doing a
bit of diving and swimming around
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00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,120
and now there'll be something to
swim and dive around for
193
00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,600
so we'll see if they have any luck
chasing around.
194
00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:23,240
This one's completely at home.
It's just chased a fish.
195
00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,240
Exactly, exactly.
196
00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,080
Straightaway. And that's just in a
few days.
197
00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,320
It's gone from nothing to chasing
fish underwater. Right.
198
00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:31,960
He's got a fish.
199
00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:33,480
He's got one.
200
00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,040
He let it go.
201
00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,080
He's got it, he's got it.
202
00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:38,480
That's his first fish.
203
00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:39,520
Isn't that amazing?
204
00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,880
Yesterday he wasn't even
putting his head underwater
205
00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,680
and today he caught his first
little fish.
206
00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,560
That is amazing, isn't it? He's just
rolling around playing with it.
207
00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:50,400
That's a great moment for them. Wow.
208
00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,880
Fishing, for the orphans, appears
to be innate.
209
00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:57,960
It's a good sign.
210
00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,120
But it's something they'll need to
hone.
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00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:03,640
Do you know what?
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00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,760
To me, there is nothing in the world
that compares to otters.
213
00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,720
I could sit here all day every day
and do nothing else for the rest of
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00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,440
my life, just hang with otters.
215
00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:17,920
That's when I'm at my happiest.
216
00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,400
'As the orphans get bigger,
217
00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,880
'their swimming abilities will
develop, too,
218
00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:28,240
'until they're as agile in the
water as the fish they hunt.'
219
00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,040
But otters aren't just masters
of the water.
220
00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,360
They spend up to 80% of their
lives on land.
221
00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:49,440
Their ability to lead this
semiaquatic double life is what
allows them
222
00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,320
to cope with diverse habitats and
prey.
223
00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:58,480
The key to this lies in their
physiology,
224
00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,400
and back in the UK,
225
00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:04,680
I've got a furry friend to help
reveal the secrets of their success.
226
00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:11,240
This is Rudy. He's an Asian
small-clawed otter...
227
00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,560
..or short-clawed otter, because
he's got tiny little claws.
228
00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,920
And the aim is to get a
really decent look at Rudy
229
00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:23,400
and how his body works, how his
physiology works,
230
00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,360
how he turns from an animal that can
run around on the land
231
00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:29,880
to an animal that's as fast as a
fish in water,
232
00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,800
and it gives me an excuse to just
hang out with an otter.
233
00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,400
I think you need to go and see the
dentist, Rudy.
234
00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,680
This camera is going to do some nice
slow motion shots
235
00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:49,160
and I can track along with the otter
and then we can, you know,
236
00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,720
we can get a good look at how it's
running.
237
00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:55,400
And Rod here is going to film Rudy
swimming in close-up
238
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,000
and particularly in slow motion.
239
00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,320
The thing I've always wondered,
watching them and filming them,
240
00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,240
is how do they go from land to water
and be so brilliant at both?
241
00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,320
And I think the reason I like what
we're doing now is because we're
242
00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,280
going to get a really
detailed look at that and try to get
243
00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,120
some understanding of how they
manage to do that
244
00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:17,840
because very few animals can just
flip between two worlds like that.
245
00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:20,280
Otters do it brilliantly.
246
00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,680
When we slow the action
right down...
247
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,440
..we can see exactly what's
going on.
248
00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,000
Otter spines are highly flexible...
249
00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:40,760
..allowing Rudy to rotate
his hips...
250
00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,880
..swing his leg forward and plant
his feet securely on the floor...
251
00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,880
..and use his powerful tail for
balance.
252
00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,880
And unlike most land-based
carnivores,
253
00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,840
his front feet are well-developed
254
00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,600
with long, dextrous fingers for
foraging and handling prey.
255
00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,600
By bending their highly
flexible spines,
256
00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,760
otters are able to decrease the
distance
257
00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:26,280
between the shoulder and hip by
over 20%, allowing them to bound,
258
00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:27,880
running up to 18mph.
259
00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:34,640
But the adaptations that allows
them to live a semiaquatic life
260
00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:38,440
become clearer as Rudy enters
the water.
261
00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,280
A substance 800 times denser
than air.
262
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,440
As he puts his head into the
water,
263
00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,360
his vision becomes blurry,
just like it does for us.
264
00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,960
But an almost magical adaptation
allows him to correct this,
265
00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,160
like an in-built pair
of swimming goggles.
266
00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,280
At first, the density of the
water stops light rays
267
00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,160
being brought
into sharp focus on his retina.
268
00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:11,080
But Rudy has highly specialised
muscles in his iris
269
00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,680
that squeeze the lens
so that its face bulges forward.
270
00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,640
This refocuses the light
rays onto the back of his eye...
271
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,320
..giving him sharp underwater
vision.
272
00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,200
Now that he can see clearly,
273
00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,240
he enters the water fully and his
next trick is revealed.
274
00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,920
Pushing his broad head
forward and rotating his hips,
275
00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,680
he is able to straighten his body
like a torpedo.
276
00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,160
Tucking his legs in, he
reduces the water's drag...
277
00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,920
..only untucking them when he
wants a burst of speed.
278
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:58,600
Next he uses his flexible spine in
combination with his tail and
279
00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,440
webbed rear feet to turn and twist
in the water.
280
00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:08,120
The agility of otters blows me away.
281
00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,240
Rudy has mastered the skills for a
semiaquatic life
282
00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:23,520
but our orphans in Wisconsin
are just learning how to make
283
00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,280
the most of their two worlds.
284
00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,080
They're now 12 weeks of age,
285
00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,480
old enough to move outside into an
enclosure with permanent water...
286
00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,520
..where Mark is going to
introduce them
287
00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:39,640
to some different prey.
288
00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:45,160
So today we're going to do some
freshwater clams, some crayfish,
289
00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:46,920
then we're also going to do some
frogs.
290
00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,720
So we're going to start off by
introducing the clams first and,
291
00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,080
since they really don't know what
these things are,
292
00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:53,880
I'm going to cut them open for them,
293
00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,520
so I'm going to give each one a clam
294
00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:57,960
and then what we'll do is
throw some in the pond,
295
00:21:57,960 --> 00:21:59,240
let them kind of figure it out,
296
00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:00,920
because they'll get the taste for it
297
00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,040
and realise that, hey, this is
something I can eat.
298
00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:06,560
A wild otter's diet is broad.
299
00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,560
They catch and eat everything
from snails to octopus.
300
00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,480
And their inquisitive nature has led
301
00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,880
to one species evolving an
incredible talent -
302
00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,880
the use of tools.
303
00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,200
Sea otters feed on
crustaceans and molluscs
304
00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,080
but their hard exoskeleton is
notoriously tricky to get into.
305
00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:44,040
So each otter has preferred tools
for accessing its favourite foods.
306
00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,280
Be it a rock for opening clams...
307
00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,520
..the bow of an expensive boat for
oysters...
308
00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,000
..or an empty beer bottle for
barnacles.
309
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,560
By focusing on particular prey,
310
00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,400
sea otters have a balancing effect
on the ecosystem...
311
00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,760
..helping to keep it healthy.
312
00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,640
Otters seem to have a relentless
curiosity.
313
00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,200
To me it's an indicator
of just how intelligent they are.
314
00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:36,560
An endearing trait, and one that
often results in play.
315
00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,800
Essential for all otters as
they grow and develop...
316
00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,120
..teaching them crucial life
lessons.
317
00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:17,240
And it's exactly what I had
to do with Honey...
318
00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:19,640
..the otter I reared at home.
319
00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,800
HE GIGGLES
320
00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,160
But play for her wasn't always
much fun for me.
321
00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:33,960
Ow! That's my skull! Ah, get off!
322
00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,080
This whole biting my skull thing,
Honey, I'm not a fan.
323
00:24:42,360 --> 00:24:46,280
In social species, the bonds
that play solidifies
324
00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,680
makes otter families a formidable
force.
325
00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,960
Especially important for
giant river otters,
326
00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,240
who regularly
face deadly predators.
327
00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,320
With vulnerable young cubs,
328
00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,280
this family discovered a large black
caiman in their territory.
329
00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,280
Identifying it as a threat, they
work together,
330
00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,560
systematically attacking it.
331
00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:35,240
For three hours, the otters pinned
it down,
332
00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,000
taking it in turns to attack
its underside and head.
333
00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:01,160
Eventually, the enormous size
and power of the caiman was no match
334
00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:06,680
for the family, whose bonds are so
strong that they would risk dying
for each other.
335
00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,640
For the orphans in Wisconsin,
336
00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:32,440
their best chance of a future in
the wild
337
00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,040
will come from staying together.
338
00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,360
Now they can get a lot
more exercise,
339
00:26:38,360 --> 00:26:42,000
start doing what they need to do and
start being a lot less dependent on
340
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,600
us, and we can start cutting off our
human contact with them so they can
341
00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,000
learn to be otters and not rely on
humans too much any more.
342
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,680
They now have their most important
piece of survival equipment -
343
00:26:57,320 --> 00:26:59,800
..a warm and completely
waterproof coat.
344
00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,160
Fur is an otter's secret weapon.
345
00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:10,440
They all rely on it to keep warm.
346
00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:16,880
But to understand its special
qualities,
347
00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:18,680
we need to look at sea otters once
again.
348
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:24,960
They have the densest and
most luxurious fur of any animal.
349
00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:27,760
It's such high quality
350
00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:31,720
that trappers historically measured
all other fur against it.
351
00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:34,760
It's the main reason sea otters
352
00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,120
have been persecuted throughout
their range.
353
00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:43,760
Their fur has nearly one million
hairs per square inch.
354
00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,720
To properly appreciate the
world's furriest animal,
355
00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,520
I've come to Monterey Bay Aquarium
in California
356
00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,080
whose sea otter
reintroduction programme has been
357
00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:00,360
instrumental in the recovery of
the population.
358
00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:08,480
Beautiful. 'The aquarium's head vet,
Dr Mike Murray, has anaesthetised
359
00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:10,080
'a female otter for a checkup,
360
00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,200
'giving me a chance to take a
close look.'
361
00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:17,440
Look at the size of that.
That's enormous!
362
00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:18,960
She actually feels really warm.
363
00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:24,120
That really, really thick fur they
have is designed to conserve heat
364
00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:28,080
and she really doesn't, without
cold water, have an opportunity
to dump heat.
365
00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,480
Her coat is so effective
366
00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,400
that Dr Mike has to put bags of ice
on her flippers
367
00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:35,960
to stop her overheating.
368
00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:43,240
This is the most beautiful, silky,
soft fur you can imagine.
369
00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:46,920
On the outside it's much thicker
370
00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:52,360
but when you get down deep
inside it's just silk-smooth.
371
00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:57,200
You can just make out the sort of
pale, white skin underneath.
372
00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,640
It's amazing how wet it
is on the outside
373
00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,640
and then you peel it back and it's
completely dry on the inside.
374
00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:07,960
That is beautiful.
375
00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,120
It's so soft you can barely feel it.
It's weird.
376
00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,080
And if you look at the undercoat,
377
00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,920
they've got these long guard
hairs, but down deep,
378
00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:18,440
you look at those microscopically
379
00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:22,680
and they've got all these little
scales that stick off the shaft of
the fur
380
00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,240
and what the otter does when it
grooms is,
381
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:29,120
it just conditions the fur to get
those things to lock together
382
00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,160
so that it becomes impenetrable
to water, essentially,
383
00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:34,320
and they can get air in those
spaces,
384
00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:37,760
very similar to a down jacket or
down vest that we might be wearing.
385
00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:42,440
Looking at the undercoat in
microscopic detail
386
00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:44,960
shows these scales lining the shaft
of each hair.
387
00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,640
Grooming increases the volume
of air trapped in this layer...
388
00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,120
..maximising its insulation
potential.
389
00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,280
And in the freezing waters of
Alaska,
390
00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:05,760
survival relies on good
insulation.
391
00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,200
This mother is fluffing
up her baby's coat.
392
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,280
By blowing into its fur
393
00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,200
she's filling it with air to keep
him warm.
394
00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,080
The more trapped air, the
warmer it is.
395
00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,360
But for it to be effective, it
needs to be kept in top condition...
396
00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,280
..which means otters spend
hours each day grooming...
397
00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:47,800
..using their flexible spine
to reach those hard-to-get spots.
398
00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:59,400
We can see just how effective
their coat is with the help of some
technology.
399
00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:04,360
This is a thermal camera,
so what it does,
400
00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:07,080
instead of looking at a straight
image of something
401
00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,040
as we would normally look at
through a camera,
402
00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:11,400
this looks at the heat signature of
everything, so it can
403
00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,040
tell the difference between hot and
cold and it shines up here.
404
00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:18,400
You know, the yellow bits are
warmer, the purple bits are colder.
405
00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,200
It's going to be really interesting
406
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:21,920
looking at the sea otter with
this camera,
407
00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:24,840
because it'll show me which parts of
the sea otter are retaining heat
408
00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,520
and which parts are giving off
heat.
409
00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:30,680
OK, so she's right underneath me
now.
410
00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:32,920
This is going to be a really nice
shot.
411
00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:33,960
There she is.
412
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:39,840
So you can see, looking at that,
413
00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,600
the bits that are really shining up
yellow
414
00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,440
are her eyes and her mouth and nose
415
00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,840
and just a few bits on the side
of her head,
416
00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:50,360
so those are the main bits that are
losing heat. That's amazing.
417
00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:57,240
What's interesting is that
the water temperature here's around
418
00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,720
7 Celsius, and her body temperature
is around 37 Celsius.
419
00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,800
So we're actually looking
at a 30-degree difference between
420
00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:06,560
the water temperature and her body,
421
00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:08,440
but we're not seeing it on the
picture.
422
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:10,400
Her body is almost the same colour
as the water.
423
00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:14,880
So what that means is,
424
00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,360
that thick fur that the otter's got
425
00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:19,560
is so good at insulating the otter
426
00:32:19,560 --> 00:32:21,600
that very little heat is coming
off it,
427
00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,400
almost no difference between the
water temperature
428
00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:27,760
and the temperature of the otter on
the outside of the otter
429
00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:31,240
because all the heat, that 37
degrees, is being kept inside.
430
00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:40,160
This highly specialised coat
is one of the reasons otters
431
00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:43,280
are more capable on land than other
semiaquatic mammals...
432
00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:48,440
..like sea lions.
433
00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:49,920
SEA LIONS HONK
434
00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:59,600
One of the differences between these
Californian sea lions and otters is
435
00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:03,560
not just the fact that they've given
up their legs for flippers...
436
00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:07,840
..but they're fat, great, big
fat, lummoxing things.
437
00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:09,640
They're useless on land.
438
00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,160
This is pretty much the extent of
what they can do on land,
439
00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:15,400
which is climb ashore and go to
sleep.
440
00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:18,480
And otters? Otters can be really
successful predators on land
441
00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,160
and the reason is,
they don't have any blubber.
442
00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:23,520
These guys use blubber to keep
themselves warm in the sea.
443
00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:28,040
Otters use fur, and one inch
of fur
444
00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:32,920
is the equivalent, in insulating
terms, of four inches of blubber.
445
00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:43,200
The otter's fur coat not only
provides them
446
00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:45,560
with superb insulation
in the water,
447
00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:49,320
it also allows them to have
incredible agility on land...
448
00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:56,240
..something the orphans in Wisconsin
will need to take advantage of.
449
00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,280
At five months old, their
confidence is growing.
450
00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:06,360
And their curious, intelligent
nature is starting to shine through.
451
00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:09,320
So now what we can do is...
452
00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,560
So they know you're going to feed
them, don't they?
453
00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:12,800
We can toss in a fish or two.
454
00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:17,840
And normally, as soon as you get a
couple in there...
455
00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:21,640
Look at that,
he's straight on it. Wow.
456
00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:24,800
That was so fast.
457
00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,280
It's so lovely to come back
here and see how they've developed.
458
00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,280
I mean, they're just huge now,
compared to what they were.
459
00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,760
They were tiny little, helpless,
useless otters
460
00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,160
and, back then, we gave them their
first fish
461
00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:44,600
and thought, "Wow, they can catch a
fish, isn't that wonderful?"
462
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:46,640
Now you watch them and they're just
pros now.
463
00:34:47,640 --> 00:34:48,800
Exactly.
464
00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:50,000
If you look,
465
00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:51,920
now you have a hard time telling who
466
00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:53,480
the guy with the bum leg was.
467
00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:56,400
He doesn't show any sign of any
problems any more.
468
00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:59,320
He's just as good as the other ones
at catching fish
469
00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,560
and just as fast and agile as
everybody else.
470
00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:07,080
I'm relieved that the injury to his
back leg has recovered so well.
471
00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:11,120
It's testament to Mark's skills as
a substitute mother.
472
00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:14,600
He's taken the camera out now.
Look at that.
473
00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:16,960
The camera is going in.
474
00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:18,360
How can we get this in?
475
00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,240
They will figure it out.
476
00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:22,600
Oh, he's reframed it for us!
477
00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:26,000
They're just into everything,
aren't they?
478
00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,480
Yeah. And that's otters for you,
isn't it?
479
00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:32,960
Exactly. Crazy into everything.
Everything.
480
00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:34,760
Just like this, with the block.
481
00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:38,240
You worry about them tipping the
block over on themselves, and, er...
482
00:35:38,240 --> 00:35:40,040
Aww!
483
00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:44,720
There we go. It's sunk.
484
00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:46,280
THEY LAUGH
485
00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:52,920
They're now swimming around, looking
at themselves underwater in it.
486
00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:54,440
They're doing otter selfies.
487
00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:04,600
'I just love their energy and
determination.'
488
00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:08,760
These guys are clearly well on
the way to having the skills
489
00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:13,320
they'll need to survive in the
wild, and that time is fast
approaching.
490
00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:17,480
Their release into Wisconsin's
northern woods is only a month away.
491
00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:21,000
They've got each other.
They do.
492
00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:24,960
I mean, one otter, you know, that's
tricky. Three otters together?
493
00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:28,760
They can learn from each other,
they are safer in numbers. Exactly.
494
00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:32,760
So they should do pretty well.
They can certainly fish.
495
00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:36,240
So I think we'll go on out of
here.
496
00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:38,920
they're starting to get a little
bit too used to us.
497
00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:41,600
We're trying to keep our contact to
a minimum
498
00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:43,840
so let's get on out of here.
499
00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:45,240
Cheers, guys.
500
00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:50,640
Mark's intentionally keeping
contact with the orphans to
a minimum.
501
00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,600
They need to be as independent as
possible ahead of their release.
502
00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:06,000
Although they're doing well,
503
00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:10,440
catching fast, wild fish
in a big open lake or flowing river
504
00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:13,360
will present them with an enormous
challenge.
505
00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:23,040
They'll need to bring all
their knowledge and skills together.
506
00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:39,880
To reveal how otters do this, I'm
heading to Oakland Zoo in California
507
00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:44,440
where I hope to film a hunt
in super-slow motion.
508
00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:49,360
Here, they enrich the lives of the
otters by feeding them live prey -
509
00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:50,480
goldfish.
510
00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:56,600
Helping me dissect the action is
biology professor Lei Lani Stelle.
511
00:37:56,600 --> 00:38:00,080
Check this out, Lei Lani.
What this will allow us to do,
512
00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:04,640
while the otter's swimming, I can
track along with it and it shoots in
513
00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:06,480
really decent slow motion.
514
00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,440
We can basically slow things down
ten times.
515
00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:13,640
Wow, that'll give us amazing detail
on what they're doing right at the
516
00:38:13,640 --> 00:38:16,960
moment when they see their food and
are able to catch it.
517
00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,880
He's going for it. Wow! That was
nice, wasn't it?
518
00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:26,880
Look at them chasing it together.
519
00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:31,240
He's having trouble
getting that one!
520
00:38:31,240 --> 00:38:33,120
Look at that!
521
00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:35,040
Got it.
522
00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:40,920
Awesome. OK, let's have a look,
see what we've got.
523
00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:42,680
Where's the play button?
524
00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:50,240
That's so cool to see it in slow
motion,
525
00:38:50,240 --> 00:38:53,120
so you can see all of the details of
the moving.
526
00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:56,320
When we were watching it, it was so
fast it was hard to see.
527
00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:02,760
It's incredibly agile, isn't it?
528
00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:08,520
Yeah, you can see him doing a really
quick turn
529
00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:13,240
and you can definitely
see how flexible his spine is.
530
00:39:13,240 --> 00:39:16,600
So it really is, I guess,
the spine doing a load of work
531
00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:20,080
and then when he needs to get the
fish, the back legs seem to come
out.
532
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,600
And that's how, I guess, how they
get that turn of speed.
533
00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:33,920
The flexible spine combined
with its tail and webbed hind feet
534
00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:38,800
allow the otter supreme agility
and speed in the water.
535
00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:44,160
In the final approach,
it uses its underwater eyesight
536
00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:46,480
to place the fish right in front of
its head.
537
00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:01,240
That's right on the tail of
the fish, isn't it?
538
00:40:01,240 --> 00:40:03,400
He kind of nudged it with his nose
first. Yeah.
539
00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:08,240
It definitely seems like we're
noticing that they're feeling the
540
00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:09,760
fish more than anything,
541
00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:12,680
so it may be that they're detecting
it with
542
00:40:12,680 --> 00:40:16,440
their whiskers first and since that
has a hard-wire
543
00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:19,440
from the whiskers right to
the jaw,
544
00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:21,000
they can just bite it with instinct
545
00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:24,040
without having to take that time for
the brain to process the signal.
546
00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:27,400
So they're not, you know, they're
not feeling it
547
00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:29,720
and thinking, "Is that to my left?
Is that to my right?"
548
00:40:29,720 --> 00:40:33,080
Right. It's like an instant...like
us seeing or hearing.
549
00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:37,080
Yeah. Exactly, there's no delay.
And that would explain how they're
550
00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:39,000
able to pick up on the fish so
quickly.
551
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:42,400
Because I would have trouble seeing
the fish and they would
already grab it.
552
00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:44,520
Right. And it is incredibly fast,
isn't it?
553
00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:51,680
As soon as the prey touches the
whiskers,
554
00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:55,400
an incredible nervous reaction is
triggered.
555
00:40:55,400 --> 00:41:00,280
The signal fired to the brain is
immediately turned into a command,
556
00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,560
stimulating the jaw to grab.
557
00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:08,600
Cutting out any
decision-making delay.
558
00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:12,760
And it all happens in a fraction of
a second.
559
00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:22,920
'But I've spotted something
else intriguing in the footage.'
560
00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:27,760
That otter's nosing that fish and
sniffing the fish, right?
561
00:41:29,160 --> 00:41:33,000
And if you look, when it first
comes up to it, it puts bubbles out.
562
00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:35,640
It's got loads of bubbles around its
mouth. Right.
563
00:41:35,640 --> 00:41:38,880
Because I'm convinced otters
can smell underwater.
564
00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:42,200
So do you think the bubbles are
going back into the nose or into the
mouth?
565
00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:44,480
I think they're going into both.
Interesting.
566
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:47,120
It's not improbable
because a lot of animals can smell
567
00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:50,080
underwater, right? And it's just
a chemical cue
568
00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:53,520
and as long as it's concentrated, so
it's really right close to them,
569
00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:56,800
it makes sense that they would still
be able to smell it underwater.
570
00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:01,480
So other animals that
can smell underwater,
571
00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:06,520
do they just sniff in water or do
they use bubbles in this way?
572
00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:09,120
You know, to be honest, I don't
think anyone knows.
573
00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:16,000
It's thrilling to think that otters'
ability to smell underwater
574
00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:18,800
could in fact be an undiscovered
survival skill.
575
00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:25,120
I've long thought otters must
have this secret ability, and seeing
576
00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,000
this has inspired me to put
my theory to the test.
577
00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:40,080
I'm hoping Rudy might be able to
help me once again.
578
00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:47,320
So really the only definitive way of
proving that otters can smell
579
00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:49,320
underwater is to do an experiment,
580
00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:52,480
so we're going to get some fake fish
and some real fish
581
00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:56,200
and we're going to try and film Rudy
telling the difference
582
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:58,560
between the fake fish and real fish.
583
00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:02,200
So what we've got here is a fake
piece of plastic trout.
584
00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:08,360
We're going to put that on here
585
00:43:08,360 --> 00:43:11,040
and we present Rudy with
586
00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:14,120
two identical-looking pieces of
fish...
587
00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,560
..to see if he can tell the
difference.
588
00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:22,000
So we're going to put this
experimental block here...
589
00:43:23,360 --> 00:43:24,400
..underwater.
590
00:43:27,720 --> 00:43:31,160
'This relies on Rudy investigating
each piece underwater.
591
00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:35,720
'Deciding which one is food and then
eating it.
592
00:43:36,880 --> 00:43:41,720
'And Rod and I capturing the whole
thing on camera in slow motion.'
593
00:43:46,160 --> 00:43:48,040
No interest in the fake one.
594
00:43:50,720 --> 00:43:52,000
Absolutely none.
595
00:43:58,120 --> 00:44:00,280
Well, come on, Rudy, do it.
596
00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:04,600
It's so fast and it's so subtle,
597
00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:08,120
that it's very difficult to work out
exactly what's going on.
598
00:44:09,320 --> 00:44:14,120
'My camera simply isn't capable of
slowing it down enough to see the
finer details.
599
00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:19,840
'But Rod's camera captures the
action 40 times slower than real
life.'
600
00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:24,280
Right, Rod, did you get it?
601
00:44:24,280 --> 00:44:25,560
Possibly. Really?
602
00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:30,640
Yeah. It's so quick and obviously
we're slowing it down 40 times,
603
00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:33,120
so until we actually see it...
604
00:44:33,120 --> 00:44:36,040
So that... God, that is a close
shot. There's his head.
605
00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:42,800
That's a bubble coming out of his
mouth, isn't it?
606
00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:46,880
Oh, he's sucked it back in.
607
00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:48,440
It's done it. No way.
608
00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:50,840
That was it. Fantastic.
609
00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:51,880
That's amazing.
610
00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:54,600
A bubble came out of his mouth
611
00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:58,680
and just as he was lifting his head,
he sucked it right back in again.
612
00:44:58,680 --> 00:45:00,880
It wasn't his nose, but it was his
mouth.
613
00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:03,760
He draws it back in, tasting the
fish.
614
00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:11,480
That's amazing, because you can
actually see it happening perfectly.
615
00:45:11,480 --> 00:45:15,480
'Rudy actively pushes a bubble onto
the surface of the fish...
616
00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:20,320
'..picking up scent molecules before
he sucks it back in...
617
00:45:22,120 --> 00:45:26,680
'..obtaining enough information to
determine whether it's something he
wants to eat.
618
00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:32,760
'This footage helps me understand
how otters might find food in
619
00:45:32,760 --> 00:45:37,080
'dark, murky waters where they can't
rely on their underwater eyesight.
620
00:45:38,960 --> 00:45:41,120
'They sniff it out.
621
00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:44,280
'It's amazing to think that an
animal we are so familiar with...
622
00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:47,880
'..may still hold secrets from us.'
623
00:45:53,480 --> 00:45:57,280
And good to think that the orphans
may have this ability too.
624
00:45:59,880 --> 00:46:03,920
The cubs are six months old now and
autumn is coming.
625
00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:05,320
It's time for their release.
626
00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:10,240
With his parenting nearly over,
Mark has built a pen...
627
00:46:11,800 --> 00:46:14,520
..which he'll leave on the shores
of an isolated lake.
628
00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:19,720
'This will give the orphans
somewhere familiar to come back to
629
00:46:19,720 --> 00:46:22,040
'until they're able to fend for
themselves.'
630
00:46:22,040 --> 00:46:23,080
All set?
631
00:46:23,080 --> 00:46:26,400
Wow, this is the moment, guys.
632
00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:27,840
MARK WARBLES
633
00:46:30,680 --> 00:46:34,000
Oh, look at that.
634
00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:38,560
How amazing.
635
00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:40,560
You can't imagine what it's like.
It's like...
636
00:46:40,560 --> 00:46:41,840
MARK WARBLES
637
00:46:41,840 --> 00:46:44,240
..having never been outside in
your life, isn't it?
638
00:46:44,240 --> 00:46:47,120
Exactly. All these new, funny things
to explore.
639
00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:54,640
They're so funny. They're just into
everything.
640
00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:55,760
They run for about ten feet
641
00:46:55,760 --> 00:46:57,720
and then stop and look around and
then they run.
642
00:46:59,720 --> 00:47:01,800
They're just crazy.
643
00:47:01,800 --> 00:47:04,320
They're checking everything out.
644
00:47:04,320 --> 00:47:05,800
Checking my tripod out.
645
00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:17,200
You know what's lovely is the point
where they get to the water...
646
00:47:18,440 --> 00:47:22,320
..because they're suddenly going to
be otters, finally.
647
00:47:22,320 --> 00:47:25,040
It's all very well looking like
an otter,
648
00:47:25,040 --> 00:47:26,760
but to actually be free and be
649
00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:29,960
swimming and catching fish,
that's the special bit.
650
00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:56,400
So this is the accumulation of all
of our efforts coming to the end
651
00:47:56,400 --> 00:47:59,840
and this is the kind of moment we've
been waiting for since we started.
652
00:48:03,160 --> 00:48:06,960
And gives you a lot of satisfaction
to be able to see them out there,
653
00:48:06,960 --> 00:48:09,120
swimming and doing what they're
doing...
654
00:48:10,480 --> 00:48:12,720
..knowing that you had a chance to
set it right
655
00:48:12,720 --> 00:48:15,040
for what went wrong in the
first place.
656
00:48:16,760 --> 00:48:19,200
We'll still continue to put food
out for them
657
00:48:19,200 --> 00:48:22,000
but they need to find
their independence now.
658
00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,080
And they're
smart enough to do it.
659
00:48:24,080 --> 00:48:26,440
I mean, you're still kind of mum,
aren't you?
660
00:48:26,440 --> 00:48:27,960
But you're a hands-off mum.
661
00:48:27,960 --> 00:48:29,440
Exactly.
662
00:48:29,440 --> 00:48:33,120
Today we cut the apron
strings a little bit. Right.
663
00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:38,880
'And it's obvious that the orphans
are relishing their first real taste
of freedom.'
664
00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:41,600
They'll just keep expanding their
range little by little and start
665
00:48:41,600 --> 00:48:44,040
checking things out and getting more
adventurous
666
00:48:44,040 --> 00:48:47,360
and eventually they'll go
probably around the whole lake
667
00:48:47,360 --> 00:48:49,800
and, not too much longer,
they'll probably start heading
668
00:48:49,800 --> 00:48:51,560
up and down the creeks that are
669
00:48:51,560 --> 00:48:53,960
coming in and out and
seeing what's there.
670
00:48:58,680 --> 00:49:01,640
'In the same way a mother otter
would keep catching fish
671
00:49:01,640 --> 00:49:03,720
'for her
young at this age in the wild...
672
00:49:04,840 --> 00:49:06,960
'..until Mark is sure that they're
using
673
00:49:06,960 --> 00:49:08,920
'all their learned and innate
skills
674
00:49:08,920 --> 00:49:11,720
'he'll keep putting out food for
them.'
675
00:49:11,720 --> 00:49:14,960
And what happens, do you stop
feeding them first and then they go
676
00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:16,760
or do they generally just move off?
677
00:49:16,760 --> 00:49:20,200
They generally just move off, so
we'll offer food for a while until
678
00:49:20,200 --> 00:49:22,520
we notice the food's not
disappearing any more
679
00:49:22,520 --> 00:49:24,080
and we don't see them any more.
680
00:49:25,880 --> 00:49:27,840
So it's their first night alone,
now, isn't it?
681
00:49:27,840 --> 00:49:30,640
Yeah, it'll be the first night alone
but I think they'll do just
fine.
682
00:49:30,640 --> 00:49:32,360
They've had a lot of fun today
and I think
683
00:49:32,360 --> 00:49:34,440
they're just going to find a
place to go to sleep.
684
00:49:40,480 --> 00:49:41,960
I think they're going to sleep well.
685
00:49:41,960 --> 00:49:44,360
I think so, too. They got a good
supper, they should be good.
686
00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:50,640
'As night falls, I can't help but
worry for them.
687
00:49:50,640 --> 00:49:53,240
'Although Mark's provided them with
food,
688
00:49:53,240 --> 00:49:55,120
'for the first time in their lives
689
00:49:55,120 --> 00:49:57,200
'they will have no one looking out
for them.'
690
00:50:11,360 --> 00:50:14,320
'As soon as it's light I'm keen to
check up on the orphans.
691
00:50:20,920 --> 00:50:25,040
'At first there doesn't seem to be
any sign of them.
692
00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:35,040
'But then I hear some familiar
chirps.'
693
00:50:35,040 --> 00:50:36,080
CHIRPING
694
00:50:44,080 --> 00:50:47,280
'I'm delighted. All three are
foraging together.'
695
00:50:57,680 --> 00:51:02,000
There's something about when you
see a group of otters like this,
you know,
696
00:51:02,000 --> 00:51:05,760
three otters almost like this one
animal and three bodies.
697
00:51:05,760 --> 00:51:10,600
They move so perfectly, so in sync
with each other.
698
00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:12,440
They know where each other is
the whole time.
699
00:51:12,440 --> 00:51:13,880
They know what each other is doing.
700
00:51:13,880 --> 00:51:15,920
Even though sometimes they can't see
each other.
701
00:51:15,920 --> 00:51:18,920
You know, this is really murky,
peaty water.
702
00:51:18,920 --> 00:51:23,040
They can't see in it, but they
always know where each other is.
703
00:51:30,240 --> 00:51:34,560
For Mark to have got them from
three tiny cubs to this state
704
00:51:34,560 --> 00:51:37,560
and to put them in this place and
release them so quickly
705
00:51:37,560 --> 00:51:41,720
and so effectively is brilliant.
I think he's done a great job.
706
00:51:45,720 --> 00:51:49,160
Just looking at these guys from
this canoe,
707
00:51:49,160 --> 00:51:51,520
it's just like watching a group of
wild otters
708
00:51:51,520 --> 00:51:53,680
and they're doing
everything that wild otters do.
709
00:51:53,680 --> 00:51:55,240
They're behaving like wild otters.
710
00:51:55,240 --> 00:51:57,680
They're hunting along in the reeds
and the lilies
711
00:51:57,680 --> 00:52:00,960
along the edge of the lake.
712
00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:03,560
And they're foraging.
That's what otters do.
713
00:52:03,560 --> 00:52:06,880
They're not always out in the middle
of the lake speeding after fish.
714
00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:09,680
Most of the time they spend nosing
around in the weeds
715
00:52:09,680 --> 00:52:13,440
trying to find some food, and that's
exactly what these guys are doing.
716
00:52:13,440 --> 00:52:15,160
So it makes me very hopeful.
717
00:52:15,160 --> 00:52:19,520
You look at them behaving like real,
wild otters and you think, well,
718
00:52:19,520 --> 00:52:22,520
if you can do that within 24 hours
of being released,
719
00:52:22,520 --> 00:52:25,360
I think the chances of survival for
these guys are pretty high.
720
00:52:31,720 --> 00:52:34,760
'Mark has given the orphans a real
second chance at life.
721
00:52:36,920 --> 00:52:39,440
'And as long as they stick together,
722
00:52:39,440 --> 00:52:42,400
'harness everything their surrogate
mum has taught them...
723
00:52:43,400 --> 00:52:45,880
'..alongside their own natural
instincts,
724
00:52:45,880 --> 00:52:48,440
'they should be able to cope with
most things.'
725
00:52:58,880 --> 00:53:02,920
I'm reassured that otters have what
it takes to survive.
726
00:53:02,920 --> 00:53:04,680
History has shown this.
727
00:53:07,240 --> 00:53:09,760
Where otter populations were at
record lows...
728
00:53:10,760 --> 00:53:12,160
..some are now coming back.
729
00:53:14,080 --> 00:53:19,080
40 years ago, the Eurasian otter was
extinct across most of the UK.
730
00:53:21,680 --> 00:53:23,440
Now it's found in every county.
731
00:53:27,320 --> 00:53:31,960
And the sea otter numbered just
2,000 individuals a century ago.
732
00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:39,520
But with the help of protection and
reintroduction programmes
733
00:53:39,520 --> 00:53:43,080
has made a population increase to
125,000.
734
00:53:48,320 --> 00:53:50,880
We can't get complacent.
735
00:53:50,880 --> 00:53:54,200
Across the globe otters ARE
threatened,
736
00:53:54,200 --> 00:53:58,080
but where they're given the chance,
they can adapt to a changing world.
737
00:53:58,080 --> 00:53:59,920
CHIRPING
738
00:53:59,920 --> 00:54:04,280
And there's one place where they've
made a very surprising comeback.
739
00:54:11,960 --> 00:54:13,760
Downtown Singapore.
740
00:54:24,200 --> 00:54:28,040
Singapore is one of the busiest
countries in the world.
741
00:54:30,040 --> 00:54:34,040
Attracting over 15 million
visitors a year,
742
00:54:34,040 --> 00:54:36,840
it might not seem like a haven for
wildlife.
743
00:54:38,520 --> 00:54:40,720
But despite the hustle and bustle,
744
00:54:40,720 --> 00:54:44,960
and having been thought extinct
here just a few decades ago,
745
00:54:44,960 --> 00:54:50,040
in 2014, smooth-coated otters moved
into the city centre.
746
00:54:54,000 --> 00:54:57,400
There are now thought to be well
over 60 otters
747
00:54:57,400 --> 00:54:59,680
living inside the city state.
748
00:55:01,880 --> 00:55:06,440
The reason? Fresh water in
Singapore's Marina Bay has,
749
00:55:06,440 --> 00:55:09,200
for the last nine years,
been highly protected.
750
00:55:11,080 --> 00:55:13,800
There's next to no fishing
or pollution.
751
00:55:16,200 --> 00:55:20,080
The result is a vast reservoir,
absolutely full of fish.
752
00:55:23,200 --> 00:55:24,920
Perfect for otters.
753
00:55:28,200 --> 00:55:30,640
And now, on a daily basis,
754
00:55:30,640 --> 00:55:33,800
they demonstrate one of the
characteristics I love most.
755
00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:38,440
Their close family bond.
756
00:55:43,160 --> 00:55:45,480
What's really freaking me out is
that
757
00:55:45,480 --> 00:55:49,360
the last time I filmed a group of
otters this big and this social
758
00:55:49,360 --> 00:55:52,320
and exciting was in one of the
remotest parts of the Amazon.
759
00:55:52,320 --> 00:55:56,160
That was a group of
giant otters, 15 of them.
760
00:55:56,160 --> 00:56:00,400
Now I've got 13 completely wild
otters right in the middle of,
761
00:56:00,400 --> 00:56:04,520
I guess, one of the most densely
populated cities on earth.
762
00:56:07,280 --> 00:56:11,640
'And this family has just expanded
Singapore's population even further.
763
00:56:14,080 --> 00:56:16,920
'They have four 11-week-old pups.'
764
00:56:23,080 --> 00:56:26,080
'And just like the orphans in
Wisconsin,
765
00:56:26,080 --> 00:56:28,600
'they, too, are on a journey of
survival.'
766
00:56:47,520 --> 00:56:49,080
Otters are very sensitive animals.
767
00:56:49,080 --> 00:56:52,520
They've been in trouble across the
world for a long time now.
768
00:56:52,520 --> 00:56:56,440
But, if Singapore proves anything to
me, it's that they are adaptable.
769
00:56:57,480 --> 00:57:00,080
'I've no doubt otters are
survivors.
770
00:57:04,200 --> 00:57:07,440
'For me, it's all about their
supercharged nature.
771
00:57:09,840 --> 00:57:13,800
'And I think it's this that makes me
smile every time I see one.
772
00:57:15,240 --> 00:57:18,960
'And here in Singapore there are
plenty of other smiling faces.
773
00:57:20,480 --> 00:57:25,320
'That's because otters ARE special
and, given a chance,
774
00:57:25,320 --> 00:57:28,120
'will always make the most of what's
available to them.'
775
00:57:29,200 --> 00:57:33,280
They need nice, clean water,
a decent supply of food,
776
00:57:33,280 --> 00:57:36,600
and they need to be free from
persecution.
777
00:57:37,560 --> 00:57:41,640
And clearly, Singapore's provided
them the perfect home.
778
00:57:47,960 --> 00:57:52,400
And that basically proves to me that
these shy, nocturnal,
779
00:57:52,400 --> 00:57:55,400
secretive animals that we kind of
all think otters are,
780
00:57:55,400 --> 00:57:57,760
give them the right ingredients for
life...
781
00:57:59,120 --> 00:58:01,440
..protect them, and they'll thrive.
782
00:58:19,760 --> 00:58:23,400
And in the weeks and months
following their release,
783
00:58:23,400 --> 00:58:27,240
through autumn and winter,
the orphans in Wisconsin
784
00:58:27,240 --> 00:58:28,800
are also thriving.
66696
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