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[Danielle] The Arctic and
Subarctic. It doesn't get much
colder than this.
4
00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:17,880
To say it's a challenge to
live this far north is a massive
understatement.
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00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:21,000
Few animals have what
it takes to survive here.
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00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,000
The region's ecosystems are
defined by their snow, ice, and
tundras.
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00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,120
The earth here is frozen,
and
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00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,120
food is scarce,
especially during
the frigid winters.
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00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:36,080
For most mammals
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00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,360
, living in such extreme
conditions is simply
impossible.
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00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:40,400
But those that
do live here,
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00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:45,560
live dangerously.
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00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:46,360
[soft squeaking]
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00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:47,760
[sniffing]
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00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,880
They
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00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,520
're at constant
risk of starvation, hypothermia,
and being eaten by predators.
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00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,080
It's a non-s
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00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,120
top struggle.
Amazingly, a handf
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00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:05,560
ul of species have managed to
makea life in this inhospitable
environment,
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00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,800
and it's all thanks
to millions of years
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00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,560
of evolution.
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00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:14,680
They had to adapt or die,
and those who have survived
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00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,880
did so in some
of the most amazing ways
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00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:20,920
in the natural world.
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00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,640
♪
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00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,400
I'm Danielle Dufault, a
wildlife expert at
Animalogic,
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00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,040
and a scientific
illustrator.
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00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,880
Oop, I got you!
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00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,880
He's so heavy! [laughs]
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00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,680
I just got knocked
over by a baby wombat.
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00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,120
Growing up in northern
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00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,720
Quebec, I've always been
fascinated by the animals
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00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:47,360
that are able
to thrive in harsh winters.
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00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:52,840
To understand the science
behind how these animals
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00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,480
cope with the cold, I'm
travelling around the world
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00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,440
to see them up close.
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00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,960
So, what is it that gi
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00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,640
ves these special species
a shot at survival?
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00:02:08,640 --> 00:02:12,440
Take the Arctic fox. It has
all of usual features of
cold-weather land mammals:
compact limbs,
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00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,840
a thick fur coat, and
very little exposed skin.
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00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:19,040
But what really
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00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,600
sets them apart is that
internal chemistry.
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00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:22,720
They have
the biological equivalent
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00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,160
of antifreeze blood.
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00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:28,840
Today, we're
in Churchill, Manitoba,
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00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,440
home of the polar bear,
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00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,000
looking for its unlikely
occasional companion,
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00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,800
the Arctic fox.
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00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,920
This frigid landscape,
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00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:40,760
on the west side of Canada's
Hudson Bay,
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00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:41,880
has an average
winter temperature of -25°C
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00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,080
with some days getting as cold
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00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:48,320
as -45 degrees.
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00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,400
It is no home
for the weak.
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00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,920
Without proper gear, a person
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00:02:56,920 --> 00:02:59,400
could develop hypothermia in
as little as five minutes.
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00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,000
Welcome to the set
of Animalogic.
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00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,440
[sprightly music]
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00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,720
Today, we are
blessed by the presence
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00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:16,080
of this beautiful Arctic fox.
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00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,560
These canids
are relatively small,
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00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,000
at about 60 cm in length,
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00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,880
and weighing
just over three kg.
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00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,560
They're just s
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00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:33,120
lightly
larger than a chihuahua.
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00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:33,600
And yet, they can survive in
the expanse of the arctic.
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00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:38,360
♪
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00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:40,840
So, how do they survive
in one of the coldest
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00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,120
and most
unforgiving climates on Earth?
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00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,280
Well, through a multi-pronged
survival strategy.
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00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,880
The first,
an
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00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:51,280
d most crucial part,
is being really, really, really
good at withstanding the cold.
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00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:00,520
Even at extreme temperatures,
Arctic foxes can keep
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00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,160
warm due to their
multilayered pelage.
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00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,320
About 70% of it
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00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,400
is a fine underfur
that acts
similar to down on birds.
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00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,880
Even the pads on their
toes are covered in fur,
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00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,040
a feature that gives them
a rabbit-like appearance.
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00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,640
Their scientific name, vulpes
lagopus, means hare-footed
fox,
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00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:23,200
as this furry pad adaptation
is unique among canids.
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00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:31,560
Fur alone doesn't keep
you warm, and usually heat
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00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,720
gets lost through the
skinniest parts of your
body.
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00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:35,280
To avoid this, Arctic foxes
have short snouts, ears,
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00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,280
legs, and tails.
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00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:43,640
You can see that her ears
are actually v
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00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,240
ery short
and round, and that's
one of the key adaptations
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00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,280
that helps
her hold on to her heat.
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00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:51,520
Long ears are a little
too good at radiating heat
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00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,680
outwards, so if
they're shorter and rounder,
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00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:56,640
they help her hold on to
that heat closer to her body.
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00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:02,520
Her le
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00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,920
gs are also a lot shorter than
other species of foxes, which
again, helps retain the heat
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00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,600
close to her body.
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00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:12,520
During cold snaps, they
basically roll themselves
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00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,360
into a ball
to minimize heat loss.
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00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,760
But the Arctic fox's coo
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00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,200
lest cold-fighting adaptation
is something called
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00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:23,960
countercurrent
blood circulation.
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00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:25,960
This is basically
a mechanism that keeps
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00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,040
the fox's paws at a lower
temperature than its core.
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00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,200
Blood entering the paws
is u
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00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,440
sed to heat up the blood
that's leaving,
which prevents the fox's core
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00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,040
from being
cooled down by losing
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00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:39,000
heat out of its
extremities.
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00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:44,120
But just like Thanos,
extreme cold in the arctic
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00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:48,440
is... inevitable.
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00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:49,080
But Arctic foxes can
withstand it like nobody
else.
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00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:55,240
Their metabolic ra
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00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,240
te doesn't go up until it's -50,
and they don't even start
shivering
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00:05:58,240 --> 00:05:59,800
until it's -70°C,
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00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:03,000
which is as cold
as it gets in the Arctic.
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00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,760
Only the barren plateaus of
Antarctica get colder than
this.
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00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,760
By s
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00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,400
lowing down their metabolic
rate in the cold,their food will
digest slower and their
bodies
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00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,360
will store
sugars and fats longer.
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00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,400
But it's no guarantee
they won't starve.
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00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:23,920
Food is scarce
in a harsh Arctic winter.
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00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:28,240
All of this sounds l
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00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:32,040
ike problems that other animals
would solve by being bigger,
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00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,480
but being large
is energetically expensive,
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00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,520
and for most of the year,
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00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:38,400
there isn't much
to eat around here.
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00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:43,760
During the summer, when their
fur turns brown to help
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00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,640
them blend in with
their environment,
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00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,360
the pressure is on
to eat as much as possible.
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00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,760
On an average day, an Arctic
fox wi
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00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,400
ll patrol the beach
during low tide
to hunt for fish
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00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:56,600
and invertebrates
caught in tide pools.
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00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,720
[squawking]
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00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,840
Waterfowl provide ample
feeding opportunities.
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00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:06,160
Nesting birds and their eggs
are taken with such gusto
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00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,000
that a single Arctic fox
can consume over 1,000 eggs
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00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,880
in a single season.
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00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,920
Voles and lemmings
are also heavily consumed
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00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:21,520
when available, but these
species go through
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00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,760
boom and bust periods, and
are usually only readily
137
00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,520
available every
three to four years.
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00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,320
But when they're abundant,
they make up to 70%
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00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,600
of the fox's diet.
140
00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,600
Arctic fox's ears
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00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,760
are adapted to hear the
frequencyof their prey's chirps
and steps under the snow,
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00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,880
and then, they strike,
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00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:43,160
diving headfirst into the
snow to ambush their prey.
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00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,560
Foxes are universally known
as being smart and resourceful.
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00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:55,240
Arctic foxes are no exception.
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00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,480
They figured out that
by living in the Subarctic,
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00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,480
they can refrigerate
their food by simply burying it
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00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,080
in the snow!
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00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,120
Saving foo
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00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,920
d for the lean months can
be a literal lifesaver.
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00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:08,520
Some of the
caches are huge
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00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,960
and in some
cases they can
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00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,120
hold over a 100 birds, most
commonly petrels and
auklets.
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00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,960
By the end of fall,
they
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00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,160
will have increased
their weight by up to 50%,
but that doesn't mean they
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00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,280
can just wait
it out until spring.
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00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,800
Even when they have food
stashes, finding food is a
year-round challenge.
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00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,160
But everything is much
harder in the winter.
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00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,720
In the northern part
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00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:36,240
of their range, the sun sets
in late November and doesn't
rise again until January.
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00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:42,600
During those
long, dark days,
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00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,480
temperatures
dip into the -40s.
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00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:49,160
If they ca
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00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:50,160
n't find anything to eat,
they won't see the sun rise
again and they will die in the
dark.
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00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:55,880
One of their survival
strategies is to follow
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00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:59,000
this ecosystem's apex predator,
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00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:00,480
and hope to eat
its leftovers.
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00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,200
Polar bears are seal
specialists,
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00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,160
and once they catch one,
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00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:09,520
they make sure
to eat all the fat,
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00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,960
which is premium
bear fuel.
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00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,160
Muscles and other
soft tissues are sometimes
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00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:15,120
left behind, and that's
when Arctic foxes come in.
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00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,960
It's sort of a free meal,
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00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,720
but it means travelling
vast distances.
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00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,680
They've been seen
as far as 800 km away
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00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:30,200
from the nearest
landmass,
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00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,360
and about 150 km
from the North Pole.
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00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,480
And beyond that, it means
being exposed to lots
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00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,280
of predators such as
wolves, wolverines, eagles,
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00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,600
owls, and even
domestic dogs.
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00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,560
[barking]
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00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:47,560
Unfortunately, three out
of four Arctic foxes
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00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:49,920
don't make it past their first
winter, and in adults,
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00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:51,600
the mortality rate is still
very high at about 33%.
186
00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:58,240
Thos
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00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:00,000
e who do survive the winter go
back to theirhome ranges for the
most beautiful time of the year:
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00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,920
mating season!
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00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,800
Foxes are monogamous
an
190
00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,880
d live in labyrinthine dens
and tunnels, which can
be up to 1,000 square metres.
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00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,880
Dens are reused every year,
and some have been
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00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,320
reported to be
over 100 years old.
193
00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,120
The largest ones
have dozens of chambers
194
00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,720
and close to
100 entrances.
195
00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:26,120
These furry real estate m
196
00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,000
oguls are usually monogamous,
but sometimes live
with extended family groups.
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00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,520
This is most
common in the southern part
198
00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:33,640
of their range, where
food is more abundant.
199
00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:37,560
Becaus
200
00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:39,440
e of their high mortality rate,
these cuties produce a fox-ton
of babies.
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00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:44,040
The record
for bigg
202
00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:45,080
est litter is 22, which is
one of the largest of all
mammals.
203
00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,520
♪
204
00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,280
Parents feed them until
summer, but after that,
205
00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,000
they're forced to go out
and become independent.
206
00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,760
Females sometimes stay nearby,
207
00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,680
but males have to go far
away, sometimes up to 200 km
away
208
00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:04,440
from their native range.
209
00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,440
Males defend their territory
aggressively and mark it with
bodily fluids on conspicuous
places,
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00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,320
such as mounds
of polar bear poo,
211
00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:15,960
an unorthodox
but effective pedestal.
212
00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:21,400
Another of their
unique features
213
00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,320
is their colour-changing fur,
which is chocolate
214
00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,920
in the summer
and vanilla in the late fall.
215
00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,640
The colour changes
216
00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,920
help them camouflage better,
be it on the brown tundra,
or on the white ice.
217
00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:36,240
But unfortunately,
218
00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,800
all of these adaptations made
their fur too desirable.
219
00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:40,320
As recently as the late '70s,
over 40,000 Arctic foxes
220
00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,920
were being taken
every year.
221
00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:52,520
This, combined with climate
change, and diseases,such as
rabies, have led to dwindling
numbers.
222
00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:57,120
As the permafrost melts,
223
00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:01,320
red foxes, which are twice as
big as their northern cousins,
are also moving
224
00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,280
northward and taking over
the Arctic fox's domain.
225
00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:08,400
Bu
226
00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,920
t thankfully, their range is
enormous, and because they
reproduce so quickly,
227
00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,960
there are still enough foxes
228
00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:14,680
to consider them
a species of least concern.
229
00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:21,000
The Arctic fox's
layered pelage is vital
230
00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,440
to its survival
in the cold.
231
00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,400
But what about
animals who weren't blessed
232
00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,400
with a luxurious
fur coat?
233
00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,560
How can they kee
234
00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:35,240
p warm and fashionable? In a
stunning case of convergent
evolution,
235
00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,560
these birds have evolved
most of the adaptations
236
00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:41,200
that keep mammals safe,
237
00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:41,800
and with some
stylish boots to match.
238
00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,160
[squawking]
239
00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,840
[Danielle] Driving around
the frigid tundra,
240
00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:52,920
you're bound to find
cold weather specialists:
241
00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:57,320
Arctic hares
242
00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:58,160
with their thick coats
and almost
perfectly spherical shape.
243
00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:04,000
Marmots working on their dens,
where they wait
out the winter.
244
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,880
Majestic snowy owls qu
245
00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:06,440
ietly searching for
their next meal.
246
00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:11,960
But the weirdest
247
00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,440
of them all is a little
birdwith the oddest legs in the
Arctic.
248
00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,240
These strange
249
00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:18,360
birds are a staple of
the Canadian Subarctic.
250
00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,400
When
251
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,600
we're out
filming wildlife,I love scoping
out local birds.
252
00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,160
And being here,
I couldn't miss seeing
253
00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:27,040
the infamous mammal-legged
bird, the ptarmigan.
254
00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,240
Ptarmigans belong to the same
family as chickens, though
they're more closely related to
grouse.
255
00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,160
There are only
three types of ptarmigans:
256
00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,520
the white-tailed
ptarmigan,
257
00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:44,360
found only in the western
part of North America,
258
00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,360
and the widespread
willow and rock ptarmigan,
259
00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,560
which live
in the northern parts
260
00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:50,600
of Eurasia and
North America.
261
00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,720
Bu
262
00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,920
t we're in the home of the
transformers of the bird world,
the willow and rock ptarmigans.
263
00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:01,720
This a
264
00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,520
rea, with freezing cold
temperatures that reach
-40°C,
265
00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,280
snow that could be
several feet deep,
266
00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,040
enough to cover
them several times over,
267
00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,560
and thriving
with Arctic foxes,
268
00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:14,320
is a dangerous
place to live.
269
00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,200
Ptarmigans have
to adapt to give themselves
270
00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,040
a chance at survival.
271
00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,680
Below their cuddly
snow
272
00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:23,680
-ball-like appearance
hides a crafty
animal with a ferocious roar.
273
00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:29,320
[burp-like squawking]
274
00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:33,760
Yeah, maybe it's not
as ferocious as we thought.
275
00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:38,960
[incessant squawking]
276
00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:48,120
These ptarmigans are making
all kinds of noises.
277
00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:52,280
[deep chittering]
278
00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:53,200
[chuckles] Oh! There's one
that sounds like Wario.
279
00:14:55,200 --> 00:15:00,160
Hilarious calls aside,
these litt
280
00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:04,200
le guys prepare
for winter in truly
dramatic ways.
281
00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,400
The most obvious is their
change
282
00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:10,720
of colouration.
These ptarmiga
283
00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:14,160
ns behind me are just about done
transitioning from their summer
plumage,
284
00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:15,680
which is a rusty brown,
to their stark white,
285
00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,560
beautiful feathers.
286
00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:21,080
And you can see some of them
are still a little bit spotty.
287
00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:25,520
Their feather co
288
00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:29,480
louration, like the Arctic fox's
fur, is an adaptation for
camouflage.
289
00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,080
In the summer, their
colour helps them blend
290
00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,280
in with the dirt
and the vegetation
291
00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,560
of their northern
habitat.
292
00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:37,720
While in the winter, they
turn the colour of snow
293
00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,320
to hide from predators.
294
00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,920
Sometimes, temperature
295
00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,360
s drop enough to trigger their
transformation before the snow
falls.
296
00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,960
This makes them
danger
297
00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:50,600
ously conspicuous,
but it also makes it easier
for us to see their most
298
00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,960
amazing biological feature,
299
00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,160
the mammalification
of their feet.
300
00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,440
And yes,
I just made that word up.
301
00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,240
But you'll see
what I mean.
302
00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,760
In the win
303
00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,920
ter, their feet grow a thick
layer of feathers that act as a
fur coat.
304
00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,040
Their claws grow to increase
the surface area
305
00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,760
of their
feet and give them,
essentially,
306
00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:13,920
furry winter boots.
307
00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,480
[chirping]
308
00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:20,600
[whimsical classical music]
309
00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,080
Their claws will also be
essential for digging
burrows
310
00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:32,440
to shelter during the harshest
months of the year.
311
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:38,960
The willow ptarmigan's
scientific name
312
00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:39,760
is Lagopus lagopus, which
means hair-footed, twice.
313
00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:46,680
This is an
314
00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:47,160
apt comparison, as many of
their body parts have adapted to
look the same.
315
00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:51,200
Because th
316
00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,520
is is a hare's foot,
317
00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:55,400
and this is a willow
ptarmigan foot.
318
00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:01,880
Looks very similar.It's almost
like everything out here is
trying
319
00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:02,840
to be a hare, or at least,
a white, fuzzy orb.
320
00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:08,000
Now,
321
00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,880
they might be the hare-footed
bird, but they also kind of look
like hares.
322
00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:11,440
From a distance, they share
a very similar silhouette.
323
00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:17,840
And they're not alone.
Animals across Arctic
climates tend to have
324
00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:21,200
a very
similar winter body.
325
00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,840
A lot of the animals out here
have evolv
326
00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:27,200
ed along Allen's law, which is
the idea that you reduce your
surface
327
00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,120
area to volume ratio in
order to retain more heat.
328
00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:33,920
These ptarmi
329
00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,120
gan are no exception.
They've got a shorter beak,
shorter legs and even
330
00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:38,640
a shorter tail to get closer
to that perfect orb form.
331
00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:43,560
This adaptation is seen mostly
332
00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,600
in the willow ptarmigan's
northernmost populations.
333
00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,240
In more temperate places
like the British
334
00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:51,560
isles,
they keep their summer
outfits throughout the year.
335
00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:58,720
Arctic and Subarctic
populationsare the buxom
beauties of the family.
336
00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,440
Of course, keeping warm
is j
337
00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,240
ust a part of surviving
in the Arctic.
338
00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:06,440
Finding food
is another major problem.
339
00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:11,000
Luckily for these snowbi
340
00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:12,680
rds, they have adaptedto
survive on extremely
calorie-deficient food.
341
00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,560
Twigs make up
342
00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:18,440
the majority of their diet
until the thaw.
343
00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,320
This is also
344
00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,120
when chicks are born.
345
00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:25,640
Ptarmigan chicks will eat
insects and young greens,
346
00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,120
but as they grow up, they
become completely herbivorous.
347
00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:32,360
Only the best for baby.
348
00:18:32,360 --> 00:18:34,880
A steady source of protein
keeps ch
349
00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:38,880
icks happy and gives
them a fighting chance
in a ruthless environment.
350
00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,320
By the following winter,
they will come back here
351
00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:42,760
and congregate in groups
of up to 2,000 birds.
352
00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,120
This protects from
predators such as foxes
353
00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:53,000
and birds of prey.
354
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:53,840
Here,
safety is in numbers.
355
00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,080
So, you're an animal
who's adapted to the cold.
356
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,440
Congratulations! You might
not freeze to death.
357
00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:04,720
But even if you survive, life
probably isn't much fun.
358
00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:11,000
The snow
359
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:12,320
, the ice, the wind. Until
spring comes, you've got no
choice bu
360
00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:13,480
t to soldier on.
361
00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:18,320
Unless you adapt
362
00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,400
to external sources of heat.
These are relatively
ra
363
00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,000
re in the wild,
but for animals
that learn to utilize them,
364
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:25,840
like Japanese macaques have,
they're life savers.
365
00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:35,240
[Danielle] Across
the Pacific,
366
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,320
in the snowy mountains
of Japan,
367
00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,000
one primate species has
found a novel way to keep
368
00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,720
warm during the coldest
days of the year.
369
00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,880
Japanese macaques are amon
370
00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,760
g the most mythologized animals
in their native Japan.
371
00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,400
In my ma
372
00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,600
ny years as a wildlife expert,
I've been fascinated by how
animals developed culture,
373
00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:58,000
and this has to be one
of my favourite examples.
374
00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,400
These monkeys are found
on three of the four main
375
00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:03,720
Japanese islands: Honshu,
Shikoku, and Kyushu.
376
00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:14,440
They live in a variety
of different habitats,
377
00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,840
from evergreen
and deciduous forests,
378
00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,960
to sub-tropical lowlands,
379
00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:20,480
to subalpine regions
up to 1,500 metres high.
380
00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,720
The monkeys are more comfortable
in warm weather... But they've
managed to adapt well to the
freezing cold
381
00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,160
and snowy winters
of the Japanese Alps.
382
00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:36,520
Temperatures here can
383
00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,160
get to -15, which, for most
primates, would lead to death in
just a few minutes.
384
00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,160
Most primate
species don't survive
385
00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,920
at anything under 5°C.
386
00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,120
In fact, other
than humans,
387
00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:52,200
they're the only primates
that are able to survive that
far north,
388
00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,200
and in temperatures
this low.
389
00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,200
Which is why they're also
390
00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,840
known as the snow monkey.
391
00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:04,160
[percussive music]
Japanese macaques
are medium-sized monkeys,
392
00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:05,280
with the males slightly
larger than the females.
393
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,040
Macaques that live
in colder climates tend
394
00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:12,600
to be heavier
than the southern ones.
395
00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,320
The added we
396
00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:19,480
ight helps
them deal with the cold.
397
00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,360
The macaques that live in
colder climates have to deal
398
00:21:22,360 --> 00:21:24,880
with temperatures
that go down
399
00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:26,240
to -15°C.
400
00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:31,600
Sure, they've got their
extra-thick winter coats,
401
00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,560
and they man
402
00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:36,280
age to survive the nights by
huddling together in trees.
403
00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,800
But there's
gotta be another way
404
00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:43,760
to escape the
freezing cold.
405
00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:45,400
♪
406
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,520
How abou
407
00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:56,480
t
a dip in a hot spring?
408
00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:57,920
The story goes that in the
1960s, a young snow monkey
409
00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:02,000
living in the Nagano Mountains
took an accidental bath
410
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,480
in a local hostel's hot spring
heated by a nearby
volcano.
411
00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:09,440
♪
412
00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,200
The other monkeys gradually
started doing the same
thing,
413
00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,480
possibly inspired by
watching the humans do it.
414
00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,480
Soon, the humans
got a little annoyed
415
00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:21,480
that the macaques were
interrupting their spa day.
416
00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,200
After all, sharing
ba
417
00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,800
thwater with monkeys
isn't the most
hygienic practice.
418
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,760
So, the locals very
419
00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,360
kindly built the macaques
their own private hot
springs.
420
00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,040
Decades later,
421
00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:38,760
macaque troops bathe
in their personal pools
422
00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:40,560
every single day.
423
00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:44,600
[quirky music]
424
00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,680
They warm up,
425
00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:54,840
groom,
426
00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,120
socialize,
427
00:22:58,400 --> 00:22:59,720
bond, and relax.
428
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,400
This modern
adaptation has also become
429
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,400
a major tourist
attraction.
430
00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:12,400
The monkeys
431
00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,440
don't seem to mind the curious
humans. They're more concerned
about soaking
432
00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,400
away the stresses of their day.
433
00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,160
These hot springs ar
434
00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:25,400
e a relatively new
adaptation,but these mo
435
00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,800
nkeys have been adapting to
the coldfor thousands of
years.
436
00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,120
The most important of these
adapta
437
00:23:31,120 --> 00:23:34,200
tions are their long,
lush, grey-brown coats,
which grow extra-thick
438
00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,440
in the winter
for insulation.
439
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:41,240
Their faces are naked and
a pinkish red, with long
440
00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,040
beards, giving them
a human-like appearance.
441
00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,520
Their red rump
442
00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,280
matches their
face. And they'r
443
00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,760
e more than just a shiny
cushion. The size and colour of
the rump are thought to show
444
00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,160
important information of
the monkey's reproductive
445
00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:58,160
and social status,
and of their health.
446
00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,800
The females spend a lot of
time raising the young
monkeys
447
00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,520
and grooming,
which includes getting rid
448
00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,680
of tangles and combing
out parasites.
449
00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,840
Babies learn to groom
their mo
450
00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:19,560
ms at a young age.
It's an important social
skill that will help them
451
00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:20,720
fit in with the group and
keep the troupe healthy.
452
00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,680
Well-groomed
453
00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:26,240
monkeys have fewer parasitesand
are better insulated against the
cold.
454
00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:35,520
Snow monkey troops
are always on the move.
455
00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:37,160
They're semi-terrestrial
and in large swaths
456
00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:38,520
of their range, females spend
most of the time in trees.
457
00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:45,680
Up here in northern Japan,
climbing is less
458
00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:46,880
of a necessity and more
of a fun way to get around.
459
00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,720
And they're really, really
good at jumping around.
460
00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:59,200
Parkour!
461
00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,200
They're omnivores,
and their favourite foods
462
00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,960
are smaller animals
and plants, mainly fruits,
463
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,440
berries, seeds,
flowers, and young leaves.
464
00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:15,240
In the winter, with
465
00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:16,800
the little plant food to be
found, they focus their
attention on insects, crabs, and
eggs.
466
00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,080
Their opposable thumbs help
them skillfully rummage through
thick winter snow to find
food.
467
00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:32,640
If a winter snowfall
is particularly heavy,
468
00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,680
the monkeys rely
on eating bark and buds.
469
00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:39,040
And if the pickings
are really
470
00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,080
slim, they'll try
scavenging fungi.
471
00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:45,280
Ma
472
00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:46,840
caques are equipped with large
cheek pouches that can store
food while they forage.
473
00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,080
Before they eat, the monkeys
like to wash their food, which
is something only a few species
do,
474
00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,680
like us, and raccoons.
475
00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,000
Japanese macaques can
476
00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,400
have a number of partners
during mating season,
477
00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:06,320
which lasts four
or four months
478
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:07,720
between September
and April.
479
00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,440
Sometimes monkey
480
00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,880
s fight over who gets to mate
with who.The winner of the fight
usually comes down
481
00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:16,880
to which macaque
can scream the loudest.
482
00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:18,440
[high-pitched screaming]
483
00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,360
But sometimes,
a shouting match
484
00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:29,480
doesn't deescalate
conflict.
485
00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,200
And when things
486
00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,120
get physical,
their weapons of choice
are their huge fangs.
487
00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:35,600
Wielded by the right monkey,
they can be lethal weapons.
488
00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,080
This most commonly happens
during the mating season, when
competition is high and tempers
flare.
489
00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,840
[screaming]
490
00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,040
But after the fighting
comes the loving,
491
00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,280
and six months later,
492
00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:58,400
in the spring or summer,
a single baby is born.
493
00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:03,040
The babies are very
494
00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:04,840
dependent on their mothers,
and will cling to her
for the first two years
495
00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,920
of their lives,
496
00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:09,320
literally riding around on
her back, hanging on to her
497
00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:13,360
fur for dear life
while she navigates
498
00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:13,720
the treacherous, mountainous
terrain that they call home.
499
00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,360
♪
500
00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:28,480
As they grow, the monkeys
will learn to socialize
501
00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,800
and to deal with freezing
temperatures by mingling
502
00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:32,600
in the hot springs and
play-fighting in the snow.
503
00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:39,960
They sound like a handful.
504
00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:40,440
No wonder the mom
has to unwind at the spa!
505
00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:44,560
♪
506
00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:48,040
Once they're weaned,
the male monkeys will leave
507
00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,000
their troops, and spend
the rest of their lives
508
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,120
travelling between troupes
and hoping to one day
509
00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:55,160
become a dominant male.
510
00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,320
♪
511
00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:04,080
Animals that live in the
coldest corners of the Earth
512
00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,400
are at the mercy of a harsh,
hostile environment.
513
00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,280
Many try to wa
514
00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:12,720
it it out and hibernate.Others
migrate to look for greener
pastures.
515
00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:19,720
But then there's
the wolverine,
516
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:21,640
pure lust for life
in animal form.
517
00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,440
These fearless
and ferocious
518
00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:25,640
furballs grab winter
by the snowballs.
519
00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:29,560
They have adapted
520
00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:31,880
to a life of high risk
and high rewards,
calorically speaking.
521
00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:35,120
They run around searching
for
522
00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:38,800
prey or carrion at a time
when most other
animals are in dens,
523
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,840
waiting for warmer days
to return.
524
00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:42,880
The wolverine doesn't
have time for that.
525
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,640
It's an adaptation
that
526
00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,800
keeps them alive
in the dead of winter.
527
00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:49,520
There's a good reason
528
00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:50,160
they've been
nicknamed the Devil Beast!
529
00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:53,800
♪
530
00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:59,360
[Danielle] Back in North
Amer
531
00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,360
ica, we go to the Yukon
to search for the north's
most tireless hunter.
532
00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:06,040
A predator whose
strange and counter
533
00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,440
intuitive "all gas,
no brakes" approach to
life in the cold has turned
534
00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:12,120
it into a surprisingly
successful species.
535
00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,360
Their feeding strategy
536
00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,280
wouldn't work
for most animals,
537
00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:18,920
but this hellion has
evolved tools to find prey,
538
00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:21,040
hunt, and also locate carrion.
539
00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:26,760
Today,
I'm in Kluane National Park,
540
00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:28,040
surrounded by beautiful snowy
mountains and icy lakes.
541
00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:35,600
Right now,
I'm following some footprints
542
00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:37,080
and I can only assume that
those belong to a wolverine.
543
00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:41,400
The footprints o
544
00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,080
f a wolverine don't look
anythinglike a coyote or a wolf.
545
00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,960
They look a little
546
00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:49,280
bit more like a bear
print,@obviously a little bit
smaller.
547
00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,880
Yeah, you can see how
548
00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:56,520
there's two-- two trails here.
Now, I bet you anything that
if this was a coyote
549
00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,360
and a wolverine,
the wolverine was probably
550
00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,960
the one chasing
the coyote.
551
00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:03,120
I'd put my money on that.
552
00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:10,440
At first glance,
553
00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,240
you might mistake the
wolverine for a small bear.
554
00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,880
But really, they're more
closely related to weasels.
555
00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:18,320
They belong
to the Mustelidae family,
556
00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,200
alongside fellow cutthroat
cuties like badgers,
557
00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,360
otters, pine martens
and ermines.
558
00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,640
Much like
ever
559
00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,400
yone's favorite X-man,
wolverines
are native to Canada,
560
00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,440
but they can also be found
across boreal forests
561
00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:34,720
and tundras
of the US and Eurasia.
562
00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:38,720
Which means they n
563
00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:40,960
eed to survive freezing cold,
high latitude temperatures.
564
00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:46,560
And after millions of years
of evolution, they're not just
surviving, they're thriving!
565
00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:53,080
Just look at those coats.
566
00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:54,720
Their thick,
oily fur is hydrophobic,
567
00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:58,160
meaning it repels water.
568
00:30:58,160 --> 00:30:59,440
That's right,
the Wolverine is waterproof!
569
00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:03,360
Talk about a real superpower!
570
00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:05,120
Without this ability,
the snow or the blood
571
00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:09,080
of their prey
would wet their skin
572
00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:11,680
and accelerate heat loss.
573
00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:12,560
In the Arctic,
moisture can be deadly.
574
00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:17,200
Their paws are large
575
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,120
and furry and act as snow shoes
to prevent them from
sinking too far into the snow.
576
00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:22,880
These murder-mittens
are equipped
577
00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:25,280
with semi-retractable claws
578
00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:27,440
that they use
for climbing, digging,
579
00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:28,000
scaring away predators
and the occasional villain.
580
00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:34,240
Wolverines can hit speeds
of almost 50 kms
581
00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:37,680
per hour
running across the snow.
582
00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:39,920
If they ran
that fast on a city road,
583
00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:41,040
they'd likely
get a ticket.
584
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:45,400
They're also
great climbers,
585
00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,120
and super strong
for their size.
586
00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:50,800
At over a metre long and
587
00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:54,760
about as heavy as a German
shepherd, the females are about
30% smaller
588
00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,440
than the males,
but equally as chaotic!
589
00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,000
These stocky mustelids weigh
between 11 and 18 kgs.
590
00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:07,400
Their fur is brown
or black with a yellow
591
00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:08,720
or gold stripe from
their head to their tail.
592
00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:13,680
The ma
593
00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:16,280
rkings on their faces, necks,
and chests are unique to each
wolverine.
594
00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,160
Kinda like hyper
aggressive snowflakes.
595
00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:22,800
And they are aggressive.
596
00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:23,360
Like, really, really,
capital 'A' Aggressive.
597
00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:32,280
Wolverines are always on the
prowl, only taking breaks for
naps and mating.
598
00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:35,160
The only thing these
demon-ferrets li
599
00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:36,360
ke more
than eating its prey
is killing it.
600
00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:45,160
The wolverine's ferocity is so
legendary that people living out
on the land told me
601
00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:46,640
that they'd rather run into
a polar bear than a wolverine.
602
00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:51,160
The wolverine actually
603
00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:51,920
has an average bite force
compared to its body size,
but its teeth are razor
sharp.
604
00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:58,400
Like other mustelids,
605
00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,680
their last upper molar is turned
90 degrees inwards, which gives
their bites
606
00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,760
even more power for holding
onto prey, crunching bones
607
00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,560
and tearing frozen
flesh off of carcasses.
608
00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,240
Combine the wolverine's bite,
thick hide, and sharp claws with
a large dash of brazen
confidence,
609
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:18,960
and you've got
one deadly predator.
610
00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:25,680
The wolverine is so
tenacious that it can take
611
00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,160
down animals up to five
times their own size.
612
00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:32,480
The wolverine kills its prey
613
00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:34,200
with a bite to the neck,
which severs its tendons
and crushes its throat.
614
00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:40,800
Their scientific name is Gulo
gulo, which is Latin
615
00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,360
for glutton,
and they live up to that.
616
00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:46,320
They'll eat anything that
they can get their paws on.
617
00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,320
From berries and plants,
to mice and rabbits,
618
00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:52,080
to elk and moose,
even carrion is on the menu.
619
00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:57,160
Ah, de
620
00:33:57,160 --> 00:34:01,000
licious carrion. All the yummy
meat withoutthe pesky time and
energy spent hunting.
621
00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:04,160
Clever wolverines have
been
622
00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:07,480
known to drive away much
larger animals
such as wolves and cougars
623
00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:11,440
and take over eating
the carcass of their prey!
624
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,080
Sorry, but the wolverine
isn't here to make friends.
625
00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:18,440
Wolverines will defend
their meals by any means
626
00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:21,360
necessary, and whatever they
can't finish in one sitting
627
00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:23,960
is claimed by spraying
it with a strong, stinky musk
628
00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:28,480
and burying it for later. Yum!
629
00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,520
They find food using their
incredible sense of smell.
630
00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,200
Wolverines have the ability
to sniff out car
631
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:39,080
casses buried under
20 feet of snow.
632
00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:41,400
With so much of their prey
being killed in avalanches
633
00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,280
every year, the wolverine's
heightened sense
634
00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:46,400
of smell is key
to their survival.
635
00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:49,840
While many speci
636
00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,680
es in their range get through
the winter by hibernating,
637
00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:53,360
wolverines just
don't care about the cold.
638
00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:58,240
While
639
00:34:58,240 --> 00:34:59,640
everyone else is sleeping,
the wolverine gets to
hunting.
640
00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:03,200
This is the other benef
641
00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:05,880
it of being able to smell
through the snow--
they can easily find animals
642
00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:08,320
hibernating under the snow,
and make sure they never
643
00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:11,960
wake up again.
644
00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:13,720
Don't work hard,
work smart.
645
00:35:13,720 --> 00:35:17,720
It really doesn't matter
if you're de
646
00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:18,320
ad or alive-- everything
looks like a gourmet meal to a
wolverine.
647
00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:24,480
But even
648
00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:26,040
the kings and queens of chaos
aren't impervious to predators.
649
00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:30,480
They have
to watch out for wolves.
650
00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:34,920
Wolverines can tak
651
00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:38,560
e on one, two, even three
wolves,but if they're ganged up
on by a pack,
652
00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,120
they can get
themselves killed.
653
00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,800
On the plus side,
wolves kill other animals,
654
00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:45,840
thereby creating yummy
carrion for the wolverine.
655
00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:49,640
They have a complicated
656
00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:52,480
relationship, to
say the least.
657
00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:54,240
Wolverines are super solitary
and extremely
658
00:35:54,240 --> 00:35:58,760
territorial.
They're always on
a solo quest for food,
659
00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:00,600
and only ever stop munching
to mate and raise kids.
660
00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:04,800
Researchers aren't sur
661
00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,920
e how many wolverines
there are in the world.
662
00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:09,320
They're so
elusive and mysterious!
663
00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:12,240
But their numbers
took a big hit
664
00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:12,760
back when humans used
to hunt them for their fur.
665
00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:22,080
They're also threatened by
global warming. Wolverines need
deep mountain snows to den,
666
00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:25,240
and scientists
believe their habitats
667
00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:25,920
will shrink as
temperatures rise.
668
00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:34,160
Their intense,
never-stop lifestyle
669
00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:37,760
is high risk,
high reward.
670
00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:39,400
Other animals survive the cold
by doing the exact
opposite:
671
00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:43,080
expending as little energy
as humanly--
672
00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:46,400
or,
ungulately possible.
673
00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:48,800
Like the Siberian musk deer,
a reserved little animal
674
00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:51,320
with an irresistible scent
desired all over the world.
675
00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:00,360
[Danielle]
We now head to Siberia,
676
00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:02,760
one of the most
frigid areas
677
00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:04,080
in the world, to meet
an animal who has evolved
678
00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:06,760
to survive
the winter by eating
679
00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:07,400
what most would
consider inedible.
680
00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:12,000
The Siberian musk deer is one
681
00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:13,880
@of several species of musk deer
682
00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:15,640
in the Moschidae family.
683
00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:18,760
They can
684
00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:21,880
be found in the mountains and
grasslands of Northeast
Asia,
685
00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:23,480
but they're most commonly
found in the snowy mountain
686
00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:24,640
forests of Siberia.
Hence their name.
687
00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:30,640
Their fangs
are more like daggers,
688
00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:32,040
which they use to protect
their territories.
689
00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:35,600
In this land
690
00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:37,680
of frigid scarcity,
controlling
a productive plot of land
691
00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:39,440
is the difference
between life and death
692
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:40,280
in Siberia's
dead cold of winter.
693
00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:45,720
Despite being
called deer,
694
00:37:45,720 --> 00:37:47,600
they actually have
more in common with animals
695
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:49,680
in the Bovidae family
than the "true deer"
696
00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:52,320
in the family Cervidae.
697
00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:55,200
They are in their own family,
698
00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:58,920
and are more closely
related to antelopes,
cows, sheep, and goats
699
00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:00,640
than they are to reindeer,
elk, red deer, and mooses.
700
00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:06,200
Moose? Meese? Moose.
701
00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:14,680
For one thing, male Siberian
musk deer don't have antlers
like their cervid friends.
702
00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:16,960
Instead, they have a pair of
tusks, which look like
fangs.
703
00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:21,640
They can reach
about 10 cm long
704
00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:23,440
and they never stop
growing their whole lives.
705
00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:25,840
Older males tend
to have the largest tusks.
706
00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:30,240
Cervids ha
707
00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:33,400
ve preorbital glands near their
eyes,which they use to mark
their scent,
708
00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:35,040
communicate
with other animals,
709
00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:37,800
and spray pheromones.
710
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:38,880
But the musk deer's scent
glands aren't on their
faces.
711
00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:41,560
They're all
the way round back.
712
00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:45,880
Yep! Rig
713
00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:49,640
ht there! In a little golf
ball-sized sack right in front
of their genitals.
714
00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:51,920
This musk gland is what
makes them musk deer.
715
00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:53,640
The males spray their musk
to mark their territory
716
00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:56,880
and attract females
for mating.
717
00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:58,560
And their odour
is so, so strong.
718
00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:04,000
Musk dee
719
00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:06,080
r are ruminants, meaning they
consumerelatively calorie-poor
food that gets fermented
720
00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:10,040
in their digestive tract
721
00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:10,800
to extract
all the available nutrients.
722
00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:15,560
Despite their
scary-looking fangs,
723
00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:17,400
Siberian musk deer
are herbivores.
724
00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,360
But in the frozen
hills of
725
00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:23,640
Siberia,
which can get
to -70°C,
726
00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:26,280
colder than the average
temperature of Mars,
727
00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:29,320
their isn't much
to eat in the winter.
728
00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:31,000
Their menu is limited to pine
needles, leaves, bark,
maple,
729
00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:34,160
honeysuckle, shoots,
but mostly lichen.
730
00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:41,000
They forage for
it at night,
731
00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:42,840
sometimes travelling
kilometres
732
00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:44,600
at a time
on well-worn tracks
733
00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:45,640
they create and use
over and over again.
734
00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:53,920
In the cold winters, when
food is scarce,the Siberian musk
deer is able to survive
735
00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:56,520
on lichens that grow
on evergreen trees.
736
00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:59,160
They make up to 99%
of their winter diet.
737
00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:03,040
Wow, they lichen
it a lot.
738
00:40:03,040 --> 00:40:06,160
The great thing about
lich
739
00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:09,080
en is that it can extract
nutrients from
tree bark and even rocks.
740
00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:12,560
And Siberian musk deer
will nee
741
00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:14,760
d all the nutrients
they can get to survive
the frigid winter months.
742
00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:19,480
Musk deer find l
743
00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:22,000
ichen by climbing bent tree
trunks that can take them up to
four metres into the air.
744
00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:25,800
But don't worry,
they're not afraid of he
745
00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:27,360
ights.
They can be found on steep
mountainous slopes,
746
00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:30,360
just like their goat cousins.
747
00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:33,080
Siberian musk deer
are sh
748
00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:37,400
y and cautious animals,
who are mostly
active from dusk 'til dawn.
749
00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:39,880
They're typically found
by themselves or in small
750
00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:42,200
groups of two or three.
751
00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:44,760
And usually those groups
752
00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:46,600
are a momma
musk deer with her babies.
753
00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:48,600
The deer's small body
helps it run fast and hide
754
00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:51,680
from predators
in tiny openings
755
00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:54,600
in their rocky terrain.
756
00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:56,280
Lynx, wolverines, and the
yellow-throated marten
757
00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:59,040
are greatest predators
of this little ungulate.
758
00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:02,760
And when they notice danger,
759
00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:05,480
they raise their tails
to helpfully alert
the other members
760
00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:08,120
of the musk deer community.
761
00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:09,560
Musk deer
are migr
762
00:41:09,560 --> 00:41:14,480
atory animals.
763
00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:15,440
In the winter, they live on
steep slopes covered with
coniferous trees.
764
00:41:19,280 --> 00:41:21,720
While they can move
easily on top of snow
765
00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:24,440
because of their light weight,
navigating deep,
766
00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:27,400
loose snow can be
difficult and dangerous.
767
00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:30,720
When this kind of snow
blocks their familiar paths
768
00:41:30,720 --> 00:41:32,120
for food, they must create
new accessible winter paths.
769
00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:41,280
This is an adaptation to find
food in hard-to-reach
places,
770
00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:45,720
but also to
escape predators,
771
00:41:45,720 --> 00:41:47,600
for whom musk deer might
be the only available prey.
772
00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:50,880
Death is always afoot
773
00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:56,560
in this unforgiving land.
774
00:41:56,560 --> 00:42:01,160
[Danielle] There are many ways
to die in the North.
775
00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:03,520
Hunger, hypothermia
and disease
776
00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:06,520
are ever-present dangers.
777
00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:08,800
But above them all,
778
00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:09,640
the greatest
danger is predation.
779
00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:17,200
Siberia is home to giant
predators,like tigers and
wolves.
780
00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:19,240
Though their main prey
are not musk deer,
781
00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:21,320
they must be avoided
at all costs.
782
00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:23,720
And so, the musk dee
783
00:42:23,720 --> 00:42:28,800
r has learnt to live
in the shadows.
784
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:29,840
During the spring and fall,
785
00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:31,560
@Siberian musk deer use communal
786
00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:34,200
toilets, which obviously
787
00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:36,000
produces very strong odours.
788
00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:37,920
The deer use
the scent of their feces
789
00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:39,640
to communicate
with one another.
790
00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:42,640
They're not very vocal;
791
00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:44,040
their call is just
a soft hissing sound.
792
00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:46,400
Remember,
very shy, very smelly!
793
00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:50,240
Not much is kn
794
00:42:50,240 --> 00:42:55,440
own about how Siberian musk deer
mate. Mating season is Novem
795
00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:58,680
ber and December.
That's when young male
deers deve
796
00:42:58,680 --> 00:43:01,560
lop their tusks,
which threaten
rival males and impress
797
00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:03,240
members
of the opposite sex.
798
00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:07,360
An
799
00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:09,240
d don't forget about their musk
glands, that secrete powerful,
mate-attracting pheromones.
800
00:43:09,240 --> 00:43:12,960
After mating, it takes
abou
801
00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:16,800
t six months of gestation
before one or two fawns
are born in late spring.
802
00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:21,000
Females give birth in special
ar
803
00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:24,560
eas: under dense shrubs,
low branches of fir,
or around fallen trees.
804
00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:28,680
The babies live with their
805
00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:31,560
mothers until they're two,
although they
reach sexual maturity
806
00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:33,680
around 15 to
18 months old.
807
00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:35,920
Siberian musk deer
808
00:43:35,920 --> 00:43:41,080
live about ten to 20 years.
Becaus
809
00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:44,360
e of illegal poaching and
deforestation, musk deer
populations are declining.
810
00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:47,240
The species
is considered vulnerable,
811
00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:48,240
and heading
towards becoming endangered.
812
00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:53,200
Hopefully,
as we continue to work
813
00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:55,440
towards preserving
their ecosystems,
814
00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:56,840
we'll give them a chance
not only to survive,
815
00:43:56,840 --> 00:44:00,240
but also to thrive.
816
00:44:00,240 --> 00:44:00,560
This winter soldier won't
go down without a fight!
817
00:44:05,560 --> 00:44:08,760
These animals have
managed to adapt and make
818
00:44:08,760 --> 00:44:10,400
the most out of their
unforgiving environments.
819
00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:19,120
But evolution takes a while,
and their adaptations occurred
over incredibly long periods of
time.
820
00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:23,840
Unfortun
821
00:44:23,840 --> 00:44:27,400
ately, climate change has a
disproportionate impact on polar
regions.
822
00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:30,320
And Arctic and Subar
823
00:44:30,320 --> 00:44:33,640
ctic
environments are changing
at an unprecedented rate,
824
00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:35,480
too fast for these
animals to keep up.
825
00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:41,920
Wolverines need
deep snow to den,
826
00:44:41,920 --> 00:44:43,800
and as temperatures rise,
that's no longer a
guarantee.
827
00:44:43,800 --> 00:44:48,160
As the Arctic gets warmer,
828
00:44:48,160 --> 00:44:52,960
the red fox ventures further
and further north.
829
00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:54,760
For the Arctic fox,
this means more competition
830
00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:56,760
for food, and the threat
of being displaced.
831
00:44:56,760 --> 00:45:01,440
Ptarmigans and Sib
832
00:45:01,440 --> 00:45:04,480
erian musk deers' habitats are
also shrinking, and they're
adapting
833
00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:07,560
by following
the cold and migrating
834
00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:08,160
to higher
elevations and latitudes.
835
00:45:12,600 --> 00:45:16,920
But it's not too late to take
action. If we make the effort
836
00:45:16,920 --> 00:45:19,280
to manage our impact
on our only planet,
we can give them hope.
837
00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:23,720
And they deserve it, with
ho
838
00:45:23,720 --> 00:45:27,160
w hard they work to survive
in the coldest
corners of the world.
839
00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:28,760
Keep warm, my
little friends!
63547
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