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(SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
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(DRAMATIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
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NARRATOR: Of all the creatures
in the deep blue sea,
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the one that never fails
to strike fear in the heart
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is the great white shark,
or white pointer.
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(DRAMATIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
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Hollywood has made
these animals infamous
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through fictional films
such as 'Jaws' and 'Dark Tide'...
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..but make no mistake,
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the premise behind these movies
is real.
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Great white sharks
are natural born killers,
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lurking in the coastal surface waters
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of all the major oceans on Earth.
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They prefer temperate waters,
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but are often sighted in the tropics.
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(DRAMATIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
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Two locations that are well known
for great whites
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are South Africa
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and the Great
Australian Bight,
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off the coast
of South Australia.
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(DRAMATIC MUSIC BUILDS)
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In both places, ocean currents
carry water from Antarctica
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laden with tiny organisms that form
the basis of a complex web of life.
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Plankton attracts fish,
fish attract seals,
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seals attract the great white shark.
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And the great white sharks,
well, they attract people.
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Cage diving with
these charismatic creatures
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has become big business.
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During seal breeding season,
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the supply of shark food
is almost unlimited.
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Despite their formidable appearance,
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great white sharks
are not a huge threat to humans.
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It is true about 100 people a year
are attacked by sharks,
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and probably about half of those
are made by great whites...
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..but most are not fatal.
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Zoologists now know that these
animals are naturally curious,
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and most injuries to humans
are just sample bites.
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Great white sharks
prefer to prey on sealions,
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small-toothed whales,
and sometimes other sharks.
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They really are the ultimate hunters.
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Shaped like torpedoes,
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they can tear through the water
at 15 miles per hour.
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Fully grown great white sharks
have around 300 teeth
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arranged in several rows.
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The ones at the front are knifelike,
with serrated edges.
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Intimidating and effective.
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Fortunately, the cages
used on dives such as this
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protect those who seek the thrill
of a close encounter
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without any associated risk.
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The great white's sense of smell
is no urban myth.
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They can detect and home in on
a small amount of blood
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from as far as 5km away.
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Unlike most fish, these incredible
sharks are warm-blooded,
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which is why they can maintain
their body temperature
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in seas all over the world.
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(JAUNTY ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
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Cage diving with great whites
is the ultimate adrenalin rush,
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but the experience
also allows scientists
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to increase their understanding
of this remarkable species
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and its place on the blue planet.
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Aquariums, which are slowly
becoming as popular as zoos
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throughout the world,
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also afford opportunity for us to
learn more about life underwater...
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..and to encounter
less aggressive sharks
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in their admittedly
somewhat controlled environment.
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The size of the tanks
clearly restricts the size
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of the creatures
that feature in such exhibits.
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So, if you want to encounter
the biggest fish in the sea,
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you'll need to return to the wild.
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(HAUNTING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
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NARRATOR: Despite their name,
whale sharks are not whales,
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but it's obvious how
the confusion has come about.
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They are enormous - 20 times larger
than the great white.
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Fossils indicate this gargantuan fish
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may have been around
for 250 million years.
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It's a true dinosaur of the seas,
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but humans need not be alarmed.
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The only prey on this giant's menu
is microscopic.
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Encounters with whale sharks are
awe-inspiring, to say the least,
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and one of the most reliable places
to see them
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is here on
Ningaloo Reef,
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off the coast of
Western Australia.
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These gentle creatures swim to the
surface to feed on tiny zoo plankton.
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So, it's easy to get
relatively close to them
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just with a mask and snorkel.
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Whale sharks gulp
enormous quantities of water
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into their wide mouths,
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then filter out the plankton through
a kind of sieve in their throats.
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They do have teeth -
3,000 of them, in fact -
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but they are barely 6mm long
and never used for eating.
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Humans discovered whale sharks
relatively recently.
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The first recorded sighting
was less than 200 years ago.
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To better understand
their migratory behaviour,
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and in so doing, afford this species
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better protection
from illegal fishing,
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scientists will occasionally
fit an individual
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with a radio tracking device,
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a relatively harmless procedure that
is akin to having your ears pierced.
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A less invasive tracking technique
uses photo ID.
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So, anyone with an underwater camera
can contribute
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simply by photographing the skin
of any whale shark they encounter,
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for their spots are as unique
as a human fingerprint.
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Through this citizen science project,
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whale shark specialists
have been able to determine
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the migratory patterns
of individuals
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and better monitor
the global population.
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Whale sharks cruise through Ningaloo
every year between April and August,
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and they don't appear to be bothered
by humans at all.
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Ningaloo is one of the longest
fringing coral reefs in the world.
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It's a beautiful wild place
bathed in warm, clear water.
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The diversity of life here
is bewildering.
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Ningaloo lies at the point
where the southern temperate waters
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meet the northern tropical currents
of the Indian Ocean.
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It's home to over
200 different corals
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and 500 species of fish.
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(GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
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This pristine reef is a favourite
hangout for another majestic giant,
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the manta ray.
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Like all rays, these graceful mantas
are a type of shark.
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Growing to 5.5 metres wide,
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they are closely related
to stingrays,
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but thankfully there's no nasty barb
in their tails.
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They do have teeth,
but they're shaped like pebbles,
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and not designed for biting prey.
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Manta rays spend most of their time
swimming in large vertical loops,
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sucking in plankton as they go.
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(GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
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Until recently,
marine biologists believed
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mantas depended
almost entirely on plankton.
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But research now reveals
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manta rays only get
about a quarter of their nutrition
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from this kind of surface feeding.
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They catch the rest of it,
mainly fish,
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hunting in the darker reaches
of the ocean.
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Tagged rays have been recorded
swimming to depths below 400 metres.
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And evidence is emerging
that these impressive swimmers
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can dive down as far as a kilometre.
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Cephalic lobes
on either side of their mouths
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are actually pectoral fins,
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adapted to help mantas
funnel their food.
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(JAUNTY ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
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Not all of the sea's creatures
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are famous for their propensity
to kill or good looks.
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Some are incredible to encounter
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simply because they are so bizarre.
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Just off the coast
of Whyalla,
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in South Australia,
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there's a 10km
stretch of rock
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on the seabed
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that, well,
isn't particularly remarkable
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unless you happen
to be here in winter.
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This is the only time, and place
in the world, for that matter,
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where you can reliably see
huge numbers
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of giant Australian cuttlefish.
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(JAUNTY MUSIC CONTINUES)
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With bodies, or mantles,
around 1.5 foot long,
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they are the largest of their kind
in the world.
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Giant cuttlefish come here
every winter to breed
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because the seabed
is a perfect platform
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for females to anchor their eggs.
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In true rock star fashion,
they live fast and die young,
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curling up their ten tentacles
shortly after spawning.
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Young cuttlefish take 12 to 18 months
to reach maturity.
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So, they are only sexually active
for a single season.
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Their primary role
is simply to live long enough
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to pass their flashy,
overconfident genes
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to the next generation.
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The jack of all performing trades,
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cuttlefish have the underwater
visual effects department
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well covered.
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They can change colour in an instant,
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and work their way through
a kaleidoscopic range of patterns.
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They use these skills
to help them with camouflage
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or to signal alarm,
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but during their mating ritual,
it's all about showing off
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and upping your reproductive stakes.
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Cuttlefish have been around
for hundreds of millions of years...
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..which begs the question,
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who is the real alien
in this underwater encounter?
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The strange new creatures
who seek to enter this world
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or the cuttlefish
they've come to admire?
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(TINKLING CHIME MUSIC)
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there's a collection
of volcanic islands...
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..that, in their geographic
isolation, have developed habitats
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that have enabled
many unique species to evolve.
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On land, they appear to have
little to fear from humans.
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Indeed, the reverse
appears to be true.
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These islands and their incredible
collection of animals.
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inspired Charles Darwin
to write a book
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that changed the way we think
about life on Earth forever.
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They are, of course,
the incomparable:
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There are 19 islands
in the group in total,
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and they sit right on the equator.
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Their location is key
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to the strange and wonderful
creatures that live here,
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particularly under the sea.
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The Galapagos lie
in a kind of triangle
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created by the meeting
of three great ocean currents.
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This has a dramatic effect
on the weather,
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allowing a vast range of
marine animals to wind up here.
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The famous marine iguana
is unique to the Galapagos Islands.
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It's the only lizard that
lives purely on algae and seaweed
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and swims underwater.
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They're almost certainly descendants
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of the forest-dwelling iguanas
of South America.
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The theory is storms on the mainland
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may have set adrift
rafts of sticks and debris,
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and a few unlucky land-based iguanas
became stuck on board.
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They were carried
by the ocean current
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and dumped here to begin a new life.
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Over countless generations,
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they evolved the ability
to survive by the sea.
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Sharp teeth for scraping algae,
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a flattened tail for swimming,
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and even a special gland
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which removes excess salt
from their bloodstream.
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Birds also rule
the Galapagos roost...
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..but two of the more
striking seabirds
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are the frigate, with
its extraordinary red throat pouch,
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and the blue-footed booby,
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easily identified
by its outlandish blue feet.
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The males are very proud
of their blue suede shoes,
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and show them off
during mating dances.
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The guy with the bluest feet
usually gets the girl,
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and the opportunity
to pass on his genes.
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The Galapagos Islands are also home
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to the world's only
equatorial penguin.
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They are a small but determined bird,
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ungainly on land, but absolutely
amazing to witness underwater.
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(GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
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One of the most joyous sights
in the ocean
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can be found in almost
all the warm waters of the world.
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Dolphins.
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At last count,
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scientists think we have 38
different species of marine dolphin,
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plus another five living in rivers.
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Australian has 14 different
marine dolphin species,
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and some of them
are almost too easy to meet.
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(UPLIFTING MUSIC SWELLS)
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Just offshore from
the busy port city
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of Adelaide,
in South Australia,
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dolphins will go out of their way
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to initiate close encounters
with humans.
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The most common species here
is the bottle-nosed dolphin.
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These sociable animals live in pods,
groups of around 12 individuals
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00:17:59,758 --> 00:18:02,558
that have developed
a range of social skills
247
00:18:02,598 --> 00:18:05,398
to survive and support each other.
248
00:18:16,958 --> 00:18:18,758
Communication is key.
249
00:18:18,798 --> 00:18:22,758
Dolphins use a complex combination
of squeaks and clicks
250
00:18:22,798 --> 00:18:24,198
to talk to each other.
251
00:18:26,478 --> 00:18:29,638
Their range of hearing
is ten times greater than humans,
252
00:18:29,678 --> 00:18:33,838
so they can pick up high-pitched
sounds that we are unable to hear.
253
00:18:35,838 --> 00:18:38,158
Dolphins usually hunt in a team,
254
00:18:38,198 --> 00:18:40,038
rounding up schools of fish,
255
00:18:40,078 --> 00:18:43,758
keeping them corralled
until everyone has had an easy feed.
256
00:18:44,878 --> 00:18:47,758
Most dolphins in large pods
are female
257
00:18:47,798 --> 00:18:49,838
and not related to one another,
258
00:18:49,878 --> 00:18:53,278
although mothers will stay with
their young for up to eight years.
259
00:19:01,038 --> 00:19:04,078
(JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
260
00:19:04,118 --> 00:19:07,438
Male dolphins form smaller pods
of two or three,
261
00:19:07,478 --> 00:19:10,038
and they are thought
to become friends for life.
262
00:19:12,518 --> 00:19:15,358
They only approach the females
when it's time to mate,
263
00:19:15,398 --> 00:19:17,118
which is often.
264
00:19:17,158 --> 00:19:20,398
Dolphins can actually mate
at any time of the year.
265
00:19:20,438 --> 00:19:22,798
When a female gives birth,
266
00:19:22,838 --> 00:19:24,678
the others in her pod will help her,
267
00:19:24,718 --> 00:19:26,758
then go on to play a major role
268
00:19:26,798 --> 00:19:29,158
in protecting and rearing
the offspring.
269
00:19:45,278 --> 00:19:47,998
Many marine parks
and aquariums around the world
270
00:19:48,038 --> 00:19:50,998
offer opportunities
to interact with dolphins.
271
00:19:56,758 --> 00:19:58,358
They vie for attention
272
00:19:58,398 --> 00:20:02,798
with other equally endearing marine
animals such as the beluga whale.
273
00:20:02,838 --> 00:20:06,838
Calves are born grey,
fading to white as they mature.
274
00:20:08,038 --> 00:20:11,358
Adults are easily distinguishable
by their rounded foreheads
275
00:20:11,398 --> 00:20:13,398
and lack of dorsal fin.
276
00:20:15,718 --> 00:20:18,878
And they clearly enjoy
an appreciative audience.
277
00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,440
NARRATOR: The Great Barrier Reef
is a massive community of animals.
278
00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:33,920
It comprises over 3,000
individual reef systems.
279
00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:37,320
It runs along
280
00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:38,720
Australia's
eastern coast,
281
00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:39,920
from the Tropic
of Capricorn,
282
00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:41,880
north towards
the equator.
283
00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:53,800
The incredible variety of life here
is hard to take in.
284
00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,560
The world's largest collection
of corals
285
00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:00,760
frequented
by over 1,500 species of fish.
286
00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,520
It's difficult to comprehend
that a structure so large,
287
00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:08,560
it's even visible from space,
288
00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,880
begins with a tiny coral polyp,
289
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,960
a soft-bodied animal related
to jellyfish and sea anemones.
290
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,400
A young polyp begins life
drifting in the ocean.
291
00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:25,240
When it lands in a suitable home,
292
00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,680
it attaches itself to the sea bed,
293
00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,920
somewhere warm and shallow
with lots of sunshine.
294
00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,960
Then the miraculous process
of reef-building begins.
295
00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,400
These families of coral polyps
296
00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,600
have created a wonder
of magical shapes and colours
297
00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,360
over many thousands of years.
298
00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,880
And of course, they provide a perfect
home for the countless creatures
299
00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,840
living in the tropical seas.
300
00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,120
The toxic stinging cells
of the sea anemone
301
00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,360
are also an underwater oddity,
302
00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,560
for they provide protection
for another small creature,
303
00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,160
the iconic clownfish.
304
00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,520
This little fish would be easy prey
305
00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,960
for the larger predators on the reef,
306
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,720
so it's worked out a way to stay safe
307
00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:24,320
by living between the dangerous
tentacles of a sea anemone.
308
00:22:24,360 --> 00:22:27,480
So, how does it avoid
being stung and eaten
309
00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,880
like all the other fish
unfortunate enough to swim this way?
310
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,360
The answer is by being very careful.
311
00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:38,760
When a clownfish first arrives
at a potential anemone home,
312
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:40,800
it performs a kind of dance,
313
00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,560
gently touching
the anemone's tentacles.
314
00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:47,120
This allows the fish
to become accustomed to its stings.
315
00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:51,320
Clownfish also develop
a thick mucous on their skin,
316
00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:53,360
which aids their protection.
317
00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:59,240
Their ability to live where other
fish fear to venture is astounding,
318
00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,960
but so too is their ability
to change sex.
319
00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,240
Clownfish are all born male.
320
00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:08,080
Once a group is established,
321
00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:11,840
the largest will miraculously
turn into a female
322
00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:13,920
to ensure reproduction continues.
323
00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,400
As the dominant individual
in the group,
324
00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:21,840
she becomes capable of laying eggs
for the males to fertilise.
325
00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:23,880
If the female dies,
326
00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:28,000
then the largest remaining male
will step up and change sex
327
00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:29,840
to take her place.
328
00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,960
The Great Barrier Reef really is like
an enormous underwater city.
329
00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,280
It provides shelter, food,
and company
330
00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,320
for whole communities
of extraordinary animals,
331
00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:53,000
and one essential service that
keeps the entire system healthy
332
00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,840
is provided at cleaning stations.
333
00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,120
These stations are set up
by a handful of unusual creatures,
334
00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,760
such as the aptly named
cleaner shrimp...
335
00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:11,600
..who survive by cleaning
and eating dead cells and parasites
336
00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,840
from the skin of larger animals.
337
00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:21,240
The local fish know where to go
to get their teeth cleaned,
338
00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,600
and so do the local divers.
339
00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,640
(UPBEAT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
340
00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:32,200
Cleaner shrimp are so confident,
341
00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,200
they will even crawl into the gill
cavities and mouths of big fish
342
00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,640
without any fear of being eaten.
343
00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,960
Scientists have recently discovered
344
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,680
how crucial cleaning stations are
to the reef.
345
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,480
In sample areas
where cleaner fish were removed,
346
00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,840
three quarters of the fish population
disappeared.
347
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,960
It's assumed that many reef creatures
348
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,720
would quickly succumb to disease
and ill health
349
00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:08,800
if they were not regularly cleaned.
350
00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,960
So, it's no wonder
these are popular places.
351
00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,320
The number of visitors
at any one cleaning station
352
00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:21,000
could be well over 2,000 per day.
353
00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:25,720
And with up to 1,200 parasites
being removed
354
00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:27,760
in a single fish cleaning session,
355
00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:32,000
it's a wonder these tiny shrimp
can keep up with the demand.
356
00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,880
(STIRRING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
357
00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,720
The Great Barrier Reef
is perhaps best known
358
00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,000
for its profusion
of small colourful fish.
359
00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,080
Great schools of anthias
catch the sun
360
00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:54,280
in shades of peach and gold.
361
00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,400
Exotically named individuals
362
00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,600
like angelfish, sweetlip,
and damselfish
363
00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,440
swim gracefully through
the branching corals.
364
00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,720
The reef also provides a home
for strange creatures
365
00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,120
like barrel sponges and giant clams.
366
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:16,760
Many of the islands
that rise from the reef
367
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,960
are fringed by idyllic,
icing sugarlike beaches...
368
00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:28,760
..created by a creature in the sea,
the bumphead parrotfish.
369
00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,120
This is the world's
largest parrotfish,
370
00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:35,880
and its favourite food is coral.
371
00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:42,200
It uses the massive bump on its head
to knock off big chunks of coral,
372
00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:46,320
and its beaklike mouth
to crush and consume the spoils.
373
00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:51,520
The fish is actually only interested
374
00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,080
in the polyps and algae
inside the coral,
375
00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:56,600
but to get that takes a bit of work.
376
00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:02,320
The crushed coral skeleton
is then excreted as waste -
377
00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:07,360
waste that washes up onto atolls
such as this as sand.
378
00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,160
Yes, that deliciously soft powder
beneath your toes
379
00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:14,880
is mostly made from parrotfish poo.
380
00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,280
(STIRRING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
381
00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,960
Studies in the Maldives have shown
that 85% of the sand there
382
00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,920
has come from
the rear end of parrotfish.
383
00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,800
(JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
384
00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,400
One type of fish that's well designed
385
00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:39,880
for living in inaccessible places
on the reef is the moray eel.
386
00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:53,520
(JAUNTY MUSIC CONTINUES)
387
00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,680
These impressive fish
can grow to three metres long
388
00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,120
and be as thick as a human waist.
389
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,560
Despite these intimidating
dimensions,
390
00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,400
moray eels are not aggressive
to humans.
391
00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,920
Divers can come across morays
392
00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,960
in tropical and temperate waters
around the globe,
393
00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,320
but northern Australia
has 15 different species
394
00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:21,400
of this spectacular eel.
395
00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:27,320
It takes about 20 years for these
eels to reach their full size.
396
00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:33,360
As this time approaches,
many of them turn into females.
397
00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:41,240
Within a month of mating, however,
they will lay their eggs and die.
398
00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:49,360
One remarkable species of eel
399
00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:52,240
was only discovered when scuba diving
became popular.
400
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,960
These eels live out on the open sand,
401
00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,040
so they've developed a unique method
of remaining inconspicuous
402
00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,240
despite their obvious exposure.
403
00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,240
They simply pretend
they're a field of seagrass.
404
00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:10,560
Spotted garden eels
live in huge colonies
405
00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:12,960
on sunlit patches of the sea floor.
406
00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:17,720
Their range extends across
the Indian Ocean to Africa,
407
00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:19,920
and up the Western Pacific to Japan.
408
00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,080
To feed,
they rise out of their burrows
409
00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:26,320
and sway in the ocean currents,
410
00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:28,640
taking in zooplankton as they go.
411
00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:34,040
If alarmed, the eels instantly
retreat into the seabed,
412
00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:38,200
and the sand appears
as if no-one was ever there.
413
00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,280
(JAUNTY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
414
00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,840
NARRATOR: The world's oceans are home
to seven marine turtle species.
415
00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,880
One of the largest, the loggerhead,
416
00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,640
can tolerate the colder oceans
of northern Europe
417
00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:00,840
and the South Atlantic.
418
00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:05,360
They can be found anywhere
419
00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,400
except the extreme conditions
of the North and South Pole.
420
00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:11,280
They prefer coastal areas,
421
00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,120
but are often spotted travelling
way out to sea.
422
00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:20,240
Hawksbill turtles avoid deep waters,
423
00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:24,160
and are usually found
in the warm seas near coral reefs,
424
00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:28,160
where their favourite food, sponges,
grows in large numbers.
425
00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,080
Their dramatic serrated shell
and birdlike beak
426
00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:36,120
makes them easy to identify.
427
00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,960
The gentle green turtle
is the most prolific and widespread.
428
00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:47,400
They live in and around the tropics,
including Hawaii.
429
00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:01,920
Green turtles are not alarmed
by divers,
430
00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,840
so it's often possible
to swim right up to them
431
00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:06,920
to get a really close encounter.
432
00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,400
(GENTLE PIANO MUSIC)
433
00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:20,960
All marine turtles begin life
in an egg buried in the sand.
434
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:26,920
Their mothers make the laborious
journey up the beach to dig a nest.
435
00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:32,160
Once she begins laying,
she enters a trancelike state,
436
00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:37,560
where nothing, not even onlookers,
will disrupt the job at hand.
437
00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:45,080
100 to 200 eggs later,
depending on the species,
438
00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:49,400
mum covers the pit completely,
then returns back to the sea.
439
00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:53,000
In the course of a season,
440
00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:56,880
a female green turtle may do this
five or six times.
441
00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:01,200
Set and forget,
and if all goes according to plan...
442
00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:05,680
..six to eight weeks later,
443
00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,760
newly hatched turtles
will begin to emerge.
444
00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:13,120
(GENTLE PIANO MUSIC)
445
00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,400
(HAUNTING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
446
00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:23,040
As they make their way to the ocean,
they run a veritable gauntlet,
447
00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:27,240
hoping to avoid predation by crabs
hiding below the sand
448
00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,520
and birds wheeling overhead.
449
00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:38,000
Once they enter the water,
it's game on,
450
00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:40,840
for hordes of hungry fish
and ravenous sharks
451
00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:42,520
are patrolling the shallows.
452
00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:47,440
The odds of surviving are
stacked against the hatchlings.
453
00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:50,400
Fewer than one in 1,000 survive,
454
00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:53,560
but if this little turtle
can make it through the breakers
455
00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:55,600
and out to the open sea,
456
00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:58,720
its chances of surviving
to adulthood are good.
457
00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,560
(GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
458
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,400
The years between hatching
and reaching maturity
459
00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:08,600
are known as the lost years,
460
00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,880
for scientists are still trying
to work out where they go.
461
00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:14,520
One thing's for certain, however.
462
00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:17,880
They have an inbuilt natural GPS
463
00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:21,200
that will guide them back to
the same area where they were born
464
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,640
when they are ready
to breed themselves.
465
00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:28,720
Turtle populations around the world
466
00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:30,760
have taken a hammering
over the years.
467
00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,360
They're regularly killed
in discarded nets
468
00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:36,640
that drift silently through
the sea...
469
00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:42,520
..or starve to death after mistaking
plastic shopping bags for jellyfish.
470
00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:48,880
Adding to their 21st-century woes,
climate change.
471
00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:53,920
For the time being, however,
turtles are still with us,
472
00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:57,080
and encountering these
ancient mariners in the ocean
473
00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:00,600
remains an inspirational,
uplifting experience.
474
00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,200
(MYSTICAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
475
00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,000
The island
of Eil Malk,
476
00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:14,640
in the Pacific
nation of Palau,
477
00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:17,040
is both beautiful
and remote...
478
00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:22,880
..and it affords one of the most
ethereal animal encounters on Earth.
479
00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:31,480
The lifeforms that have developed
here are truly mesmerising.
480
00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:33,560
Golden jellyfish.
481
00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:37,280
The reason
people can safely swim here
482
00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:40,160
is that the jellyfish
are not able to sting.
483
00:34:43,200 --> 00:34:45,000
Although the lake is saline,
484
00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:49,360
these jellyfish have been cut off
from the sea for over 10,000 years.
485
00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:54,360
No open sea means no predators,
486
00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:58,120
and no predators means
no need for defences.
487
00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:04,400
These jellyfish have well and truly
let their guard down,
488
00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:07,840
and have gradually lost
their ability to sting.
489
00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,480
The lake was formed
when global sea levels rose
490
00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:18,000
after the last ice age.
491
00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,720
It's still connected to the
neighbouring lagoon by three tunnels,
492
00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,720
so water washes in here
with every high tide.
493
00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:31,440
Around eight million jellyfish live
here when conditions are optimal.
494
00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:36,360
At last count,
there were only about 600,000,
495
00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:40,200
but that's still a heck of a lot
of jellyfish to contend with.
496
00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,200
No-one knows exactly why,
497
00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:49,000
but rainfall here is the lowest
it's been in 65 years.
498
00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,840
As a result, the lake's salinity
levels are the highest on record.
499
00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:58,320
It's too early for scientists to tell
500
00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:00,360
whether the reduced jellyfish numbers
501
00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:04,200
are a natural fluctuation
or a result of climate change.
502
00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:09,000
The last population crash
was in the 1990s
503
00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:10,920
after an El Nino event...
504
00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:15,680
..and the good news is
the jellyfish bounced back.
505
00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,680
Everyone here in Palau is hopeful
the same thing will happen again.
506
00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:31,840
Of all the animal encounters possible
in the marine environment,
507
00:36:31,880 --> 00:36:34,600
this one never fails to delight,
508
00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:38,640
causing many to spontaneously
laugh out loud underwater.
509
00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,200
(GENTLE TINKLING MUSIC)
510
00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,840
Australian sealions may be one
of the rarest species in the ocean,
511
00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:55,840
but these adolescent pups
don't seem too concerned at all.
512
00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:58,720
They just want to play.
513
00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:01,680
These sublime animals
514
00:37:01,720 --> 00:37:03,240
live just off
a remote beach
515
00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:04,760
on the Great
Australian Bight
516
00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:06,360
called Baird Bay.
517
00:37:08,240 --> 00:37:11,440
The water can be cold,
but if you're prepared to brave it,
518
00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,640
the welcome you'll receive
is very warm indeed.
519
00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:19,640
There are only three rules
to enjoying an encounter
520
00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:21,680
without upsetting
the balance of nature.
521
00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:27,960
No sunscreen, no touching,
and no chasing.
522
00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:36,000
Sealions differ from seals
in two big ways.
523
00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,080
They have external ear flaps,
524
00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:40,440
and they can walk
on their back flippers,
525
00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:43,280
using their front ones
to prop them upright.
526
00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,520
There are only about
12,000 Australian sealions
527
00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:49,480
left in the world,
528
00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:53,640
but the local population here
at Baird Bay is thriving.
529
00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,160
Since legislation
has ensured their protection,
530
00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:59,680
numbers have increased threefold.
531
00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:14,280
Another spot in the southern oceans
famous for its marine mammals
532
00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:17,680
lies on the other side
of the Tasman Sea in New Zealand.
533
00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:22,160
Its standout feature,
534
00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:25,080
apart from the sheer beauty
of the place above the waterline,
535
00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:27,840
is a gaping canyon just offshore,
536
00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:30,680
and it's a daunting 3km deep.
537
00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:34,840
Kaikoura is a former
whaling station
538
00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:36,280
north of
Christchurch
539
00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:38,680
on the South Island of New Zealand.
540
00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:42,440
The name means "crayfish food"
in the local Maori language,
541
00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:45,720
and that provides a clue
to the unusual abundance
542
00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:47,400
of sea life found here.
543
00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,200
The immense underwater canyon
below these waves
544
00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:53,960
is rich with krill
and other plankton.
545
00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:57,480
This, in turn,
draws other sea animals
546
00:38:57,520 --> 00:38:59,520
all the way up the food chain.
547
00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:03,880
Some of the noisiest
come here to breed.
548
00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:07,320
Fur seals.
549
00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:11,160
One male commands a harem
of about 40 females,
550
00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:15,840
and he'll make a serious song and
dance about keeping them for himself.
551
00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:18,960
It's a hard life
for a female fur seal.
552
00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:23,120
They give birth, and almost
immediately fall pregnant again,
553
00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:28,960
and year after year, they return
to Kaikoura to repeat the cycle.
554
00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:44,440
Of equal interest to animal lovers
is the sperm whale.
555
00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:49,800
The animal with the largest brain
of any creature known to have lived.
556
00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:54,520
Its tail fluke
is over four metres across,
557
00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:59,160
driving these enormous animals along
at nearly 40km per hour.
558
00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:03,880
This is one of the few places
in the world
559
00:40:03,920 --> 00:40:07,520
where sperm whales can be seen
so close to shore.
560
00:40:11,522 --> 00:40:15,202
NARRATOR: If size really matters
when it comes to animal encounters,
561
00:40:15,242 --> 00:40:18,562
then you really can't overlook
the blue whale,
562
00:40:18,602 --> 00:40:21,482
the largest animal in the ocean.
563
00:40:21,522 --> 00:40:24,922
In fact, it's the largest animal
that has ever lived.
564
00:40:26,162 --> 00:40:28,722
There are two world-renowned places
for seeing them.
565
00:40:28,762 --> 00:40:30,722
One is the Monterey Canyon,
566
00:40:30,762 --> 00:40:33,042
off the coast of California,
in the USA,
567
00:40:33,082 --> 00:40:35,562
the other is the east coast
of Australia.
568
00:40:38,482 --> 00:40:40,282
Between May
and November,
569
00:40:40,322 --> 00:40:43,722
these iconic animals
migrate along the coastline.
570
00:40:43,762 --> 00:40:46,962
They're travelling from the rich food
sources in the Antarctic
571
00:40:47,002 --> 00:40:49,082
to warmer waters for breeding.
572
00:40:51,402 --> 00:40:55,122
To see one in the wild
is an unforgettable experience,
573
00:40:55,162 --> 00:40:56,642
even from the air.
574
00:40:59,282 --> 00:41:02,722
Fully grown blue whales
are roughly 30 metres long.
575
00:41:02,762 --> 00:41:05,522
Their heart alone is as big as a car,
576
00:41:05,562 --> 00:41:08,482
and yet they feed exclusively
on krill,
577
00:41:08,522 --> 00:41:12,722
tiny shrimplike organisms that have
a colossal significance in the sea,
578
00:41:12,762 --> 00:41:16,162
forming the basis
for many marine food webs.
579
00:41:19,362 --> 00:41:21,762
Apart from being the biggest animals
on the planet,
580
00:41:21,802 --> 00:41:24,802
blue whales
are also one of the loudest.
581
00:41:24,842 --> 00:41:29,682
They communicate using low groans,
grunts, and pulsing sounds...
582
00:41:31,482 --> 00:41:35,282
..and they can hear each other
from 1,600km away.
583
00:41:44,242 --> 00:41:48,482
Humpback whales are a far easier
species to encounter in the wild
584
00:41:48,522 --> 00:41:52,042
in glorious places such as this.
585
00:41:52,082 --> 00:41:55,922
The Inside Passage is a well known
coastal route
586
00:41:55,962 --> 00:41:57,962
that weaves its way
through the islands
587
00:41:58,002 --> 00:42:00,042
on the Pacific Coast
of North America.
588
00:42:03,762 --> 00:42:05,282
Humpbacks will outperform
589
00:42:05,322 --> 00:42:07,482
just about any other whale species
in the ocean...
590
00:42:09,122 --> 00:42:11,242
..and are regularly seen
waving their fins
591
00:42:11,282 --> 00:42:12,882
as if to attract attention,
592
00:42:12,922 --> 00:42:15,162
or breaching clean out of the sea.
593
00:42:17,002 --> 00:42:20,602
They are a migratory species,
and travel further than most,
594
00:42:20,642 --> 00:42:23,202
feeding in Antarctica
in the summer months
595
00:42:23,242 --> 00:42:25,642
before heading to warmer climes
to breed.
596
00:42:27,162 --> 00:42:29,762
They are thought to live
up to 50 years,
597
00:42:29,802 --> 00:42:33,602
and the age of a whale can be
measured in much the same way
598
00:42:33,642 --> 00:42:35,842
foresters are able to age trees.
599
00:42:35,882 --> 00:42:39,042
When scientists
discover a dead whale,
600
00:42:39,082 --> 00:42:41,762
they remove the waxy plugs
from its ears
601
00:42:41,802 --> 00:42:44,402
and simply count the number of rings.
602
00:42:46,402 --> 00:42:48,962
(GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
603
00:42:52,442 --> 00:42:56,042
The Kingdom of Tonga,
a collection of 170 islands
604
00:42:56,082 --> 00:42:57,442
lying right
in the middle
605
00:42:57,482 --> 00:42:59,482
of the vast
Pacific Ocean,
606
00:42:59,522 --> 00:43:00,922
offers
an even closer
607
00:43:00,962 --> 00:43:02,362
encounter
with whales.
608
00:43:05,962 --> 00:43:08,882
Hundreds of humpbacks
choose to come here every year
609
00:43:08,922 --> 00:43:10,402
to raise their young.
610
00:43:10,442 --> 00:43:12,482
From July through to November,
611
00:43:12,522 --> 00:43:15,402
the humpback females stay here
to give birth
612
00:43:15,442 --> 00:43:17,242
and nurture their calves.
613
00:43:17,282 --> 00:43:20,082
The females fast
while they are nursing young,
614
00:43:20,122 --> 00:43:24,882
who greedily consume up to 600 litres
of thick rich milk a day...
615
00:43:26,322 --> 00:43:29,962
..and they don't seem to be bothered
by humans dropping in for a visit.
616
00:43:32,602 --> 00:43:35,602
It's a truly magical
marine experience.
617
00:43:38,802 --> 00:43:41,042
Mothers and their young
swim close together,
618
00:43:41,082 --> 00:43:43,482
often touching each other
with their flippers
619
00:43:43,522 --> 00:43:45,002
as a sign of affection.
620
00:43:46,482 --> 00:43:49,642
It will take ten years
for these calves to be fully grown,
621
00:43:49,682 --> 00:43:53,202
and they will stay close to
their mothers for much of this time.
622
00:44:02,642 --> 00:44:05,642
(SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC)
623
00:44:07,122 --> 00:44:11,922
It is clear we humans pose less
of a threat to animals underwater
624
00:44:11,962 --> 00:44:13,642
than we do above it.
625
00:44:13,682 --> 00:44:16,042
We swim slowly,
626
00:44:16,082 --> 00:44:19,882
and of course, we can't stay forever
in their ocean realm.
627
00:44:21,362 --> 00:44:23,442
We would appear to be a curiosity,
628
00:44:23,482 --> 00:44:25,802
rather than a threat
to marine animals,
629
00:44:25,842 --> 00:44:28,042
so they often allow us
to get much closer to them
630
00:44:28,082 --> 00:44:29,722
than land animals do...
631
00:44:31,962 --> 00:44:35,802
..and that, in essence,
is what makes marine encounters
632
00:44:35,842 --> 00:44:40,122
some of the most spectacular
wildlife experiences of all.
633
00:44:41,962 --> 00:44:44,962
Captioned by Ai-Media
ai-media.tv
52709
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