Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:07,500 --> 00:00:10,080
For many years, we've travelled the
world,
2
00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,280
making wildlife programmes for the BBC.
3
00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,240
What an amazing animal.
4
00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:18,520
My name's Chris Packham.
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,360
I'm Liz Bonnin.
6
00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:22,760
Now that's a lion termica.
7
00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:25,240
I'm Steve Backshall.
8
00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:26,960
No, not the ear!
9
00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:30,720
And I'm Gordon Buchanan.
10
00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:31,920
Oh, look at that.
11
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,200
We may have spent a lot more time
on home turf lately...
12
00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,880
..but it's given us a chance to
reflect on just how incredible
13
00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,640
some of those wild adventures were.
14
00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,160
And we want to share some of these
memories with you.
15
00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:03,360
Go, go, go, go.
16
00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:04,880
The close encounters...
17
00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,240
..gruelling expeditions...
18
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,800
Oh, I don't believe it!
19
00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:18,400
..the amazing discoveries...
20
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,280
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
21
00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,960
..and career-defining moments.
22
00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:28,320
I've just asked a wild bear
for a kiss.
23
00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,280
We'll also hear from those
behind the cameras
24
00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,320
about just what it takes to capture
the natural world in all its wonder.
25
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,280
Join us, as we look back on our
adventures across the frozen north.
26
00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:59,320
When I'm home in London,
the wildlife's not quite as exotic
27
00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,480
as when I'm on my travels,
28
00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,360
but a bit of quiet time in the local
park keeps me connected to nature.
29
00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,840
I have a favourite tree over there
that I go to all the time,
30
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,560
turn off my phone, just sit and
breathe and watch the jays,
31
00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,800
and watch the finches, and watch the
squirrels and just breathe it in.
32
00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,960
When I'm here, I often think about
the adventures I've had
33
00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,120
and one that stands out from all the
others is my trip to Siberia.
34
00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,920
Ussuriysk Reserve is a couple of
hours north of Vladivostok,
35
00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:39,640
in the Russian Far East -
36
00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:41,920
that's ten time zones away from us.
37
00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,720
It is one of the most beautiful
places I have ever seen.
38
00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,040
It is Narnia...
39
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,120
..and it's one of the lands of
the tiger.
40
00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,800
Personally, I feel like the
Amur, or the Siberian tiger,
41
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,480
is the most beautiful.
42
00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,920
They have really thick fur,
they're bigger,
43
00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:06,400
they're really bright orange,
44
00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,880
they're just the most stunning
animals, and they live
45
00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,520
in this snowy paradise.
46
00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:22,360
Our mission was to help the
scientists at Ussuriysk to locate
47
00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,800
a population of breeding tigers
48
00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,760
because, as much as it's been
protected,
49
00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,880
it's estimated that only 300
to 400 remain.
50
00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,640
I'm a little bit concerned
about the conditions.
51
00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:43,480
It gets to minus 30, minus 40
on, you know, a bad stormy day,
52
00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,240
and these Russians are tough,
53
00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,440
and they know this place
and they're fast.
54
00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,400
Hopefully, I'll...I'll do OK.
55
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,920
The research team is led by
Dr Victor Lukarevsky.
56
00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,480
He's been tracking tigers
here for five years.
57
00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:05,000
All my life is connected
to these big cats.
58
00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,320
Joining the team is American
biologist Dr Dale Miquelle,
59
00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,440
from the Wildlife Conservation
Society.
60
00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:18,200
I've already invested 20 years
of my life trying to understand
61
00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:19,880
and save the Siberian tiger.
62
00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,680
In recent years, the numbers are
declining,
63
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,320
but we've got the combined
resources of Russians,
64
00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,560
and all kinds of scientists here
to make sure
65
00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,160
there's a future for this animal
in the Russian Far East.
66
00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:36,920
We start our search by driving
the reserve's roads -
67
00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,040
tigers like to use them, too.
68
00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,200
It's all about conserving
energy out here.
69
00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,640
This is an easier road to travel
than in three feet of snow
70
00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:46,800
inside the forest.
71
00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,520
We're looking for clues
that tigers have been here.
72
00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:53,640
Have you seen something?
73
00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,000
Oh, my God, there's scratches
all over the tree!
74
00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,200
Yes, of course.
75
00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,920
Hair. Yeah. Look at all that hair.
76
00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,200
Tiger hair everywhere.
77
00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,400
Siberian tigers mark trees to
communicate with their neighbours.
78
00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,640
You can see the mark, right? And it
smells. You can still smell it.
79
00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,960
But then you look up, and inevitably
there's going to be that scratching
80
00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,280
of the tree, letting other
tigers know, "I'm here".
81
00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,120
It's just so thrilling.
82
00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,640
My heart is beating really fast.
83
00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,560
The DNA in these hairs will tell
Victor which tiger was here.
84
00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:41,080
The remote cameras we've brought
can also help identify individuals
85
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,960
and provide important information
about their behaviour.
86
00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,680
For Victor, it's really important
to get the footage.
87
00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:55,120
So we're here to just provide
camera traps
88
00:05:55,120 --> 00:06:00,960
to hopefully get him evidence
of tiger activity here.
89
00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,640
The footage could even help him
assess whether the tigers
90
00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,000
are breeding and therefore
if there's a future
91
00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,120
for the vital Ussuriysk population.
92
00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,120
We are stuck.
93
00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,320
I mean, it's too steep and,
you know,
94
00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,760
we're 15 miles away from the
nearest town.
95
00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,880
We've got no sleeping bags
or anything
96
00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,120
and it's minus 25 degrees.
97
00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,400
I'm starting to understand just how
tough these Russian scientists are.
98
00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,000
If we can't get this out,
we stay here tonight,
99
00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:43,040
that's for sure.
100
00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:45,680
What do we need to do?
101
00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:52,440
Jeez!
102
00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:03,760
I nearly got run over!
103
00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,600
Coming at me in the snow!
104
00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,840
Never mind getting stuck overnight,
getting run over.
105
00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,760
When we finally get back
to the safety of our cabins,
106
00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,240
the work isn't over.
107
00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,360
Facilities here are basic.
108
00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,400
Heating and water come straight
out of the forest.
109
00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,320
The bowls have frozen together.
110
00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,160
That's strong. How do you stay
strong in Russian?
111
00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:56,080
SHE SPEAKS RUSSIAN
112
00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,400
Over several days, we continue
to put out cameras
113
00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,080
and scour the forest for signs.
114
00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,760
Finally, we get together
to see what we've captured.
115
00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,800
OK, guys, are you ready?
116
00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,200
Here we go.
117
00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,160
Just goes to show that the
camera is actually working.
118
00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,720
This man is going to have a
heart attack
119
00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,880
if I don't show him something
interesting.
120
00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,240
A collar. Stop, stop.
SHE GASPS
121
00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,680
Look at it. Oh, my God.
122
00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,160
This footage is incredibly rare
123
00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,120
and it's the first time many of the
Russian researchers
124
00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:56,680
have seen shots like these.
125
00:08:56,680 --> 00:09:00,040
Sorry! Repeat, show him again.
I know, I am, I am.
126
00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,520
Look at that face.
127
00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,400
It's Banzai,
128
00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,160
a male tiger previously collared
by Victor.
129
00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,240
Away from his usual area,
130
00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,040
Victor thinks he could be searching
for a mate.
131
00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,480
Amazingly, a nearby camera has
filmed another male.
132
00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:55,680
Males found so close together
133
00:09:55,680 --> 00:09:59,480
will be competing for territory,
food and females.
134
00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,760
It was more than we could have
hoped for,
135
00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,200
a brilliant sign that there could
well be females in the reserve
136
00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,640
and, in time, cubs.
137
00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,480
And with cubs would come a chance
of a brighter future
138
00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,520
for this magnificent predator.
139
00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,840
Now, people might think
that it's not quite as thrilling
140
00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,880
to see a tiger on a camera trap
compared to seeing it
141
00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,120
with your own eyes
and, can I tell you,
142
00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,160
that couldn't be
further from the truth.
143
00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:32,600
There were whoops of delight.
144
00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,240
We were giddy with excitement
because they're so rare,
145
00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,080
because they're so endangered.
146
00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:42,320
I mean, only three or 400 Amur
tigers remain on the entire planet.
147
00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,760
To get those glorious moments
took days and weeks of tracking,
148
00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:54,080
and endless determination,
in the toughest of conditions.
149
00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,360
But Victor never gave up hope.
150
00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,840
There are so many things
to think about to save the tiger -
151
00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:04,320
hunting,
different organisations arguing,
152
00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,720
management...
Do you ever want to just...
153
00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,680
..pfft, "It's too complicated,
I give up"?
154
00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:13,600
No, no, no, no, no, Liz.
155
00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:18,080
Many times, eh,
I have thinking about this,
156
00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,560
but, eh, for me,
157
00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:22,440
it's not my way.
158
00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,360
I don't know about China,
about India,
159
00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,840
about everybody. In Russia,
160
00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:34,120
I am absolutely convinced
that we can save the tiger.
161
00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,200
We can save the tiger for the...
162
00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,400
..forever. You're sure?
163
00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,440
I am absolutely convinced.
164
00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,920
Victor has such fire in his belly
about this place.
165
00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,400
There's not a moment that goes by
that he's not thinking
166
00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,680
about the tiger, listening
for it, looking for its signs.
167
00:11:54,680 --> 00:11:58,320
I mean, his passion borders
on an obsession, really.
168
00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,840
And he's become a massive
part of my journey here,
169
00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:06,400
because he's taught me what it means
to be brave and determined
170
00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,720
and resilient against such odds.
171
00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,080
And I do think that,
172
00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,360
as long as there are people like
Victor out here,
173
00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,240
then, yeah, there is hope.
174
00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:18,800
There has to be hope.
175
00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:32,200
I think, to this day,
that is my favourite trip.
176
00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:36,760
I always go back to that one
and think, "How lucky was I?"
177
00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,240
To not only spend time
in the company
178
00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,040
of one of the most extraordinary
human beings that I've ever met...
179
00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:51,880
..but, also, to play a small part in
helping these extraordinary animals,
180
00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:53,960
in this majestic landscape.
181
00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,160
And the best bit?
We finally found females.
182
00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,320
Oh, she's absolutely magnificent.
183
00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,960
To see this young female
coming into this area,
184
00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,800
curious, active, with character,
185
00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,000
I mean, she really inspires hope.
186
00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,960
I hope we can save for the future.
187
00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:26,280
But these magical glimpses of
the tigers were not to be my last.
188
00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,920
I had a truly unforgettable meeting
in the flesh
189
00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:31,720
still to come.
190
00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,880
Out of everywhere I've been
over the years, the High Arctic
191
00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,360
is one of the most special places
that I've ever spent time.
192
00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,400
I love those frozen parts
of our planet.
193
00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:00,800
This open, empty,
dramatic landscape
194
00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,040
just at the edge of the world,
the edge of possibility.
195
00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:12,960
HE WHISTLES
196
00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:14,240
Come here.
197
00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,440
So this is the beautiful Stewart.
198
00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,880
He is an eight-year-old mongrel,
199
00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,960
He's a springer cross poodle.
200
00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,800
Technically, he's a spoodle.
And he's kind of nothing like a...
201
00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,600
..like a wolf.
202
00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,280
There's some similarities,
definitely,
203
00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,600
but there's something different
about wolves.
204
00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,560
They're very much sort of...
205
00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,680
..yeah...
206
00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:42,200
..that emblem of the...of the wild.
207
00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,600
You can't really say that
about a dog that follows you around
208
00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,160
and howls once you kind of
leave the house!
209
00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:51,920
WOLVES HOWL
210
00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,240
I've had a lifelong fascination
with wolves.
211
00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,560
I think it goes back to when I first
learned that, at some point
212
00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:07,160
in history, not that long ago,
we had wolves here in Scotland.
213
00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,480
To find wolves that live in blissful
ignorance of the existence
214
00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,360
of human beings, you have to travel
to a very special place
215
00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,040
right in the far north.
216
00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,240
It's called Ellesmere Island -
217
00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,560
it's high up in the Canadian
Arctic...
218
00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,160
..and that's where I had a
remarkable,
219
00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,640
extraordinary few months.
220
00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,280
You know, a beautiful part
of the world, with these
221
00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,880
really extraordinary wolves.
222
00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,640
Today, I want to find out
if the pack have a den.
223
00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:57,000
My plan is to track their movements
for as long as I can stay awake.
224
00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:02,040
But the wolves have other ideas.
225
00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,360
Oh, my word.
226
00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,760
Both the wolves are about
40 metres away from me.
227
00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,400
My heart is racing.
228
00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,800
Wolves might approach
for two reasons -
229
00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,920
to see if I'm a threat,
or to find out if I'm worth eating.
230
00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,960
Oh, Jeez.
They are right in front of me.
231
00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,160
My God!
232
00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:25,800
Oh, my God!
233
00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,680
Heigh-ho! I've just going
to turn this round.
234
00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:43,160
I'll tell you what -
this is quite unnerving.
235
00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:47,440
I'm being circled by wolves
and I'm not sure if I like it.
236
00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,880
She's coming right up
to my little fence.
237
00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:56,880
Oh, my word!
238
00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,560
Look at those eyes.
239
00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:01,960
All the better to see you with.
240
00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:03,560
She is just stunning.
241
00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,760
I definitely feel safer
when they back off a bit.
242
00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,360
My goodness.
243
00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:21,560
I don't think I've seen
such a beautiful animal in my life.
244
00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,600
I never imagined that wolves
would get this close.
245
00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,600
It's a perfect chance to try
and work out who's who.
246
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,040
It really is amazing.
There's so few places in the world
247
00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,800
that you can get this close
to an animal of this size.
248
00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:44,520
It looks like these are two females.
They're both full-size.
249
00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,480
This wolf is much more
mature-looking,
250
00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,000
you can see it in her face.
She's older, definitely.
251
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,120
But look at this. This is...
252
00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,400
This could be major news.
253
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,640
On her belly, towards the back end,
it's bare.
254
00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,120
You can almost see the nipples.
255
00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:05,160
And what that means,
and what that tells me,
256
00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,640
is that this is a breeding female.
257
00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,120
And the great hope is that, before
too long, I'm going to get
258
00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:15,280
a look at these pups.
259
00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,560
This is a huge relief.
260
00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:21,000
Pups mean that this pack
will stay in one place.
261
00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,840
Now, I need to find their den.
262
00:18:30,120 --> 00:18:33,560
It's way too soon for me to
approach with all of them around,
263
00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,240
so I'm going to try
the next best thing.
264
00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,280
CAMERA BEEPS
265
00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:42,600
We have power.
266
00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,560
This has never been used before
with wolves.
267
00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,360
In fact, this has never been used
before with any animal.
268
00:18:49,360 --> 00:18:52,480
It's very much a prototype.
It is a rock crawler.
269
00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,120
It can handle this rugged terrain.
270
00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:59,000
And it's fitted with two little
HD cameras that I'm hoping
271
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,840
to drive up this slope
and get a good look at the den.
272
00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,120
OK, I see a wolf.
273
00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:21,320
I'm a bit concerned
about the interest
274
00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,120
the wolves are showing.
275
00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,520
OK, there's a bit difficult
manoeuvring.
276
00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,120
Let me see if we can nudge it
forward.
277
00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:48,760
Oh, dear.
278
00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,440
It's all part of a learning process
and I've learned that there's
279
00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,840
part of the den up there,
on the right.
280
00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:03,360
It's the bit with the buggy
sticking out of it.
281
00:20:03,360 --> 00:20:07,440
I might still get a view
inside the den.
282
00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:08,840
I've found a hole.
283
00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:15,120
After a lot of manoeuvring, I get
the picture I was hoping for.
284
00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,600
Oh, I can see a pup.
I can see a pup.
285
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,880
Amazingly, looking straight
into the camera.
286
00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,840
These wolves are incredible.
287
00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,360
They have never seen
this kind of thing before
288
00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:32,400
and they don't scurry back
into the den.
289
00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:35,440
Glorious.
290
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,840
Oh, you beauty - two pups!
291
00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,520
Oh, wow, they are just adorable!
292
00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:49,080
Three pups!
293
00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,680
Gee, whizz! I do not believe it!
294
00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,480
Wow. I feel as if I'm right
in there.
295
00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,320
I'm actually a member of the pack.
296
00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:09,440
It's great. I'm loving this.
297
00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,720
As the pack got to know me,
I was gradually able to get closer
298
00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:24,320
and closer to the den...
299
00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,520
..until, one day,
the adults went off hunting.
300
00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,200
It was a chance for me to approach
the pups
301
00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,440
and see wolf development
like never before.
302
00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,360
PUPS SQUEAL
303
00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,800
I cannot believe that I'm this close
to wolf pups...
304
00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,320
..at a den.
305
00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,480
It is beyond my wildest dreams.
306
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,760
It seems like the smallest pup
is the most dominant one.
307
00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:20,080
It's the dominant pup that seems
to be the most adventurous one.
308
00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,560
They're kind of ranked in order.
309
00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,200
There's super-adventurous,
adventurous
310
00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,760
and stay-at-home.
311
00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:35,520
It always seems to be the same
third one that stays back
312
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:40,160
and it's kind of encouraged
by the others to head further out.
313
00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,400
Soon the pups will leave
the warmth and safety of the den.
314
00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,400
Life is going to get a lot harder.
315
00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:58,680
At least while I'm here,
I'll help keep an eye on them.
316
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,320
Right, I'm going to try and do
my best wolf howl
317
00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:16,080
and my best wolf howl
really isn't that good.
318
00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:18,240
You see, something you have
to try and do in your throat
319
00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:20,200
is just try and break the howl,
320
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,640
so it's kind of a quavery bit
like this.
321
00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,080
Stewart, you're going to like this.
Don't go away, OK. Stew, stay.
322
00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,360
HE MIMICS WOLF HOWL
323
00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,240
HE HOWLS AGAIN
324
00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:44,440
Are you worried?
You're feeling sorry for me.
325
00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:49,240
It's kind of like, not like that,
but kind of like that.
326
00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,160
It's easier if you just go...
327
00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:53,680
Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!
328
00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:55,720
That's not the noise
that a wolf makes.
329
00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,520
HE MIMICS WOLF HOWL
330
00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:04,880
WOLVES HOWL
331
00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,320
THEY HOWL TOGETHER
332
00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,240
There's something really iconic
about a wolf howl.
333
00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,840
Almost every time, with the family
that I spent time with,
334
00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,640
it was a kind of rallying cry,
it was a kind of, erm,
335
00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,080
it was a sound of unity.
336
00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,120
It was something that they did
together.
337
00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,760
I think I should just lie back
and enjoy this.
338
00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:41,520
WOLVES HOWL
339
00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,720
I would join in,
but I think I'd spoil it.
340
00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,920
And it was like...
341
00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:55,480
..me telling myself
that they had accepted me
342
00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,120
into the pack.
343
00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,240
Don't be afraid. I'm just going to
loiter about here.
344
00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,120
What a beauty.
345
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,040
The more time that I spent
with wolves,
346
00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:34,680
you realise that we are really
like them
347
00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:38,120
and they are really like us -
when it comes to the bond
348
00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:40,920
and the devotion that they have
to each other.
349
00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:46,840
GORDON LAUGHS
350
00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:52,760
Selfie.
351
00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:55,360
You're towering above me.
352
00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,040
I was there in full view,
353
00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,480
so they kind of got to know me
as I got to know them.
354
00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,160
It was kind of a two-way
relationship...
355
00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,400
..and that was very magical.
356
00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:39,760
The High Arctic can be an
extraordinarily beautiful place.
357
00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:42,920
So simple a landscape. So tranquil.
358
00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,360
But you've got to remember,
359
00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:50,200
it's also potentially a very
hostile environment.
360
00:26:57,720 --> 00:26:59,560
Temperatures way below freezing,
361
00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,440
the constant threat of hypothermia.
362
00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:09,560
And when you're working with ice,
there's always a chance that,
363
00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,760
you know, tonnes and tonnes
of frozen water
364
00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:16,240
can sheer off, causing a wave
that could sink your boat
365
00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,880
or worse, simply fall on your head.
366
00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:23,840
This is a place that you have
to show enormous respect.
367
00:27:34,120 --> 00:27:38,400
Operation Iceberg was all about
getting a greater understanding
368
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:43,440
of ice in the context of climate
change, global warming,
369
00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,760
so we started with a glacier -
Store Glacier - in Greenland,
370
00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:48,680
one of the largest in the world.
371
00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:53,600
Very active in summer.
372
00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:58,240
And when we were close to
the glacier,
373
00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,280
there were pieces of it falling off
unpredictably,
374
00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,160
often very close to us.
375
00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:08,640
So...it was a challenging six weeks
376
00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,800
in terms of actually just staying
alive sometimes,
377
00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,320
but I was in good hands.
378
00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:17,240
I was working with some of the
world's leading ice experts
379
00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:19,880
and I always listen to expertise.
380
00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:35,520
All my life, I've been fascinated
by the natural world,
381
00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,000
understanding how it works.
382
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:42,200
I remember, as a kid, opening my
childhood encyclopaedias
383
00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,000
and looking in there and seeing
glaciers.
384
00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,680
This is Store Glacier.
385
00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,320
It's magnificent.
386
00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,760
If you can suffer landscape culture
shock,
387
00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:58,320
then I'm in it.
388
00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:13,480
One of the things I'll never forget
on that expedition
389
00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:16,160
happened when I was on the
research yacht Gambo
390
00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:19,000
with scientist Alun Hubbard.
391
00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,600
We were trying to map the underwater
part of the glacier
392
00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,520
so we could understand how icebergs
are formed.
393
00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,720
I mean, it's difficult to get a
sense of scale from here.
394
00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:34,160
How high? 100 metres?
395
00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:35,680
Yeah, just under.
396
00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,880
To take measurements, we had to sail
really close to the ice front.
397
00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:43,560
ICE CRACKS
398
00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,440
But that was the riskiest place
to be.
399
00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:49,280
If the glacier split and crumbled,
400
00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,120
we'd have been in the firing line.
401
00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:53,480
It's a little bit...
Just a little bit.
402
00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:56,720
Yeah, 150 metres now.
403
00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,640
I would like to keep to 200.
404
00:29:58,640 --> 00:29:59,960
Yeah, OK.
405
00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:04,200
How are we for bergs, Johannes?
406
00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:06,080
We have to go a bit starboard,
I think.
407
00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:15,560
And, sure enough, the glacier soon
reminded us who was boss.
408
00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:22,440
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
409
00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,120
CRASHING DROWNS OUT SPEECH
410
00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,160
What happened?
We have a calving event
411
00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:02,760
and what it triggered off was a
large lump
412
00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:06,560
from under the water that shot up
really high
413
00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:08,560
out of the water.
414
00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:12,120
That is quite a minor calving event,
I hate to say, Chris.
415
00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:19,400
You know you're doing something
pretty exciting
416
00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,240
when tonnes of crumbling ice
hurtling towards you
417
00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,280
is classed as "a minor event" -
418
00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,040
but even so, if we'd have been a
little further back,
419
00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:31,360
we would have been completely
wiped out.
420
00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:38,680
When I'm travelling on these sorts
of trips,
421
00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:42,960
I sometimes keep personal
video diaries.
422
00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:44,480
It's quite cathartic.
423
00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,400
You can go back to your room or tent
or wherever you are
424
00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,880
and just let it all out, you know?
425
00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,480
Have a little scream room,
do a little bit of screaming.
426
00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:54,480
Very often, I never watch them
again.
427
00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,600
But when I do, they are quite
revealing.
428
00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:02,240
Mosquitoes - everywhere.
429
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:06,320
Yeah.
430
00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:12,400
People always associate mosquitoes
with the tropical regions
431
00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,800
of our planet, but I've got
to tell you - no.
432
00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:17,240
Arctic Greenland.
433
00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:20,920
They were so thick that you could
literally bite them
434
00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,000
out of the air, had you wished to -
435
00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,840
you could have feasted
on mosquitoes.
436
00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:30,240
We ended up just giving blood to
mosquitoes for six weeks.
437
00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:31,920
Six weeks.
438
00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:39,240
Three of which were spent camping
alongside the glacier.
439
00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:44,520
It's day one and we've just arrived
at the camp,
440
00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:48,160
which is the most splendid location
you could ever imagine.
441
00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,200
The views are astonishing, actually.
442
00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:53,840
I only foresee one problem
443
00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:56,480
and that's trying to stay sane
in the confines
444
00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,080
of this incredibly small space,
445
00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,040
but, apart from that,
it promises great things.
446
00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:08,640
Now, don't get me wrong,
it was a remarkable opportunity
447
00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,480
to go to a unique place.
448
00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:15,000
It was undoubtedly a privilege.
449
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,800
But, boy, was it painful,
that camping.
450
00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:22,400
I hate the tent.
451
00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,480
I mean, I really hate the tent.
452
00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,520
I never say hate unless I mean hate.
I mean, I hate the tent.
453
00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:30,200
There's just no space at all.
454
00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,640
The ground's really uncomfortable.
455
00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:34,720
I promise to stop going on about
the tent
456
00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,840
and the misery the tent is
imparting.
457
00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:39,960
I just hope I sleep better tonight.
I couldn't...
458
00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:41,760
It was quarter to three last night,
459
00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:43,800
I was still awake.
I couldn't go to sleep.
460
00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,880
In a very dangerous and inhospitable
part of the world,
461
00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,720
the extreme paradox was that the
most inhospitable place
462
00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,360
was my tent.
463
00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,800
Erm, it's half past ten.
464
00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,440
I have no idea what day it is.
465
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:05,720
I just managed to summon the energy
to actually get up,
466
00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,600
although I woke up, I was woken up
a long time ago,
467
00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:10,600
by everyone shouting in the camp.
468
00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,400
Everything I own smells. I smell.
469
00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,520
I'm just so fed up with camping.
470
00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:20,200
So when eventually, you know,
the camping part
471
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,440
of the expedition finished and we
went to a small town in Greenland
472
00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,480
and I checked into a very
modest hotel,
473
00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:31,360
it was the very definition of bliss.
474
00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:32,760
Look at this.
475
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:38,280
Clean, white,
476
00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:41,080
fresh, bright,
477
00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:43,680
dry, dust-free.
478
00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:46,360
Comfortable.
479
00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:48,000
Oh, I can't tell you.
480
00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,840
It's the antithesis of camping.
481
00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,640
CHRIS SIGHS
482
00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:04,120
But all that hardship was forgotten
when we clapped eyes on the goliath
483
00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:06,480
that was the Petermann iceberg.
484
00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:15,440
Sadly, today, it's completely
melted,
485
00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:19,880
but, at that time, it was the
largest single floating object
486
00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:21,280
in Arctic seas.
487
00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,240
It might have been one of the most
remote places in the world,
488
00:35:26,240 --> 00:35:28,400
but we weren't the only visitors.
489
00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:34,800
This is all my Christmases
come at once.
490
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:38,160
A polar bear. Now, I really, really,
really hoped to see one,
491
00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,520
but I never thought that we would.
492
00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:42,440
Look, it's about 20 metres off now.
493
00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:47,440
How exciting, though, honestly.
494
00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:54,400
And it wasn't alone.
495
00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:05,800
A polar bear on our iceberg.
496
00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:07,160
Hold on, though. Hold on.
497
00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:09,640
Can we have the binoculars? Can we
have the binoculars?, please?
498
00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:11,040
Oh, I don't believe it.
499
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:12,720
I really don't.
500
00:36:12,720 --> 00:36:16,320
There's actually another bear
over here, on the ice.
501
00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:17,600
You can see it...
502
00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,440
..through my binoculars, there.
It's a little speck.
503
00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:25,920
So, in the space of just half
an hour,
504
00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:28,000
we've seen three polar bears.
505
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:29,760
It's beartastic.
506
00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:31,400
It's bear city.
507
00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,320
Seeing polar bears on top of the
iceberg was pretty special,
508
00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:41,560
I've got to say,
509
00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:45,600
but I was desperate to know what was
living underneath it, too.
510
00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:48,920
Luckily, I had a bit of help in the
shape of wildlife cameraman
511
00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:51,040
extraordinaire Doug Allan.
512
00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:54,320
He ventured down into that
lost world beneath the waves
513
00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:56,360
to find me a few specimens.
514
00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:10,360
This place is stunning.
515
00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:13,680
Just the whole surface...
516
00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:16,280
..it looks like a golf ball.
517
00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:20,080
The colours of blue and of white.
518
00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:23,600
It's absolutely beautiful.
519
00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:35,640
A stacked sample for Chris.
520
00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:38,320
This should keep him happy.
521
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,040
OK, let's go up.
522
00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:51,960
Moment of truth.
523
00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:55,280
Whatever's in here, it's unlikely
that I've ever seen it before
524
00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:59,720
and meeting a new animal is always
very, very exciting.
525
00:37:59,720 --> 00:38:02,400
Filled it to the top.
It's a little bit messy.
526
00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:05,240
Some of these things are very,
very fragile,
527
00:38:05,240 --> 00:38:07,320
so I'm going to do my best
to pour it in.
528
00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:08,920
Oh, my goodness!
529
00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:12,160
But look at these!
530
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:13,760
Look at them!
531
00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:20,080
Absolutely fantastic.
532
00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:22,720
Guys, come and look at this.
533
00:38:22,720 --> 00:38:24,320
You might be able to see it more
clearly here
534
00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:26,200
than you were through your masks.
535
00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:27,800
Aren't they beautiful?
536
00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,000
Who needs science fiction when
you've got this?
537
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,160
Absolutely. I agree.
538
00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:36,720
The common name for these things is
sea gooseberries.
539
00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:38,720
Look at the cilia going.
Can you see it?
540
00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:42,840
It's covered in tiny beating cells,
541
00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:45,240
rippling there, with the light
going through them.
542
00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,960
Frankly, it's nothing compared
to this other thing down here.
543
00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:56,720
The common name for these
is sea angels.
544
00:38:56,720 --> 00:38:59,720
This is very closely related
to the slug and the snail
545
00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:02,320
that you'll find in your back
garden.
546
00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:04,120
They're very bonny animals.
547
00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:05,560
They're very handsome.
548
00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:08,800
I've got to tell you,
this is the highlight
549
00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:10,640
of my entire trip so far.
550
00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:15,840
I've seen two animals, the likes of
which I've never seen before.
551
00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:17,560
They are extraordinary,
552
00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:20,800
they're beautiful and obviously
very important
553
00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:22,400
in the ecosystem around the ice.
554
00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:29,160
Look at that!
555
00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:33,320
I mean, most people expect you to go
for the big, glamorous,
556
00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:35,640
celebrity animals, you know?
557
00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:38,040
For the pinnacle of your encounter,
things like polar bear.
558
00:39:38,040 --> 00:39:41,640
But for me, it's not.
It's the little surprising things,
559
00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:42,960
like this.
560
00:39:42,960 --> 00:39:45,800
I mean, that might as well come from
another planet.
561
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:47,640
Look at it. It's like an alien!
562
00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:52,400
What a remarkable opportunity, to be
able to go to the environment,
563
00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:56,920
see and study one of these for just
a short period of time.
564
00:39:56,920 --> 00:39:58,760
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
565
00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:13,440
I'd already seen evidence of a
breeding population
566
00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:16,440
of Siberian tigers in the Russian
Far East...
567
00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,560
..but there was an even more
breathtaking encounter ahead.
568
00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:26,800
Whenever you film wildlife,
569
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:29,480
you have to be prepared to throw the
script out the window
570
00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:33,080
and just go with what develops
on location,
571
00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:37,360
but nobody could ever have imagined
what played out
572
00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:39,280
when we were in Ussuriysk.
573
00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:47,400
We got news that a tiger cub,
only four months old,
574
00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:49,720
had been found
575
00:40:49,720 --> 00:40:52,200
and it sent us off into a complete
spin
576
00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:55,480
because we did have an idea of what
our story was going to be.
577
00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:58,680
We had plans. We had members of
the team deployed
578
00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,440
to different parts of the area
we were filming in.
579
00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:04,680
And suddenly we had to just regroup,
rethink and head out there
580
00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:08,440
and incorporate that into our story.
581
00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:21,480
It literally was playing out
in real time -
582
00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:25,480
the very real threat that tigers are
under when it comes to poaching.
583
00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:34,720
It's a bit sketchy,
the news we're getting,
584
00:41:34,720 --> 00:41:40,400
but it sounds like it's a cub that
killed a dog in a village
585
00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:42,040
and it got caught.
586
00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:44,880
But, needless to say, we've turned
the car around
587
00:41:44,880 --> 00:41:49,360
and we're going to head right there
to check out what the situation is.
588
00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:54,160
We've been told the cub was spotted
without its mother.
589
00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:57,680
It's been brought to a wildlife
rehabilitation centre nearby
590
00:41:57,680 --> 00:41:59,840
and Dale is already on the scene.
591
00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:09,440
So we've got a young, about
four-month-old, cub
592
00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:11,440
in this cage right here.
She's four months old?!
593
00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:13,040
About four months old.
I'll show you.
594
00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:15,480
You can take a look at her. OK.
595
00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:16,880
Seriously? Step on that.
596
00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:18,520
Yeah, it's OK.
My heart is beating so fast,
597
00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:21,040
not of nerves, just excitement.
598
00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:22,600
Sorry, guys. I'm being...
599
00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:25,000
If you look, she should be looking
right at you.
600
00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:27,280
Get your eyes accustomed to that.
601
00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:29,920
DOOR RATTLES
Oh!
602
00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:31,560
Oh, my God, there she is.
603
00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:41,480
Oh, my gosh.
604
00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:44,760
Yeah, she's a cutie.
605
00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:47,560
She's absolutely beautiful
606
00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:51,120
and she's just lying there,
dazed and confused.
607
00:42:56,520 --> 00:42:59,760
This is my first glimpse
of a Siberian tiger.
608
00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:06,240
It's a shame it has to be
in these circumstances.
609
00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:12,160
Dale thinks its mother
has been killed.
610
00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:17,480
So, no sign of the mother?
No sign of the mother.
611
00:43:17,480 --> 00:43:20,440
And from your experience, that's it?
It's poaching, yeah?
612
00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:21,680
Yeah.
613
00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:24,560
If the mother was around...
INDISTINCT DIALOGUE
614
00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:27,080
Just not old enough to really
make it out in the forest.
615
00:43:30,040 --> 00:43:33,080
The Russians have named
this cub Boussinka.
616
00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:41,160
She needs to be moved into the
warmer enclosure quickly -
617
00:43:41,160 --> 00:43:42,960
easier said than done.
618
00:43:45,480 --> 00:43:48,040
CUB GROWLS
619
00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:56,720
Boussinka will be looked after until
she's ready
620
00:43:56,720 --> 00:43:58,880
to be returned to the wild.
621
00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:01,520
She'll be here for a year, at least.
622
00:44:05,600 --> 00:44:11,480
It's a long, uncertain road ahead,
but, for now, she's safe.
623
00:44:20,680 --> 00:44:22,960
Boussinka wasn't alone.
624
00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:25,480
Her mother had three cubs.
625
00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:29,960
Dale's been sent footage filmed
by a ranger
626
00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:33,040
showing the cubs soon after they
were discovered.
627
00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:35,000
It's just amazing footage.
Take a look at this.
628
00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:36,440
Look at them. Three of them.
629
00:44:36,440 --> 00:44:38,760
Three cubs along the road, here.
630
00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:40,360
The snow's coming down.
631
00:44:40,360 --> 00:44:42,120
I mean, it's just spectacular
footage.
632
00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:43,360
It's really something.
633
00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:46,080
I've never seen anything like this,
you know?
634
00:44:46,080 --> 00:44:50,880
In Russia, to be able to see this
is just incredible.
635
00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:53,320
So what does it look like? Two...
It's hard to tell.
636
00:44:53,320 --> 00:44:55,520
Size-wise? I looks like one's a
little bit smaller.
637
00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:57,440
Yeah, so probably two males and a...
638
00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:01,240
So three four-month-old cubs just
sitting there
639
00:45:01,240 --> 00:45:04,480
for all to see, in the middle of
that track, in the snow?
640
00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:06,520
And that's the first they caught
sight of them, then?
641
00:45:06,520 --> 00:45:08,440
This is the first time anyone's...
642
00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:11,600
Well, there's been a few sightings,
but nothing like that.
643
00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:16,120
These cubs represent almost 1%
of the entire
644
00:45:16,120 --> 00:45:18,800
wild Siberian tiger population.
645
00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:23,520
This really brings home just how
vulnerable this cat is.
646
00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:26,920
Is their behaviour slightly unusual,
based on the fact they're so young?
647
00:45:26,920 --> 00:45:28,480
It is. It is unusual.
648
00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:31,280
Usually, that tiger would be gone.
Yeah, they'd bolt, wouldn't they?
649
00:45:31,280 --> 00:45:33,960
They just don't hang around.
But they're young, inexperienced.
650
00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:35,760
They don't know they're supposed to
be afraid,
651
00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:37,400
so they just all sat down together.
652
00:45:37,400 --> 00:45:39,640
Look at this, there's two huddled
together there.
653
00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:42,200
Oh, my gosh. And that one's looking
really curiously.
654
00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:43,880
That is mind-blowing.
655
00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:51,600
One cub is safe,
656
00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:55,240
but two are still out there
without their mother.
657
00:46:02,560 --> 00:46:08,200
I think there's nothing more special
than achieving a good result
658
00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:10,320
when you are out there making
a programme,
659
00:46:10,320 --> 00:46:13,120
but you know that you're helping the
scientists
660
00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:15,080
and conservationists out there, too.
661
00:46:15,080 --> 00:46:19,000
And when all three cubs had been
rescued
662
00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:21,960
and safely placed in the rehab
centre,
663
00:46:21,960 --> 00:46:24,400
it felt amazing.
664
00:46:25,960 --> 00:46:29,480
And that's why I love writing
stuff down,
665
00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:34,040
and for Operation Snow Tiger
it's a double notebook
666
00:46:34,040 --> 00:46:37,440
of the two trips because I want
to remember those moments.
667
00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:41,160
So, part of my scribbles -
668
00:46:41,160 --> 00:46:44,440
"Last male cub capture done.
669
00:46:44,440 --> 00:46:45,840
"The team is here with us
670
00:46:45,840 --> 00:46:48,920
"and there's a great celebration
with the fact
671
00:46:48,920 --> 00:46:51,120
"that we've got all three
at the rehab centre.
672
00:46:54,080 --> 00:46:56,600
"We all toast with little glasses
of vodka
673
00:46:56,600 --> 00:47:00,360
"and I have such a rush of emotion.
674
00:47:00,360 --> 00:47:03,400
"And I am sitting here, a tiny part
of this immense moment,
675
00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:05,360
"and it's overwhelming."
676
00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:12,240
I like entries like this because
I forget exactly how I felt
677
00:47:12,240 --> 00:47:15,560
in those moments, and that brings
it ALL back to me.
678
00:47:18,360 --> 00:47:21,160
Since our visit, two of those
orphaned tigers
679
00:47:21,160 --> 00:47:23,560
have been released back into
the wild,
680
00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:27,280
and one of them has even fathered
cubs of his own -
681
00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:31,000
a crucial boost to the Siberian
tiger population.
682
00:47:41,320 --> 00:47:45,640
The fjords of northern Norway in the
depths of an Arctic winter
683
00:47:45,640 --> 00:47:48,840
are one of the most brutal,
unremitting
684
00:47:48,840 --> 00:47:51,520
and spectacular places that you
could ever be.
685
00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:58,800
During the two or three hours
of daylight that you get each day,
686
00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:03,320
the mountains are coloured
pink and light blue.
687
00:48:03,320 --> 00:48:07,080
And then, the rest of the time,
it's completely dark,
688
00:48:07,080 --> 00:48:10,400
unless you have the spectacle
of the Northern Lights.
689
00:48:12,360 --> 00:48:13,800
Wow!
690
00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:19,480
The whole sky just looks like
it's on fire.
691
00:48:39,800 --> 00:48:42,520
I've been working in the field of
expeditions and natural history
692
00:48:42,520 --> 00:48:43,880
for a long time now.
693
00:48:43,880 --> 00:48:47,120
I did my first solo expedition
in 1990,
694
00:48:47,120 --> 00:48:50,400
but in all that time there is one
major wildlife encounter
695
00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:53,800
that's eluded me and that's to get
underwater with orca,
696
00:48:53,800 --> 00:48:55,120
or killer whale.
697
00:48:57,760 --> 00:49:02,320
It is, to my mind, the ultimate
deadly predator.
698
00:49:02,320 --> 00:49:04,400
In the early winter,
699
00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:08,120
they can be found feeding in the
fjords of Norway.
700
00:49:08,120 --> 00:49:12,320
So this mission was very much
my baby,
701
00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:18,400
and it took 12 years before my
producers agreed and said,
702
00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:20,080
"Yes, OK, let's go for it."
703
00:49:20,080 --> 00:49:23,040
And then there's just this
incredible responsibility
704
00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:25,480
of - what happens if we don't see
anything?!
705
00:49:39,120 --> 00:49:42,160
To help us find orca in Norway,
706
00:49:42,160 --> 00:49:43,840
we followed the fishing boats.
707
00:49:47,040 --> 00:49:49,640
Herring fishing is big business
in these fjords.
708
00:49:53,600 --> 00:49:56,640
At night, vast shoals of herring
come up from the deep
709
00:49:56,640 --> 00:49:59,480
and hang out close to the surface -
710
00:49:59,480 --> 00:50:03,040
that's when the fishing boats
drop their nets.
711
00:50:03,040 --> 00:50:06,720
The clever orca have learned how to
use this to their advantage.
712
00:50:09,480 --> 00:50:11,400
So we knew that, if we could find
fishing boats
713
00:50:11,400 --> 00:50:12,840
with their nets still out,
714
00:50:12,840 --> 00:50:14,880
we might just find the orca.
715
00:50:18,320 --> 00:50:20,560
OK, we've got three fishing
boats ahead of us
716
00:50:20,560 --> 00:50:22,960
and lots and lots of gulls.
717
00:50:22,960 --> 00:50:26,880
And everything seems to be perfect,
718
00:50:26,880 --> 00:50:29,440
so we're trying to kit up as quickly
as we can in the hope
719
00:50:29,440 --> 00:50:31,320
that we get a chance to get
in the water.
720
00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:38,480
These fishermen still have their
nets out,
721
00:50:38,480 --> 00:50:41,040
actively fishing for herring.
722
00:50:41,040 --> 00:50:43,720
This could be the lucky shot we've
been hoping for.
723
00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:48,360
With no time to lose,
we get in the water.
724
00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:52,040
Have you guys seem them?
Where did they go?
725
00:50:57,360 --> 00:51:02,800
Then, out of the blue, appears that
familiar black and white shape.
726
00:51:17,440 --> 00:51:21,200
As he cruises past,
I feel completely dwarfed.
727
00:51:34,080 --> 00:51:37,440
It's hard to connect this serene,
tranquil sight
728
00:51:37,440 --> 00:51:41,120
with a predator that can overpower
a seal or a whale.
729
00:51:48,120 --> 00:51:49,560
Holy Moley!
730
00:51:49,560 --> 00:51:51,120
Wow!
731
00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:58,880
Finally, the nets are coming in and
we need to return to the boat.
732
00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:06,800
What a sight!
733
00:52:08,600 --> 00:52:12,080
There is nothing that compares
to seeing
734
00:52:12,080 --> 00:52:16,520
a big, mature male orca like that
just cruise past you.
735
00:52:16,520 --> 00:52:19,600
That was a dazzling experience.
736
00:52:19,600 --> 00:52:22,000
Utterly, utterly beautiful.
737
00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:25,120
And now I am going to have a
nice cup of hot chocolate.
738
00:52:29,720 --> 00:52:31,560
It sounds obvious, but the number
one challenge
739
00:52:31,560 --> 00:52:33,040
is always going to be the cold -
740
00:52:33,040 --> 00:52:36,440
the water is pretty much
zero degrees
741
00:52:36,440 --> 00:52:39,080
and you can't stay in for very long.
742
00:52:39,080 --> 00:52:43,960
We wear, when we're freediving,
a 7.5-mil wet suit,
743
00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:46,400
which, you know, never keeps
you warm.
744
00:52:46,400 --> 00:52:48,920
It stops you from going hypothermic.
745
00:52:48,920 --> 00:52:50,880
But then, the second you get out of
the water,
746
00:52:50,880 --> 00:52:53,960
your feet go into a bucket of
hot water
747
00:52:53,960 --> 00:52:55,800
and you're necking as much
hot chocolate
748
00:52:55,800 --> 00:52:57,160
as you can get down your throat.
749
00:52:57,160 --> 00:53:00,400
It really is brutal.
750
00:53:00,400 --> 00:53:02,040
What you got there?
751
00:53:02,040 --> 00:53:03,480
Nothing.
752
00:53:03,480 --> 00:53:05,120
Where's mine?
753
00:53:06,920 --> 00:53:08,960
Oh! What scenery!
754
00:53:08,960 --> 00:53:10,520
It's a little cup of joy.
755
00:53:11,800 --> 00:53:13,440
Freezing!
756
00:53:13,440 --> 00:53:14,840
It's quite a nice cold, though.
757
00:53:14,840 --> 00:53:16,680
It's kind of like a cosy cold,
758
00:53:16,680 --> 00:53:19,800
like, one that makes you know
you're alive.
759
00:53:19,800 --> 00:53:21,120
Don't you think? Weirdo.
760
00:53:25,200 --> 00:53:27,840
By the end of any one day,
761
00:53:27,840 --> 00:53:31,560
you feel like you have been frozen
to an ice block,
762
00:53:31,560 --> 00:53:33,120
rewarmed, frozen again.
763
00:53:33,120 --> 00:53:35,720
Your face is chapped,
all your skin's falling off,
764
00:53:35,720 --> 00:53:38,400
you're chafing from all the
saltwater in your wet suit.
765
00:53:38,400 --> 00:53:40,920
And it feels like utter misery...
766
00:53:40,920 --> 00:53:42,440
..until the encounter happens,
767
00:53:42,440 --> 00:53:44,680
and then you forget all of that
768
00:53:44,680 --> 00:53:47,120
and it's just pure wonder.
769
00:53:52,800 --> 00:53:54,640
We have another night left
770
00:53:54,640 --> 00:53:59,120
and one more chance to see orca
intelligence in action.
771
00:54:01,560 --> 00:54:04,000
We find a fishing boat with its
net out,
772
00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:05,880
so it's time to get ready.
773
00:54:05,880 --> 00:54:08,880
This is one of those moments where
you've got to be completely focused.
774
00:54:08,880 --> 00:54:11,720
You've got to be so concentrated
on what you're about to do,
775
00:54:11,720 --> 00:54:15,360
you know? We're about to drop in
alongside one of the world's
776
00:54:15,360 --> 00:54:18,040
finest predatory animals at night
777
00:54:18,040 --> 00:54:20,160
alongside a boat that's pulling
in its nets.
778
00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:23,920
There's potentially a lot of things
that are dangerous about this.
779
00:54:23,920 --> 00:54:28,520
But if we go in calm and confident
then it should be fine.
780
00:54:28,520 --> 00:54:30,600
And our timing is perfect.
781
00:54:31,800 --> 00:54:35,880
We'll be in the water waiting
when they pull in their nets.
782
00:54:35,880 --> 00:54:38,680
We just have to hope the orca
turn up, too.
783
00:54:41,320 --> 00:54:43,600
OK. This could be it.
784
00:54:52,360 --> 00:54:56,000
Beneath the water, the herring net
is bursting at the seams.
785
00:55:00,640 --> 00:55:02,760
This is an absolutely dazzling
sight!
786
00:55:04,320 --> 00:55:09,000
Millions of herring, all pressed
against the net.
787
00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:14,320
And the shimmering scales coming
off like snowflakes.
788
00:55:14,320 --> 00:55:17,920
The net is so full some of the
herring are spilling out...
789
00:55:19,640 --> 00:55:22,680
..and this is exactly what the orca
are after...
790
00:55:24,360 --> 00:55:26,880
..but there's no sign of them yet.
791
00:55:38,400 --> 00:55:40,080
Oh, my goodness!
792
00:55:41,080 --> 00:55:42,520
Look at that!
793
00:55:45,360 --> 00:55:47,600
Just plucking fish from the
water...
794
00:55:49,000 --> 00:55:50,840
..with its lips!
795
00:55:50,840 --> 00:55:52,680
Surprisingly delicate...
796
00:55:53,840 --> 00:55:55,320
..for such a large animal.
797
00:55:57,560 --> 00:56:00,200
Oh, this awe-inspiring!
798
00:56:06,880 --> 00:56:10,720
They're using their acute eyesight
to pinpoint their prey,
799
00:56:10,720 --> 00:56:12,840
taking fish one by one.
800
00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:18,440
And they're joined by giants.
801
00:56:28,200 --> 00:56:30,040
Look at the size of it!
802
00:56:32,360 --> 00:56:34,440
Absolutely dwarfed!
803
00:56:37,960 --> 00:56:40,000
Oh!
804
00:56:40,000 --> 00:56:42,200
There are orca and humpbacks
everywhere!
805
00:56:43,520 --> 00:56:45,920
This is absolutely extraordinary!
806
00:56:47,720 --> 00:56:52,840
The reason the orca are here is all
down to their deadly skills.
807
00:56:52,840 --> 00:56:56,680
So they've learnt through their
big brains
808
00:56:56,680 --> 00:56:59,720
that their best chance of
a free feed
809
00:56:59,720 --> 00:57:02,480
is the fish spilling out from
these nets.
810
00:57:09,280 --> 00:57:11,280
So, so beautiful!
811
00:57:11,280 --> 00:57:13,520
I've never felt so small.
812
00:57:17,000 --> 00:57:22,080
The moments being underwater at
night, in total pitch darkness,
813
00:57:22,080 --> 00:57:25,520
your torches cutting through the
black like lightsabres
814
00:57:25,520 --> 00:57:30,400
and illuminating the shapes of more
orca than I could even count.
815
00:57:30,400 --> 00:57:33,840
Plus, giant humpback tails
swooping past you.
816
00:57:33,840 --> 00:57:37,200
It was utterly extraordinary
817
00:57:37,200 --> 00:57:40,400
and just a few minutes of...
818
00:57:41,320 --> 00:57:43,800
..kind of footage and experience
819
00:57:43,800 --> 00:57:46,840
that I almost wouldn't believe
was possible.
820
00:57:48,480 --> 00:57:51,760
It was the greatest wildlife
encounter of my life.
821
00:58:06,920 --> 00:58:10,400
That is an incredible scene.
822
00:58:10,400 --> 00:58:13,040
We'll be looking back at our
wild adventures
823
00:58:13,040 --> 00:58:15,880
across Earth's largest continent -
Asia.
824
00:58:17,720 --> 00:58:21,440
I think you might want to back up
a little bit, there, Gray.
825
00:58:21,440 --> 00:58:24,240
You caught a fish,
I caught the leech.
826
00:58:24,240 --> 00:58:26,840
My leech is nearly as big as
your fish.
65614
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.