Snow Babies


Snow Babies

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To us, winter can appear magical.

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The way the snow transforms the landscape

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is little short of miraculous.

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But for the animals who have to live through it,

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winter is a time of incredible challenges.

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This is the story of a small group of baby animals

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facing some of the harshest conditions on the planet.

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Polar bear cubs following their mums

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to the ends of the Earth.

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Reindeer calves trying to keep up with the herd.

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Young otters and Arctic foxes learning to fend for themselves.

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Penguin chicks racing to independence.

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And baby snow monkeys

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who must find their place in the troop to survive.

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With the help of their mums...

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dads...

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and families,

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they might just make it through their first year.

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These are the snow babies.

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Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth.

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In winter, there's little daylight

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and the temperature may fall to minus 80 degrees centigrade.

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But for one remarkable animal, this is home.

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The emperor penguin.

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Winter fades.

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Spring isn't the only new arrival.

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He may be tiny, but he has a huge adventure ahead of him.

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If he's to survive his first winter,

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he must learn to stand on his own two feet by then.

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For the moment, though,

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he relies completely on his parents.

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Or, more precisely, his dad.

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This little chap has never met his mum.

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Two months before he hatched, in the darkest days of winter,

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she set off to get fish for her and her unborn chick.

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But right now it's 80 kilometres to the water's edge

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and she has a long journey home.

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Dad has fed his son what he can, and has little left to offer.

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He needs a proper meal...

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and soon.

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So does Dad.

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He hasn't eaten for over 100 days,

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and weighs half what he used to.

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But he can't leave until Mum comes back.

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All they can do is wait...

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and hope that nothing has happened to her.

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At last, a sight for sore eyes.

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It's the mums, returning with fish and squid

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for chicks they've never even set eyes on.

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HONKING

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It's a warm welcome home.

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But with 20,000 penguins all calling out at once,

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how will the mums ever find their own families?

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Incredibly, even in the uproar,

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penguins can recognise the calls of their partners.

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She's found them.

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Reunited at last.

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After two months apart,

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the adults spend a tender moment together.

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The chick has never seen his mum before, and is a little shy.

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For Mum, it's love at first sight.

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After months of it being just the two of them,

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it's hard for Dad to let go.

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It takes a lot of gentle persuasion...

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but he's finally ready.

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The chick has only a thin down to keep him warm.

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Just two minutes on the ice would be enough to kill him.

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They have to move fast.

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Mission accomplished.

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The young chick gets his first full meal,

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Mum gets time with her baby,

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and Dad can finally go fishing.

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Just 80 kilometres to go.

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At the other end of the world,

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in the high Arctic,

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winter is equally harsh.

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It engulfs the world like a ghost.

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It whips the land without mercy.

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But, again, it doesn't last for ever.

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Spring reveals new life.

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This polar bear cub was born two months ago

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and has only just come out of her den beneath the snow.

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Mum has been feeding her on rich, fatty milk,

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but hasn't had anything to eat herself for almost eight months.

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She needs to get them moving,

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just as soon as she's sure Baby can keep up.

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If she's to make it through her first year,

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the cub will have to be continually on the move.

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It's the only way to survive in a place where food is hard to come by.

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Mum makes it look easy.

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Baby's not so sure...

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..and needs some gentle reassurance.

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GENTLE RYTHMIC CALLING

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But if they're to catch any seals

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they'll need to get onto the sea ice before it starts to melt.

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And the sooner, the better.

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They've got a lot of travelling to do.

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Further south, the snow is still thick on the ground.

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The nights are still long,

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and the temperature well below freezing.

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This shivering little reindeer has only just been born...

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..yet she has only a few hours to find her feet

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and join the rest of the herd.

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The reindeer, or caribou,

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are on the longest overland migration of any mammal,

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searching for tender new grass revealed by the melting snow.

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But new-born calves are an easy target for hungry wolves.

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Shadowed as they go,

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these reindeer may walk more than 4,000 kilometres in a year

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and the calves will have to keep up to survive.

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But even animals born to run must take a break some time.

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When reindeer calves play, they aren't just having fun -

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they're getting fit and agile

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practising the defensive moves they'll need to survive.

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And not a moment too soon.

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A white-tailed eagle has got them in its sights.

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These enormous birds can easily kill a young calf.

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A small group of mums and calves have strayed away from the herd.

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A miss.

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But the eagle isn't giving up.

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A strike.

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The eagle succeeds.

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It's a harsh lesson for the surviving calves,

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but they must stay with the herd.

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With one calf less, the herd continues north,

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chasing the melting snow.

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The thaw is also a busy time for adult Arctic foxes.

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Spring brings new mouths to feed.

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By the time winter comes around,

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these cubs must be all grown up and completely independent

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so they have a lot of learning to do.

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And, as we all know, youngsters learn faster when it's fun.

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The cubs are still too young to hunt for themselves,

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but they've seen their parents catching rodents under the snow

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and are already honing their skills.

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It's Mum.

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But she's come back without any food.

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It's still early in the year and there's little for her to catch.

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Mum isn't about to give up, though.

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She heads back out to try again.

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Until they can hunt and scavenge for themselves,

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all the cubs can do is wait and hope.

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In the polar regions, winters are long and harsh

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and spring is slow to arrive.

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The same is true here, in the mountains of Japan,

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where winter is a brutal affair.

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There is little greenery and few plants to eat.

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But when spring finally comes,

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life returns quickly.

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A troop of macaques makes the most of the sunshine.

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It's the perfect time to welcome a new addition to the family.

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It's a baby boy.

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This tiny monkey will need all the warmth, protection and milk

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his devoted mum can offer.

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Surrounded by greenery,

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it's hard to believe that Japanese macaques

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are also known as snow monkeys.

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Yet, in only six months' time,

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this baby monkey will be in a world of white.

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If he's to make it through his first winter,

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he too has a lot of learning to do.

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Not just about feeding himself,

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but also about fitting in.

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Snow monkey troops have a very strict pecking order.

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A queen-like female rules the roost.

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Below her, a whole cast of class-conscious males

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decides who gets into the gang...

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..and who doesn't.

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Probably best just to stick with Mum.

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Polar bear cubs must also stay close to their mums.

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It's the only way a cub is ever going to learn how to hunt.

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Ringed seals make their dens in the sea ice.

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But polar bears have the best sense of smell of any mammal.

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Unfortunately for her,

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ringed seals flee at the first hint of danger.

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Only 2% of polar bear hunts are successful,

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so Mum will just have to keep trying.

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At least, Baby has seen how it's done,

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though she might need a little more practice.

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Mum's not giving up.

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Seals make their dens in the ice,

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so the rising temperatures mean that they will soon be gone.

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Despite her growing hunger,

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Mum still makes time to play with her baby.

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But the clock is ticking.

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As the sea ice gradually melts, the seals will head out to sea.

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They have to keep moving, searching for their prey.

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The cub keeps up as best she can,

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but polar bears might walk as much 55 kilometres in a day

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and that's tough on a cub's tender little paws.

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The cub takes a rest to soothe them.

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But there's no time to waste.

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It's time to get moving again.

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In the Antarctic, spring is slower to take hold.

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But the penguin chicks are growing fast.

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And no wonder - in four months' time,

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this chick will be heading off to the open ocean.

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In the meantime, there's some local exploring to do.

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As far as Mum's concerned, a little independence is no bad thing.

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Still, better follow him, just in case.

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At the first sign of mischief,

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he's dragged back by the scruff of the neck.

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But this little chap has a will of his own.

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In the beginning, it's brilliant.

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It's his first slice of freedom, and it tastes great.

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The trouble is that he's in a colony of 80,000 penguins.

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Everyone looks pretty much the same.

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The result is inevitable.

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He's completely lost.

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It's the moment every toddler dreads.

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All he wants is to find his mum.

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But this mum belongs to someone else.

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Oh, dear.

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Some of the other females have lost their babies,

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and their maternal instincts are so overwhelming

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they'll steal any stray baby they see.

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Suddenly, he's running for his life.

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It's chaos and very frightening.

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He's on his last legs...

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..when Mum comes to the rescue.

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The chick has learned his lesson about leaving his mother's side.

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Though he might have preferred a slightly more dignified exit.

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In the mountains of Japan, baby snow monkeys are still busy

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trying to find their place in the pecking order.

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Being the youngest in the troop can be tough

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when all the older kids have already worked out who their mates are.

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But if this monkey doesn't make friends,

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he could be in real trouble when winter comes round.

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An older baby comes over to investigate...

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..and a friendship begins.

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Soon, everyone wants to say hi.

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It's official - he's part of the gang.

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Yellowstone in the Rocky Mountains of North America.

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In winter, this volcanic area is thick with snow,

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and temperatures can easily reach 40 degrees below zero.

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As winter ends, the white melts away...

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..and the green takes over.

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It's late spring,

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and a family of otters emerge from their holt for the very first time.

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Being born later in the year

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means that the pups avoid the worst of the cold weather.

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It's a great strategy for keeping the new-borns from freezing

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but it means they have less time to pile on the fat

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before their first winter comes around.

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They've timed it perfectly.

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Around here, otters survive mainly on a diet of fish,

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and the local trout have just arrived to lay their eggs.

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The pups must learn how to hunt, of course.

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But on the first day of school, maybe just a demonstration will do.

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Their mum is an excellent teacher.

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The fish are full of tiny eggs -

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perfect for little mouths.

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As long as the food keeps coming,

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they should be in good shape for winter.

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Back in the realm of the polar bears,

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the Arctic sea ice now shimmers with late spring heat haze.

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This mother and her cub have had a good couple of months

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hunting seals on the frozen sea.

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The problem is the surface of the ice is beginning to melt.

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Polar bear cubs have tiny bristles on their paws

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that help to stop them slipping,

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but it's no match for the melting ice.

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Beneath the ice, the seal pups are growing up

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and heading out to the open ocean,

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and catching them is proving increasingly difficult.

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The bears follow the seals out to sea, on thinner and thinner ice,

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knowing that this might be their last chance of a meal

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for many months to come.

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In Antarctica, it stays colder for longer.

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Unlike the polar bear cub,

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this penguin chick doesn't have to travel to get his food.

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Mum and Dad do all the work.

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He's now old enough to be left alone while his parents go fishing.

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Plus, he's made a lot of friends.

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And he and his mates look out for each other...

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..most of the time.

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There's the odd disagreement, of course.

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Though it's usually quickly forgotten.

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Mum and Dad are now both working full-time

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just to keep their baby fed.

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Even with the ice melting and the sea getting closer,

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it's still a two-week round trip to catch food.

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The adults have no choice.

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Their chicks have some serious growing to do

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if they're to leave home before next winter.

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But, even in summer, the weather can turn in an instant.

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In an Antarctic blizzard,

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temperatures can quickly fall to minus 55 degrees Centigrade.

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The chicks' only chance of survival is to huddle together for warmth.

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The cold, though, is only part of the problem.

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They've lost the rest of the colony.

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They have two choices.

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They can stay together and hope that they are found,

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or they can break the huddle, search for the remaining adults,

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and risk freezing to death.

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Young and afraid, they decide to risk it.

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But they could be heading in completely the wrong direction.

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In the end, luck is on their side.

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Even at the height of the blizzard,

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there's still a column of adults bringing fish back from the sea.

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The chicks are led home like a party of lost schoolchildren.

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Back with the colony, they form a creche once more.

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But nothing beats snuggling up to Mum.

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Hanging out with your mates is all very well

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but mums are definitely better.

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In the Arctic, there's little snow left,

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as over 75,000 reindeer soldier on,

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covering up to 50 kilometres a day.

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This is boom time for the reindeer.

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The little calves are feeding for themselves now.

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Though they'll still drink mum's milk when they get a chance.

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With coats designed for the cold,

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overheating can be a problem for the reindeer.

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True arctic animals,

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they seek out the last patches of snow to keep cool.

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And then they're off once more, always in search of new pastures.

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But danger is never far away.

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The wolves have decided to strike.

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HOWLING

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Their strategy is fear.

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Panic the reindeer,

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and the calves will fall behind or get separated from the herd.

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In the chaos, anxious mums call desperately for their babies.

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RYTHMIC BAYING

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Most of the calves are lucky.

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This one was separated but survived.

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Now she just needs to find Mum.

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But while there may be safety in numbers,

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it's also easier to get lost.

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THEY CALL TO EACH OTHER

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Found at last, and desperate for Mum's reassurance.

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Others may not have been so fortunate.

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But at least this little one is safe and back with the herd.

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At the peak of the Arctic summer, the sun never sets.

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This constant warmth and energy

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triggers an incredible burst of life.

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Millions of seabirds flock to the cold, rich seas now freed from ice.

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Humpback whales arrive for a spectacular feast

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of shrimp-like krill.

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The fox cubs get their share of the feast - an adult seabird.

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They're already displaying signs of independence, fighting over food.

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As adults, they will live largely alone,

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and it's quickly becoming every pup for himself.

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High above them, guillemots race to feed their hungry chicks

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while summer lasts.

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Only three weeks old, it's time for the young birds

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to take their first flight into the unknown.

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And they only get one shot to reach the safety of the sea,

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with mum following anxiously behind.

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For many, it's a perfect - if bumpy - landing.

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But not all of them succeed.

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A botched first flight delivers easy pickings for a mother fox.

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Wily Mum stores her catch for harder times ahead.

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In the Arctic, it pays to be prepared.

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The summer thaw in the Antarctic has melted much of the ice...

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..and this penguin colony is now on the verge of being washed away.

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It's make or break time for the chicks.

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They've started growing their waterproof adult feathers

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and their parents have stopped feeding them.

0:37:210:37:23

It's time to take to the water, whether they like it or not.

0:37:240:37:29

Eventually, after much hesitation,

0:37:380:37:41

they summon their courage and take the plunge.

0:37:410:37:44

Swimming is a wonderful discovery.

0:37:510:37:53

At last, they're almost the same size as the adults...

0:38:070:38:10

..and a perfect meal for a leopard seal.

0:38:120:38:15

Having barely wet their beaks, they shoot back on to the ice.

0:38:160:38:20

It's been a harsh introduction to the reality of life at sea.

0:38:470:38:51

But they can't stay here for ever - they have to start fishing.

0:38:580:39:02

It's time for another deep breath.

0:39:020:39:04

This time, they swim straight out to the open ocean

0:39:120:39:17

and off to independence.

0:39:170:39:19

High summer in the Arctic and there's little ice left.

0:39:240:39:28

It's the hardest time of year for hungry polar bears.

0:39:320:39:36

There are still a few seals, but not enough ice to hunt them on.

0:39:360:39:40

There's only one thing for it.

0:39:410:39:43

Polar bears are superb swimmers

0:39:530:39:56

and can easily swim 55 kilometres a day.

0:39:560:40:00

Mum is perfectly at home under water.

0:40:050:40:09

but seals can swim faster and deeper.

0:40:090:40:12

It's time to admit defeat and head for dry land.

0:40:210:40:25

Eventually the days close in.

0:40:340:40:37

Summer slowly fades.

0:40:370:40:39

A chill comes to the mountains of Japan.

0:40:430:40:46

Mothers and babies must cuddle together for warmth.

0:40:550:40:59

Autumn is finally here.

0:41:040:41:06

THUNDER

0:41:080:41:10

As they make the most of the dwindling grass,

0:41:190:41:22

the reindeer calves also grow thicker coats.

0:41:220:41:25

The fox cubs' coats are not just getting thicker,

0:41:270:41:30

they're also getting paler to match the coming snow.

0:41:300:41:34

They'll be leaving home soon to face their first winter alone.

0:41:350:41:40

As a result, their play is much more like real hunting now.

0:41:410:41:46

And playing with their food is positively encouraged.

0:41:470:41:51

When you're having fun,

0:41:580:42:00

it's easy to think that the good times will last for ever.

0:42:000:42:04

But there's no mistaking the change in the air.

0:42:110:42:14

Further north, these polar bears have swum back to shore.

0:42:200:42:25

Until the sea freezes over again, there's little for them to eat.

0:42:270:42:31

What is Mum up to?

0:42:330:42:35

Actually, desperation is setting in.

0:42:360:42:39

She must forage for what she can.

0:42:410:42:42

A bit of seaweed hardly helps with the hunger.

0:42:460:42:49

It's more like a vitamin supplement than a meal,

0:42:490:42:52

but it's better than nothing.

0:42:520:42:54

While Mum hunts in the water,

0:43:040:43:07

baby grabs the chance to hunt on land.

0:43:070:43:10

Just a little bit more practice.

0:43:210:43:23

Her baby is still getting milk

0:43:300:43:33

but it's been months since Mum last ate a proper meal.

0:43:330:43:37

And these bones from a beached whale were picked clean years ago.

0:43:380:43:42

All they can do

0:43:440:43:45

is wait for the sea to freeze over.

0:43:450:43:49

When winter comes, it makes a dramatic entrance...

0:43:570:44:00

..arriving with a force

0:44:030:44:04

that the snow babies have never experienced before.

0:44:040:44:07

The youngsters have learned all they can.

0:44:260:44:30

For most of them,

0:44:300:44:32

it's time to face the greatest challenge of their lives.

0:44:320:44:35

With the change in season, the reindeer turn south.

0:44:370:44:40

1,500 freezing kilometres now separate the calves

0:44:440:44:49

from the lush southern pastures.

0:44:490:44:51

At last, the first shock is over.

0:45:040:45:07

The world is transformed.

0:45:100:45:13

In Japan, this year's babies are seeing snow for the first time.

0:45:340:45:39

At first, they're just curious.

0:45:410:45:43

Then they get creative.

0:45:440:45:46

Snow monkeys are quick learners,

0:45:510:45:53

and this young monkey has found

0:45:530:45:55

a wonderful way of entertaining himself.

0:45:550:45:57

Making snowballs.

0:46:010:46:03

The only problem is it keeps rolling away.

0:46:120:46:17

Or maybe that's the point.

0:46:260:46:28

After all, why else would he take it to the top of the hill again?

0:46:280:46:32

For this particular troop of macaques,

0:46:410:46:44

making snowballs has become part of their unique culture.

0:46:440:46:48

By copying the others,

0:46:480:46:50

this little monkey is doing his best to stay part of the gang.

0:46:500:46:54

When you're young, snow is fun and extremely exciting.

0:47:140:47:18

But the sense of fun doesn't always last.

0:47:210:47:24

Snow monkeys are the most northerly monkeys on earth

0:47:280:47:32

and face winter temperatures that are well below freezing.

0:47:320:47:35

There's nowhere to shelter...

0:47:380:47:40

..and food is hard to come by.

0:47:410:47:44

But snow monkeys are nothing if not resourceful.

0:47:550:47:59

They'll eat berries, leaves, fruit, nuts and insects.

0:48:020:48:07

And, when there's no food on the ground,

0:48:100:48:12

they'll try the water.

0:48:120:48:14

And that includes the babies.

0:48:160:48:19

Small crustaceans are hiding under the rocks,

0:48:230:48:26

and this baby snow monkey has been taught by his mum how to find them.

0:48:260:48:32

It's fiddly work and the water is freezing...

0:48:330:48:37

..but beggars can't be choosers.

0:48:390:48:41

With their thick coats,

0:48:470:48:49

adult snow monkeys are well equipped to deal with the wind and the snow.

0:48:490:48:52

The babies aren't so lucky.

0:48:550:48:57

Without some respite, this baby could be in real trouble.

0:48:590:49:04

Back in the Rockies, the otter family have no such problems.

0:49:170:49:20

Thanks to hot volcanic springs, there are gaps in the ice

0:49:330:49:37

which make excellent fishing holes.

0:49:370:49:39

But they're not alone.

0:49:470:49:48

A hungry coyote is on the prowl.

0:49:490:49:52

Coyotes will happily kill and eat an otter pup if given half a chance.

0:49:560:50:00

But this one seems to have other things on his mind.

0:50:020:50:05

With his incredible sense of smell,

0:50:080:50:10

the coyote sniffs out the otters' larder.

0:50:100:50:13

Unlucky.

0:50:170:50:19

Watched by the increasingly frustrated otters,

0:50:200:50:23

he tries again.

0:50:230:50:24

This time he's in luck.

0:50:370:50:39

It's a huge Yellowstone cutthroat trout,

0:50:400:50:43

fresh out of the otters' freezer.

0:50:430:50:45

Still, better that he takes a fish than a pup.

0:50:470:50:51

As winter deepens, even the sea freezes.

0:51:040:51:08

The surface turns to icy slush.

0:51:150:51:18

Gradually, the ice merges into flat plates.

0:51:270:51:31

Eventually, after much toing and froing,

0:51:360:51:39

the plates lock together...

0:51:390:51:41

..and the sea becomes land again.

0:51:450:51:48

At last, the Arctic is just how polar bears like it.

0:51:530:51:59

They are back on solid ice,

0:52:030:52:06

and seals are back at the top of the menu.

0:52:060:52:09

Hunting day and night,

0:52:130:52:15

this mum has been making up for lost time.

0:52:150:52:18

Ringed seals are abundant

0:52:190:52:21

and the ice is no longer melting underfoot.

0:52:210:52:24

Mum is having a field day,

0:52:300:52:33

and so too is her little cub.

0:52:330:52:35

With their bellies full, they take a well-earned rest.

0:52:400:52:43

It's four degrees below...

0:52:430:52:46

..and just how they like it.

0:52:470:52:49

And what about the fox cubs?

0:52:540:52:57

They're all grown up and living on their own now.

0:52:570:52:59

Their winter coat gives them the best insulation of any mammal

0:53:010:53:06

and excellent camouflage in the snow.

0:53:060:53:08

This cub is now a master at hunting rodents scurrying beneath the snow.

0:53:100:53:16

But some of the best food is served frozen.

0:53:170:53:20

Whether killed by illness, or by the cold,

0:53:210:53:24

this adult reindeer will keep for a long, long time.

0:53:240:53:28

The cub's mum and dad would be proud of him.

0:53:290:53:32

The reindeer calves are also independent of their mums.

0:53:370:53:41

Heading south, they are keeping one step ahead of the weather...

0:53:410:53:45

..ensuring the snow is still shallow enough to move through

0:53:460:53:49

and find food in.

0:53:490:53:51

Arctic wolves may still be shadowing them

0:54:010:54:04

but the calves are bigger and faster now

0:54:040:54:07

and no longer easy prey.

0:54:070:54:09

The young reindeer still have an epic journey ahead of them,

0:54:170:54:21

but the future is definitely looking brighter.

0:54:210:54:24

But the reindeer aren't the only ones on an epic journey.

0:54:270:54:31

Having left the ice at the height of the summer,

0:54:350:54:38

they've journeyed well beyond the Antarctic Circle.

0:54:380:54:41

At over a metre long,

0:54:430:54:45

the young penguins are now the same size as their parents,

0:54:450:54:49

and they can dive to depths of over 500 metres on a single breath.

0:54:490:54:53

They are, at last, the essence of freedom.

0:54:580:55:02

High in the Rocky Mountains, the otter family are staying put.

0:55:090:55:13

They have a plentiful supply of fish

0:55:150:55:17

and will stay together all winter, looking after each other.

0:55:170:55:22

Having mastered the art of survival,

0:55:230:55:26

they can now afford to play.

0:55:260:55:29

Why run when you can toboggan?

0:55:480:55:52

But life doesn't look quite so easy for the Japanese macaques.

0:56:000:56:04

In their volcanic mountains,

0:56:060:56:08

the snow monkeys are living up to their name.

0:56:080:56:11

The weather has taken a turn for the worse.

0:56:140:56:18

But they have a secret.

0:56:190:56:22

Heated by the volcano, it's an enormous hot tub.

0:56:290:56:34

For a little monkey, it doesn't get better than this.

0:56:370:56:41

Surrounded by family and friends,

0:56:420:56:45

all his efforts to get in with the rest of the troop

0:56:450:56:47

have finally paid off.

0:56:470:56:50

He hasn't been left out in the cold.

0:56:500:56:52

But there's someone who deserves some special attention.

0:57:040:57:08

She's seen him through the toughest times.

0:57:090:57:13

She's nursed him, protected him, and taught him everything he knows.

0:57:130:57:18

Because of her, his future is looking good.

0:57:200:57:23

Thanks, Mum.

0:57:270:57:28

Thanks to everything they've learned along the way,

0:57:470:57:50

all our snow babies have made it through

0:57:500:57:53

the most difficult time of their young lives...

0:57:530:57:55

..with a little help from family and friends.

0:57:570:58:01

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0:58:320:58:36

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