0:00:02 > 0:00:04This is Deadly 360.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08The show that pits three of the world's deadliest predators
0:00:08 > 0:00:10against their prey.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Examining their hunting strategies
0:00:12 > 0:00:18and their escape tactics from every angle.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20By delving beneath the fur and feathers,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23we find out why a hunt succeeds
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and why they sometimes fail.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31One thing's certain, prey animals are anything but sitting ducks.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36Their defensive strategies keep them alive.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40And push predators to the limits.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Prepare for Deadly 360.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48This is Deadly 360, Mission Control.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53Where all of today's action and analysis takes place.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57From here, we have access to some of the most enthralling hunts
0:00:57 > 0:00:59ever caught on camera.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01I recreated three of the most exciting and analysed them
0:01:01 > 0:01:06from various angles and perspectives in true 360 Degree style.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12These predators have to find and catch food or they won't make it.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17In the wild world, managing to survive is the greatest challenge.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20I present to you the sharks and rays.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24We'll check out the awesome power and massive bite
0:01:24 > 0:01:29of the world's largest predatory shark, the great white.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30We'll plunge into the darkness
0:01:30 > 0:01:35to reveal the shocking talents of the mysterious torpedo ray
0:01:35 > 0:01:38and we'll meet the tiger shark.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41A hunter as large and lethal as its namesake.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47They look invincible, but there's a continual race going on
0:01:47 > 0:01:51to ensure prey animals evolve spectacular ways
0:01:51 > 0:01:54of taking care of themselves.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Today's defenders include a true master of the air
0:01:58 > 0:02:00and owner of the largest wingspan on the planet,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03the magnificent albatross.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Some reef fish that are surprisingly good at hide-and-seek,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11and the seals who use their phenomenal aquatic abilities
0:02:11 > 0:02:16to try and escape one of the world's greatest predators.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19So, I've introduced you to all of our contenders,
0:02:19 > 0:02:24let's meet our first deadly duo going head-to-head.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29We begin with one of the largest and deadliest sharks.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30It's the tiger shark.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Four metres long and weighing half a tonne,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36it's a heavyweight champion of the ocean.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40And up against it is this. It's the albatross.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43You wouldn't think a flying bird could be at risk
0:02:43 > 0:02:46from an underwater predator, but as a youngster,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50even this master of the skies is a tasty target for a shark.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54But which animal has the edge in the race for life?
0:02:54 > 0:02:56It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03We drop straight into the action.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06The young albatross chick is out on open water
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and the tiger shark is closing in fast.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13The bird weighs three kilos, the shark almost half a tonne.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Surely one strike and it'll be all flying feathers.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Based on size alone, you'd say it looks like the prey is done for.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30But don't give up hope just yet. It's very rarely as simple as that.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Let's rewind to the start and begin our investigation.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37First off, let's take a look at where we are.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41This is the largest ocean on earth - the Pacific.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43We're on a remote island in the middle.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Thousands of miles from both North America and Asia.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50We're north of the equator,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53which means warm water and good visibility.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56There's also a strong breeze blowing onshore,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00which could be an important factor in this hunt.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04So, that's our location.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06What attributes do our predator and prey have
0:04:06 > 0:04:10to give them an advantage in this kind of environment?
0:04:11 > 0:04:13First up is the tiger shark.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Like most sharks, it has an impressive set of teeth
0:04:17 > 0:04:19designed to slash through flesh and bone.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23In addition to a large, bulky but streamlined body,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27it has an array of acute senses to help it track down its victims.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35So, that's our predator. Time to find out about its prey's defences.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Obviously, our albatross' best form of defence is flight.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Those massive wings keep it well away from aquatic predators.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48It also has excellent vision to warn it of any incoming threats.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53That long, hooked bill can be used for catching fish and for defence.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57We have two very different animals.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Which will come out on top in this hunt? Let's find out.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04It's June. The end of the albatross breeding season.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07And the beach is packed with hundreds of chicks
0:05:07 > 0:05:09who have just left the nest and their parents
0:05:09 > 0:05:12and now must fend for themselves.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15If they're to survive, it's crucial they find food fast.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18To do that, they need to get out to deep water
0:05:18 > 0:05:20where they can hunt for fish and crustaceans
0:05:20 > 0:05:23and that means taking their first ever flight.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25It looks like this chick
0:05:25 > 0:05:28is going to be one of the first to try out its wings.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32It instinctively moves out to sea and into that onshore breeze,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36which will provide the lift it needs to get airborne.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Heading in that direction is also going to put it
0:05:38 > 0:05:40right in the danger zone.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44So, where's our tiger shark?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46No-one really knows for sure how the tiger shark knows
0:05:46 > 0:05:49this annual event is going to occur.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51It's actually possible they can sense
0:05:51 > 0:05:54the vibrations from the waves and they close in,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58knowing it's the perfect time for the birds to start getting airborne.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00However, once they get closer,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04a much better understood sense comes into play.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06That's the shark's sense of smell.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08As they start coursing through the water,
0:06:08 > 0:06:12they can actually scent the tiny scent molecules
0:06:12 > 0:06:14from the droppings of the birds at the surface.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17You can see it coursing through that blue fog,
0:06:17 > 0:06:21just trying to find out where the strongest source of that scent is.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24They'll follow that until they reach the bird itself.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27So, it's absolutely essential
0:06:27 > 0:06:29for these birds to get airborne as soon as they can.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31With the world's largest wingspan,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33you'd think that wouldn't be a problem.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Well, let's get a closer look at those wings.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40When you look at the skeleton of an albatross,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42it becomes instantly obvious
0:06:42 > 0:06:45that birds could be descended from the dinosaurs.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47I mean, it looks like a pterodactyl.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50This is a museum specimen, so I've got to be very careful.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52You can probably just make out that here,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55at the shoulder joint, there's a special notch.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58And this wing bone can actually slot into there
0:06:58 > 0:06:59with a special sheet of tendon
0:06:59 > 0:07:02that lies over the top of it and fixes it into place.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06That means it can fly without using its muscles,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09which is incredibly efficient in terms of energy expenditure.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12This animal can glide for hours at a time
0:07:12 > 0:07:15without really having to ever beat its wings.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19To get itself flying, particularly if it's taking off from water,
0:07:19 > 0:07:20takes an enormous amount of energy.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22It has to beat the breast muscles,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25which are fixed to this heavily-keeled chest bone
0:07:25 > 0:07:29with amazing intensity.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31In addition, it will have to drive
0:07:31 > 0:07:33the broadest set of wings found on any bird.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38In fact, they have a record wingspan of about 3.5 metres.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41That's that big.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44So, is our chick going to manage it?
0:07:46 > 0:07:49The onshore breeze may not return for days,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51so if it wants to get out to sea to feed,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54it's vital for this chick to try and fly today.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Here it goes.
0:07:56 > 0:07:57If we just slow that down,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01you can see the enormous amount of energy that it must take
0:08:01 > 0:08:03to power those massive wings.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06And this chick is simply running out of puff.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11It looks like it's going to have to take a rest and try again later.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14This, though, makes it a really easy target for our shark.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19That sensitive nose has done its job
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and guided the tiger shark right to the chicks.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Now the shark switches to vision,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27knocking on target with its sharp sight.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32The albatross seems completely unaware of the potential danger.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34This could be curtains for the chick.
0:08:37 > 0:08:38He's missed.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41It looks like he's going to have to circle around and have another go.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44What went wrong the first time? If we look closer,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46you can see it's simply a matter of bad timing.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50The shark surfaced too early, and the chick,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54which also has excellent eyesight, had plenty of chance to get away.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57So, what would be going on in the final few seconds
0:08:57 > 0:08:59before that crucial attack?
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Well, sharks have a whole array of super senses
0:09:01 > 0:09:04that will enable them to zone in on prey,
0:09:04 > 0:09:09and perhaps the most sophisticated is located here at the snout.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12If you look at it up close, it almost looks like
0:09:12 > 0:09:13it's got lots of dots over it.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17And those are actually special pores filled with jelly,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20linked to nerves that run to the brain.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24That jelly is incredibly sensitive to tiny electrical pulses.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Exactly the same kind of electrical pulses
0:09:26 > 0:09:29that are created in the moving muscles of other animals.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32So even in the dingiest water,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35the shark is still able to zone in on its prey.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Let's see if the tiger shark can use its super-senses
0:09:38 > 0:09:39to find itself a meal.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44The shark is circling around,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47using that sophisticated detection system to lock onto target.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50The chick really needs to get airborne,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54but it used up most of its energy on its first attempt to fly.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Surely it can't survive another attack.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00He's missed again. Let's find out why.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01Let's find out why.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04With the shape of the shark's nose and mouth,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06they struggle to bite upwards.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09It's pretty much nudging the bird away with its nose.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11But it won't give up.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14The albatross chick is actually trying to fight off
0:10:14 > 0:10:18this massive predator. Go on, give it some!
0:10:18 > 0:10:22He's trying to peck the shark's eye out! The shark is backing off.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23There's just no way
0:10:23 > 0:10:26he's been beaten by a fluffy chick!
0:10:26 > 0:10:27But yes!
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Look at that!
0:10:32 > 0:10:34And he's done it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37I guess a shark trying to eat you is good motivation.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41These might seem like an extraordinary, unusual encounter,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44but one in ten chicks from this island
0:10:44 > 0:10:47will end up being swallowed by a tiger shark.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51Now that it's airborne, it has three years to spend out at sea
0:10:51 > 0:10:53before it returns to land.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56As for our tiger shark, it won't have to wait that long.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59After all, there's plenty more chicks on the sea.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02So, the tiger shark had size and strength,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06superb senses and those massive jaws,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10but the albatross chick used its sharp eyesight,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13long, hooked beak and those huge wings
0:11:13 > 0:11:15to finally get up and out of trouble.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The shark has missed its first target
0:11:18 > 0:11:21but with hundreds of chicks heading into the water,
0:11:21 > 0:11:26it's only a matter of time before it perfects its hunting technique.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34Now on to our next pair of hunters, locked in a battle for survival.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37The predator - the mysterious torpedo ray.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41It may not be as big or fast as the tiger shark but it is armed.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Its weapon is one of the most sophisticated in the natural world.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47And up against it is this.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50It's an army of reef fish.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54From snappers to wrasse, they are different shapes, sizes and colours,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58but today they're all potential prey for the torpedo ray.
0:11:58 > 0:12:04Which has the edge in the race for life? It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10This time, the action looks very different to our first hunt.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13We're ten metres down on the seabed,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15next to a coral reef.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18The torpedo ray is using the darkness to creep up
0:12:18 > 0:12:20on an unsuspecting victim.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24It will unleash one of the most high-tech hunting methods
0:12:24 > 0:12:25on the planet.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29It's fish supper time!
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Well, not for sure.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32As you probably gather,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36things don't really work that easily on Deadly 360.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41So, let's rewind the action and see how things really unfold.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43First off, where are we?
0:12:43 > 0:12:45In the Caribbean, near the Bahamas,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48in the warm waters around a coral reef.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Visibility is good but is that an advantage for our prey,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53or our predator?
0:12:53 > 0:12:58And the seabed is a maze of coral and rocks, with cracks, crevices
0:12:58 > 0:13:05and fissures, which could be an important factor in this hunt.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08So that's the arena for our gladiatorial contest.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13What weapons and defences do the two animals doing battle have?
0:13:13 > 0:13:16First off, the torpedo ray.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21This incredible animal has actually harnessed the power of electricity,
0:13:21 > 0:13:27and it can use it to not only track down its prey, but also to kill it.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30It looks like a sophisticated hunter.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34How on earth is the prey going to stay out of the predator's clutches?
0:13:34 > 0:13:39The fish on this reef have developed plenty of ways of avoiding trouble -
0:13:39 > 0:13:42some are lightning-fast,
0:13:42 > 0:13:43some have superb vision,
0:13:43 > 0:13:48and some are absolute masters of hide-and-seek.
0:13:48 > 0:13:53OK, now we have all the background. Let's get the hunt underway.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Our starting point is the coral reef.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59It's mid-afternoon. Thousands of fish are about,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03competing for the best feeding spots. No sign of the torpedo ray.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07During daylight, the fish would easily spot it approaching,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10so let's wind on to dusk.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13The ray's best chance is to hunt at night,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16when it's dark and visibility is poor,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20but the fish know this too, so as darkness falls,
0:14:20 > 0:14:25most take advantage of their small size to hide in the coral and rocks.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28This is a different way of staying out of sight.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Let's get a closer look
0:14:30 > 0:14:32This wrasse is burying itself.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35It can stay there all night, away from predators.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38But how is it able to do that?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Let's take a look.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45The wrasse angles itself down towards the seabed
0:14:45 > 0:14:46at quite an acute angle,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and then drives itself head-first into the sand.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52This is a fabulous way of protecting itself,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54but it has one disadvantage.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59The sand is full of parasites that would just love to bite this fish
0:14:59 > 0:15:03and drink its blood, so it needs to protect itself.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06How does it do that? Before it buries itself,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09it secretes a special mucus from its mouth,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12which completely encases it in a living cocoon.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16When it's buried, it leaves a little gap at the front to breathe,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20but this is enough to protect itself from those parasites.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23So, the fish are buried or hiding in cracks in the reef,
0:15:23 > 0:15:27but will this be enough to save them from the torpedo ray?
0:15:27 > 0:15:28Let's see.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34Night has fallen and it's time for our torpedo ray
0:15:34 > 0:15:36to begin its search for food.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38In the dark, with the fish hidden away,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41it seems like the odds are stacked against it,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44but the ray isn't looking with its eyes.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Like the tiger shark, it senses invisible signals
0:15:47 > 0:15:50given off by other animals.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55As the fish moves, its brain sends electrical impulses to the muscles.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00The torpedo ray can sense the pulses and hone in on the fish.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02It's an amazing sixth sense,
0:16:02 > 0:16:07and if the fish is lying still, that doesn't mean it can escape.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10The ray is so sensitive it can pick up the signals
0:16:10 > 0:16:14sent to the heart and lungs when the fish is simply breathing.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18So even though its prey is motionless and hidden,
0:16:18 > 0:16:23the ray knows where it is. But it's still got to get to the fish.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Its flat body means it can't reach into small gaps in the coral.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29However, not all prey are hidden.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32This fish has left the safety of the reef to feed,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36perhaps because at night there's less competition.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41But its search for an easy meal may mean it's about to become one.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44The torpedo ray is closing in, ready to unleash
0:16:44 > 0:16:46its shocking attack.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But how can this remarkable animal use electricity
0:16:49 > 0:16:51as a deadly weapon?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54To understand that, we have to go below the skin.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58So, as I've said, all animals create tiny electrical charges
0:16:58 > 0:17:00in their muscles as they move.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03In a normal muscle, these are pretty insignificant,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07but the torpedo ray has found a way of actually harnessing
0:17:07 > 0:17:12the potential power from this electrical charge.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Here in the body are two kidney-shaped organs
0:17:15 > 0:17:17which function like batteries.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22Inside them are thousands of muscles stacked on top of each other.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26As they move, they generate charge, and it's stored and then discharged
0:17:26 > 0:17:31in a lethal pulse, which can stun or even kill its prey.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35It's one of the most phenomenal weapons in the natural world.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Let's see it in action.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42The torpedo ray is closing in fast on the fish.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Remember, in low light with its electrical sixth sense,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48the ray now has the edge.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53It's just got to get close enough to use that remarkable weapon.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56It's all over in around three seconds.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59The ray closes its fins around the fish and delivers
0:17:59 > 0:18:03several short but incredibly powerful shocks.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07The electricity means the fish's muscles contract so violently
0:18:07 > 0:18:11that it breaks its own back, causing instant death,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14which leaves an easy meal for the torpedo ray.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19It blows my mind that nature has come up with such a complex,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21almost high-tech method of killing.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25The way the torpedo dispatches other fish...
0:18:25 > 0:18:27is truly shocking.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29So, the reef fish had
0:18:29 > 0:18:31sharp eyesight,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33speed,
0:18:33 > 0:18:35and clever hiding techniques,
0:18:35 > 0:18:40but the torpedo ray got its meal using its on-board detection system,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44stealthy approach and that lethal electric weapon.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46The fish that hid survived,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49but the one that strayed into the open ended up
0:18:49 > 0:18:51as a midnight feast.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58This is our last deadly duo, locked in a battle for life or death.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02We couldn't do a programme on sharks and forget the champion,
0:19:02 > 0:19:07one of the greatest predators on the planet - the great white shark.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10And up against is this.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13It's sleek, it's fast - a southern fur seal.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16This gutsy mammal isn't afraid to get in the water,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19even when there's a great white about.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23But which animal has the edge in the race for survival?
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Time to go 360.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31We're near the end of the hunt.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Down in the depths, our great white shark is in motion.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37He's already locked on to his target.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40On the surface above is the seal.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Does it even know there's a great white about to attack?
0:19:44 > 0:19:48The shark's closing in at tremendous speed...
0:19:48 > 0:19:52It looks like the prey is in serious trouble,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55but how did it get there? Is there any chance it might survive?
0:19:55 > 0:19:59To answer these questions, we'll wind back to the start of the hunt,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01break down all of the action
0:20:01 > 0:20:05and find out what's happening that leads up to this strike.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10The first thing we need to do is check out where we are.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13This time it's the Atlantic Ocean,
0:20:13 > 0:20:18off the coast of South Africa, in a place called Cape Bay.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20The area's teeming with seals,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24which makes it a perfect hunting ground for a great white.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Plus we're far south of the equator,
0:20:26 > 0:20:30which means this hunt is in much colder and rougher seas
0:20:30 > 0:20:33than the previous two.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37So that's the location. Let's meet the animals.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39First, the great white.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44It's huge, it's dynamic, and it has some of the most impressive jaws
0:20:44 > 0:20:48in the natural world, lined with flesh-tearing teeth.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52It has an array of finely-tuned senses, and special skin
0:20:52 > 0:20:54designed for speedy swimming.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57All that makes our predator a pretty scary prospect.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00What does our prey have to counter?
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Well, the seal's main defence is agility.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08Its streamlined body is quick and manoeuvrable in the water
0:21:08 > 0:21:13and it has specially-adapted eyes to give it excellent underwater vision.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17So, our predator will find it difficult to get near this prey.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Let's see what happens.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23We're at the start of the hunt.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28It's morning and the seals head for deeper water to hunt fish and squid,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31but they have to swim through a narrow channel -
0:21:31 > 0:21:35the perfect place for the great white to launch an attack.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40It may have travelled from Australia to reach this hunting ground
0:21:40 > 0:21:42and now it's just 250m away
0:21:42 > 0:21:45from what it hopes will be the first of many seal suppers.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50The great white shark is coloured light beneath and dark on top -
0:21:50 > 0:21:53counter-shading, which makes it difficult to spot from below,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55but also from above.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59The seals haven't spotted it but the shark has to get really close
0:21:59 > 0:22:02to stand any chance of a kill.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05These seals are very fast and very agile.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08In the freezing waters this far south of the equator,
0:22:08 > 0:22:13staying quick and mobile requires a special adaptation.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16One of the challenges facing any marine mammal
0:22:16 > 0:22:20is the fact that water conducts heat 20 times more efficiently than air.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24So any animal living in cold water like this seal
0:22:24 > 0:22:27essentially has heat sucked away from its body
0:22:27 > 0:22:29with every single second.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33It's essential to keep its vital organs and its muscles warm
0:22:33 > 0:22:36in order to keep them functioning.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39So seals have a thick, insulating layer of blubber.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43It keeps the inside of the body at a constant temperature.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47But it is just fat, and the seal can afford to lose quite a lot of it.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50It can take quite a serious bite from a predator
0:22:50 > 0:22:53into this blubber layer and still survive.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56It's almost like he's wearing a suit of armour.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Is this going to be enough
0:22:58 > 0:23:02to deter the jaws of one of the mightiest predators?
0:23:02 > 0:23:03Let's find out.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07After migrating from Australia,
0:23:07 > 0:23:11the shark may not have eaten for up to three months.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15It looks like its first tactic is a direct approach.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18It's not trying to stay hidden from the sharp-eyed seals.
0:23:18 > 0:23:23It's just going to charge into the group to try to grab some fast food.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25With so many seals in the water,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29will it be able to pick out a single target? Here it goes.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Missed! Close, though. Let's have a closer look.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41You can see that the seal has definitely spotted
0:23:41 > 0:23:45the great white coming, and is using its incredible agility
0:23:45 > 0:23:48to get out of the way of those terrifying jaws.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53In these cold, clear waters, maybe the seals have got the edge.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Fish are generally cold-blooded,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59but the great white shark has a neat trick.
0:23:59 > 0:24:04It uses heat generated by its moving muscles to warm up its blood.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08The blood is transferred to the stomach, brain and swimming muscles,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12making them more efficient and warmer. And because of that,
0:24:12 > 0:24:17it has more chance of bringing into play this absolute horror show -
0:24:17 > 0:24:21The jaws of the great white shark. Look at these teeth!
0:24:21 > 0:24:25You can see that they're lined up in rows in the back of the jaw.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29These here aren't operational. It's those around the outside of the jaw
0:24:29 > 0:24:33that do the biting, and these are shed continually.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37It's believed he might lose as many as 30,000 teeth in a lifetime.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40But every time one of these teeth drops out,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43one of these new ones just swings into its place.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Absolutely extraordinary.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50And look at the shape of each one of these precision tools.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54It's symmetrical, triangular, kind of like a dagger,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57with a serrated edge to it, and it's a perfect shape
0:24:57 > 0:25:02for cutting into the blubber on marine mammals like seals.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Right, let's see if we can see this in action
0:25:05 > 0:25:08in the mouth of a real shark.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13OK, for the shark to get close enough to use its jaws,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15it needs a different approach.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18It looks like it's going to try a vertical attack.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21The seal may have fantastic underwater vision
0:25:21 > 0:25:25but it still needs to come to the surface to breathe.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28When its head is above water, it's hard to spot an attack
0:25:28 > 0:25:30from directly below
0:25:30 > 0:25:35particularly with the great white's counter-shading camouflage.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38The shark locks onto a single target from 30m down
0:25:38 > 0:25:41then uses those internally-heated muscles
0:25:41 > 0:25:45to power itself up towards the seal.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Wow! That was stunning.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Let's have a look in more detail.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56As the shark comes towards the surface, it reaches speeds of 30mph.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59The skin is covered in tiny fortified scales called dentacles
0:25:59 > 0:26:04which reduce the skin's resistance, so it slips through the water,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07and the powerful tail drives it forward at great speed.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Close to the surface, the eyes roll back, protecting it,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14and the mouth opens up to as much as a metre wide.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19Those 7cm-long, sharp, serrated teeth are just bared and ready.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22The seal simply didn't stand a chance.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26It never even saw the shark coming.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28The speed and power of the attack
0:26:28 > 0:26:31carries the shark right out of the water.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40A layer of blubber is no protection
0:26:40 > 0:26:44once the seal is in the grip of those fearsome jaws.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Pretty grisly stuff.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51My belief is that the great white shark's danger to humans
0:26:51 > 0:26:55is massively overstated, but that's not true if you're a seal.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58This kind of hunt can result in as much as 50% success,
0:26:58 > 0:27:03which means that the great white is truly death from the deep.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05The seal had sharp underwater vision,
0:27:05 > 0:27:09a mean turn of speed and supreme swimming skills.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14But it was all no good against the shark's counter-shaded camouflage,
0:27:14 > 0:27:19immense strength and power, and, of course, those lethal jaws,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22all of which proves the great white shark's reputation
0:27:22 > 0:27:27as one of the planet's greatest predators is certainly justified.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Sharks and rays have been around for 400 million years
0:27:35 > 0:27:38but they're anything but primitive.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41With electrical sensitivity, the electric shocks
0:27:41 > 0:27:43and an incredible sense of smell,
0:27:43 > 0:27:47they have some of the most advanced hunting techniques of any animals.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50That's all we've got time for. Join us next time
0:27:50 > 0:27:54as three more pairs of animals go head-to-head,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and we analyse the action, Deadly 360 style.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:07 > 0:28:10E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk