Water Babies Animal Babies


Water Babies

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The first months of any animal's life

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are the most crucial.

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Every day brings new challenges...

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..and new dramas.

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In this series, we'll reveal how animal babies survive

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and even thrive

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in three of the most beautiful yet demanding landscapes on the planet.

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On the vast savannahs of Africa,

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youngsters face the world's top predators

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and intense competition.

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Water babies must deal with treacherous coasts

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and dangerous currents...

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..and in the rocky world of the mountains,

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food is scarce

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and the weather extreme.

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These brave little animals do have some great tactics

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to overcome the odds

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but they face a steep learning curve

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in what can be a cruel world.

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If they pay attention to those around them,

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and fight against adversity,

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they might just make it.

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This is the story of some amazing animal babies.

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From rivers to rocky shores,

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vast open oceans

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to pristine tropical reefs...

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..over 70% of our planet is covered in water.

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Although full of opportunity...

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..these places are immensely challenging.

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Especially for the inexperienced.

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Many animals that spend their lives living in and around water

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must come onto land to breed.

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Being born and raised this way means the babies face many hurdles.

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Sometimes, simply getting to water

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can be the biggest trial of their young lives.

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There are predators to evade

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and vital skills to master.

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It's often very early on

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that water babies face their greatest challenges.

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PUP SQUEALS

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Overcoming these first hurdles

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is the beginning of their road to adulthood.

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On a crowded beach in the South Atlantic...

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..an Antarctic fur seal takes its first-ever breath.

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Right now, it's just 60 centimetres long.

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The pup will spend the next four months on this beach.

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It needs to grow and build up strength,

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readying itself for life at sea.

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But this is a difficult place to be born,

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and it's easy to see why.

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Every year, 3 million fur seals come here to South Georgia to breed.

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In just a month, 500,000 pups are born.

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The pups rely on their mums for food and protection

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but, in this disorientating crowd,

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it's easy for some to get...

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well, get a little lost.

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SEALS WAIL

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And it appears they're not the only ones.

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The pups need to be careful.

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On these crowded beaches, there's a big danger.

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Only days after giving birth, the females are fertile again

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and courted by enormous, broody bulls.

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As males throw their weight around,

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the tiny pups are caught in the firing line.

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PUP SQUEALS

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PUP CRIES OUT

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PUP WHINES AND WHIMPERS

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It's battered and bruised,

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but it's survived.

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The pup needs to find its mum,

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and it has a clever trick to do so.

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Amazingly, in all this chaos,

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the pups can pick out the individual smell of their own mother.

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SEALS WAIL

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By following her scent...

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..and listening for her calls,

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they're reunited.

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The pups have faced up to their first real test,

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but this is just the beginning of their story.

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It will be months before the baby fur seals

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are ready to leave the beach and to take to the open ocean.

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But other water babies have to get from land to water

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as soon as they're born...

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..and this often turns out

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to be the greatest challenge of their lives.

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On the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef,

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Raine Island is the world's largest and most important nursery

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for a very special animal baby.

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Underground, something is stirring...

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..a green turtle hatchling, fresh from the egg.

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It has one thing on its mind,

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it must get to the safety of water,

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and fast.

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In the way lies 50 metres of perilous beach.

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Oh, well, no time like the present.

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But things haven't started well for the lone hatchling.

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Normally, sea turtles hatch in vast numbers to overwhelm predators.

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Alone, it's an easy target.

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Rufous night herons flock to the beach,

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looking to prey on turtles.

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Luckily, the eager hatchling isn't alone after all.

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It's anything but alone.

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Each tiny hatchling, just five centimetres long,

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makes the same death-defying dash.

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The next few minutes are the most dangerous in their entire lives.

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Wave after wave enter the fray.

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Many a good turtle is lost to the insatiable herons...

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..but the sheer numbers mean they could never take them all.

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With the herons distracted by the main group,

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one's getting closer to the shore,

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but it's not safe yet.

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Disaster,

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but fighting back makes the heron think twice.

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Hatchlings that take the most direct, quickest route to the ocean

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have the highest chance of survival.

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Made it!

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But the danger isn't over.

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The reef is just as hazardous as the beach.

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Only once they get to the open ocean

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will their chances of surviving increase.

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Their journey will continue.

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The hatchlings' mad dash for the ocean

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is an incredibly risky start to life.

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But for a different family of water babies,

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their first challenge is all about a remarkable leap of faith.

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A tree hole lined with fluffy down feathers.

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They're North American wood ducks.

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Despite being just hours old,

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they're about to have an amazing adventure.

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Although they don't seem particularly up for it.

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That's Mum, by the way.

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Their tree nest keeps them safe from predators,

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but there's a problem.

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There's nothing to eat in here.

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For their first feed, the ducklings need to get to water.

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But that is going to be far more dangerous

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than any of them could possibly imagine.

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Mum's off.

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Now, it's their turn.

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She calls, egging them on.

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But, in the nest, they've got a mountain to climb.

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Literally.

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Tiny claws grip the wood as they heave themselves up.

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A first-ever glimpse of the big, wide world,

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and it's in for a massive shock.

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The nest is 20 metres up a vast tree.

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It will be months before the duckling can fly.

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Right now, its wings are useless.

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Despite the danger, it knows what it must do -

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don't think twice, just jump.

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The fluffy ducklings stretch out to slow the descent...

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..but luck will play its part.

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Once one has made it, the others follow.

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These base jumping, daredevil ducks take it all in their stride.

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They've made it down in one piece...

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..but Mum carries on calling.

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They won't be safe until they reach the water...

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..and it's a long way on little legs.

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They've made it, like...

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well, like ducks to water.

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Now they can get their first meal.

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Just 24 hours old,

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and they've already survived the greatest trial of their life.

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Water habitats vary dramatically across the planet.

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Each environment presents unique challenges

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for the babies growing up there.

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Under certain conditions,

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the water itself can become extremely dangerous.

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In Africa, lesser flamingos nest on remote caustic soda lakes.

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Volcanic activity creates an alkaline concoction...

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..that could burn human skin.

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As evaporation dries the lake,

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it becomes a toxic quagmire.

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Long, scaly legs protect the adults,

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but the sticky sludge is a potential deathtrap for the youngsters.

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Tower nests built by the adults are the chicks' only safe havens...

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..keeping them out of harm's way.

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One chick has fallen from its nest.

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In grave danger, it must try and climb back to safety,

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and quickly.

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It's a monumental effort,

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like climbing a slippery mountain with no arms.

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The parent looks on helplessly.

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Its bill is too large and clumsy to help.

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The determined chick sums up the energy for one last attempt.

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Safe at last.

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It's learnt the hard way to stay put.

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When their legs have grown and hardened,

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the chicks will leave the nest, braving the burning mud.

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Having run the gauntlet of the beach,

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many of the green turtle hatchlings have made it to the shoreline.

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But they're not out of trouble yet.

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Still just minutes old,

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they now need to negotiate the dangers of the reef.

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Powerful waves crash all around.

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Tossed about, it fights to surface and catch a breath.

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Drowning is a genuine risk.

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The breakers force the hatchlings back towards the sheltered water

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of a rocky outcrop.

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A stroke of luck.

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Or maybe not.

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A new menace lurks here.

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The strong current makes it hard to escape...

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..so the crab can wait for dinner to come to it.

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The hapless turtle is thrown straight into the claws of the crab.

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A firm grip gives the crab the upper hand.

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But the tenacious turtle fights back,

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and wriggles free.

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Finally, its flippers can be used for what they were designed for...

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..as the heroic hatchling makes it to the safety of the open ocean.

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Only one in 1,000 hatchlings will make it to adulthood.

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Turtle hatchlings can swim instinctively

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from the moment they enter the water.

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But for some babies, this can be a huge challenge.

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Taking their first swim can be incredibly daunting.

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Tucked away in a secluded den, a giant otter pup.

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One of three siblings, they're all just days old.

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Soon, one pup will leave the den for its first-ever encounter with water.

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Although, it doesn't seem too keen.

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The rest of the family congregate outside,

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and it's a big family...

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..12 adults, way above the average.

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These really are giants, the biggest otters on the planet,

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reaching up to 2 metres long.

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Their home is South America's Pantanol...

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..the world's largest tropical wetland.

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As others check the coast is clear...

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..Mum brings out the pup.

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It's time for a swimming lesson.

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It sounds ridiculous,

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but newborn giant otter pops don't actually like the water,

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hence the lack of enthusiasm.

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This is something all pups must face.

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Being wary of this dangerous new experience

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is completely natural,

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but all pups must learn to become a strong swimmer

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if they're going to survive.

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Right now, it's just trying to keep its head above water.

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Although starting to get the hang of things,

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our pup is now exhausted.

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Mum calls a halt to the lesson and heads for the safety of home.

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An adult shrieks in alarm.

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It's a jaguar, right by the den.

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There are more jaguars along these rivers

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than anywhere else on Earth...

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..and they'll happily hunt otters.

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Mum rushes the pup back to the den,

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as the rest of the family confront the predator.

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As a stealth hunter,

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the otters know the jaguar will give up once its cover's blown.

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It's been an adventure-packed day for the pup,

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with an important life lesson under its belt.

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But the presence of the jaguar

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is a reminder of what challenges lie ahead.

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For any animal baby,

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overcoming life's first hurdles is a great achievement.

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But as they get older, they face new dangers.

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In any water environment, predators are a constant threat.

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Vulnerable and inexperienced,

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youngsters are an easy target...

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..but some water babies have ingenious ways

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to rise to the challenge.

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The High Arctic -

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a young family of snow geese.

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Just hatched, the chicks leave their nest

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to get to the nearby pools.

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But...they're being watched.

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WOLF HOWLS

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White wolves are on the prowl, looking for easy pickings.

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An eider duck family is also on the move.

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For these young families, water is a safe haven...

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..but the wolves have other ideas.

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They're not going to let a bit of water

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get between them and a meal.

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The adults can fly away...

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..but surely the youngsters are like sitting ducks.

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It dives seconds before the wolves close in.

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Success is all down to timing.

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Another wolf has spotted the young eiders...

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..and they've got a different strategy.

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Mum creates a diversion,

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pretending to have a broken wing to distract the wolf...

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..whilst her chicks hide in the shallows.

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2-0 to the ducks,

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but the wolves have another shot at goal.

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A long-tailed duck.

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Its chicks are the smallest, but the wolves are still interested.

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These little ducklings have the best trick of all -

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they stay submerged.

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When the wolf's back is turned, they grab a breath.

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The perfect vanishing act.

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That's game, set and match to the ducklings.

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And a bunch of very frustrated wolves.

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INSECT BUZZES

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In the South Atlantic,

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the fur seal pups are growing up quickly...

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..feeding up on Mum's milk...

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..and passing the time.

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After a couple of weeks together, the females leave their pups,

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heading back to the sea on five-day-long fishing trips.

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Left to fend for themselves, the pups congregate in creches.

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PUPS CHITTER

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Here, they start to learn key skills.

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The young males even start imitating the big bulls,

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practising for later in life.

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Most importantly, the creches provide safety in numbers.

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The beach is a dangerous place for a lone pup.

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Despite this, an adventurous little one leaves the group

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and heads down towards the shore,

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but it's being watched.

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Giant petrels are like seagulls on steroids.

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They've evolved to be the vultures of the Antarctic.

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They prey on vulnerable pups.

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PUPS BARK

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Pecking at the pup, the petrel tests its strength.

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A squabble - a chance to get away.

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Only one thing will save it now.

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PUP BARKS

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Fighting back has made the petrel think twice.

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It's far better to be in the safety of the creche.

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Soon, all the pups will face their greatest challenge -

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swimming out into the cold, rough waters of the South Atlantic

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for the very first time.

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PUP BARKS

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Growing up on land can make water babies clumsy and awkward.

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This can mean they have to face up to some rather unusual predators.

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1,000km off the coast of South America...

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and right on the equator,

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is a famous archipelago of volcanic islands.

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The Galapagos.

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These sun-baked tropical islands are probably the last place

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you'd ever expect to find

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a penguin.

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These are Galapagos penguins.

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And tucked away down an ancient lava tube are a pair of chicks.

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CHICKS SQUEAK

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The penguins nest in these natural caves for a very good reason.

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On the surface, temperatures soar to 30 degrees.

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PENGUINS SCREECH

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In this sweltering heat, the adults do have one way to cool off.

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Cold polar currents mean the sea temperature here

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is ten degrees lower than normal tropical seas,

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the main reason that penguins can survive here at all.

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The same currents bring nutrients and, in turn, vast shoals of fish.

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So the bountiful seas provide food...

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CHICKS SQUEAK

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..and their lava-tube homes shelter them from the worst of the heat.

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But growing up on the Galapagos does pose other problems.

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A Sally Lightfoot crab?

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Not a normal predator of penguins.

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But here on the Galapagos, things are different.

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With the parents out fishing, the chicks are home alone.

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In the darkness, the crabs can feel their surroundings

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with whisker-like spines on the tip of each leg.

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The chicks sense movement.

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They know they're not alone any more.

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The crab tests the chicks.

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It prefers to tackle smaller, weaker prey.

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A determined peck dissuades the crab.

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Maybe it'll find an easier target elsewhere.

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In a few weeks, the chicks will leave their lava-tube home

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and join the adults in the cool, refreshing water.

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The tropics are an unusual place to find a penguin,

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but it's obvious they're perfectly at home.

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Having avoided the dangers of predators,

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the babies must now take the next step on the road to adulthood.

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Growing up destined for a life in water

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means there are many vital skills to master.

0:37:350:37:39

The water babies can only become truly independent

0:37:460:37:50

if they can master all of these important adult skills.

0:37:500:37:54

In the swamplands of Brazil...

0:38:050:38:07

..the giant otter pups have really gained confidence.

0:38:110:38:15

OTTER PUPS SQUEAL

0:38:230:38:27

Now a couple of months old,

0:38:270:38:29

all three are tentatively exploring beyond the den.

0:38:290:38:32

But they've still got a lot to learn.

0:38:350:38:38

Giant otters are highly social,

0:38:430:38:46

spending their whole lives in a tight-knit family.

0:38:460:38:49

They work together, protecting the territory,

0:38:530:38:56

watching out for predators

0:38:560:38:59

and helping out with the baby-sitting.

0:38:590:39:02

SQUEALING

0:39:050:39:10

The pups need to learn how to contribute to family life.

0:39:100:39:14

Today's crucial lesson will be a big step

0:39:190:39:22

on the road to adulthood -

0:39:220:39:24

toilet training, otter style.

0:39:240:39:27

An adult leads the way with the pups eagerly looking on.

0:39:290:39:34

Giant otters use communal latrines,

0:39:360:39:39

meaning the whole family do their business in the same spot.

0:39:390:39:43

It's a vital way to mark their territory.

0:39:450:39:47

And there's a crucial technique involved.

0:39:490:39:52

Key to getting it right is all about rubbing the scent in.

0:39:540:39:58

It creates an almighty stink that will see off any other otter family.

0:40:010:40:05

Now, it's the three pups' turn.

0:40:100:40:13

One plucks up the courage to give it a go.

0:40:160:40:19

He thinks about going all the way to the top, but chickens out.

0:40:200:40:25

Not exactly the right spot.

0:40:300:40:33

PUP SQUEALS

0:40:340:40:36

And no hint of rubbing...

0:40:390:40:42

but it's a step in the right direction.

0:40:420:40:45

An adult takes over.

0:40:470:40:48

If you want a job done properly, do it yourself.

0:40:490:40:54

The pups need to get the hang of the toilet etiquette

0:41:020:41:05

if they're going to start contributing to family life.

0:41:050:41:08

These three are learning fast,

0:41:120:41:14

but they've still got their most important skill to master -

0:41:140:41:19

hunting their own food.

0:41:190:41:21

In these murky waters,

0:41:230:41:25

getting the hang of fishing is far harder than it seems.

0:41:250:41:28

The giant otter pups are swimming confidently in their home river,

0:41:370:41:41

but for young animals growing up along rocky shores,

0:41:410:41:44

taking to the water for the first time can be a daunting prospect.

0:41:440:41:49

Ferocious storms and pounding waves

0:41:500:41:53

mean this is a dangerous place for the inexperienced.

0:41:530:41:56

Parents try to act as lifeguards,

0:41:570:42:00

but a youngster washed out to sea is unlikely to return.

0:42:000:42:04

So how can these babies get their first swimming lessons

0:42:060:42:10

without it becoming their last?

0:42:100:42:12

For all fur seal pups, taking to the open ocean

0:42:150:42:18

is their biggest single step to becoming independent.

0:42:180:42:22

Here in New Zealand, storms whip up the seas.

0:42:280:42:33

It's easy to understand the pups' reluctance...

0:42:440:42:47

..but luckily, the fur seals here have discovered

0:42:490:42:53

a safe way to practise their swimming.

0:42:530:42:56

It heads inland...

0:43:010:43:05

..following a freshwater stream.

0:43:080:43:10

It's a very peculiar thing for a young fur seal to do.

0:43:180:43:22

And this is the only place on the planet where they do it.

0:43:300:43:35

Now, which way was it?

0:43:400:43:43

Finally, the pup arrives,

0:44:060:44:10

and what a sight awaits him.

0:44:100:44:13

A secluded waterfall and plunge pool are the perfect training ground.

0:44:190:44:25

Here, they can learn key manoeuvres

0:44:360:44:39

and build up their swimming strength.

0:44:390:44:41

No-one knows how the first pups found this place,

0:44:570:45:01

but each year, more and more make the journey.

0:45:010:45:05

Being able to practise in this safe, carefree environment

0:45:070:45:11

gives them a huge advantage.

0:45:110:45:13

The only downside is there's nothing for them to eat,

0:45:210:45:25

else they might be tempted to stay here forever.

0:45:250:45:29

PUP BARKS

0:45:290:45:32

After two days of intense training, playtime must come to an end.

0:45:370:45:43

The pups head back to the beach...

0:45:530:45:55

..to face their real test - the open ocean.

0:46:010:46:06

It won't be long before they'll put their new skills to the test.

0:46:150:46:19

For any baby adjusting to life in water,

0:46:220:46:25

becoming a strong, confident swimmer

0:46:250:46:28

is a major step on the road to becoming independent.

0:46:280:46:31

But before they can truly go it alone,

0:46:330:46:36

they need to be able to find their own food.

0:46:360:46:39

Learning to hunt in water creates its own unique challenges.

0:46:400:46:46

Up to now, the three giant otter pups

0:46:520:46:55

haven't had to worry about food.

0:46:550:46:57

Approaching four months old,

0:47:020:47:04

they've always relied on Mum's milk...

0:47:040:47:07

..but now, she's trying to wean them.

0:47:120:47:15

The pups have started experimenting with solids.

0:47:270:47:31

But it's fish they really want.

0:47:370:47:39

There are over 200 species of fish in the Pantanal wetlands...

0:47:430:47:48

and the giant otters are their top predator.

0:47:480:47:52

Their super-sensitive whiskers

0:47:550:47:57

detect changes in current and water pressure,

0:47:570:48:01

meaning they can sense fish while they're still metres away.

0:48:010:48:05

They're expert hunters, eating up to 4kg of fish a day,

0:48:070:48:13

but not so good at sharing.

0:48:130:48:16

At first, the pups try to scrounge a meal.

0:48:200:48:24

But the adult is having none of it.

0:48:320:48:35

Finally, persistence pays off,

0:48:450:48:49

but this is a prize worth fighting for.

0:48:490:48:53

Seems like both are growing up to be rather stubborn.

0:49:300:49:34

Losing the tug-of-war means it's back to begging.

0:49:340:49:38

As the weeks pass,

0:49:440:49:46

the adults are more and more reluctant to give up their food.

0:49:460:49:50

The days of free hand-outs are over.

0:49:550:49:58

It's tough love, forcing them to hunt for themselves.

0:50:070:50:12

They must master this if they're to survive as adults, but it's tricky.

0:50:180:50:24

In the murky water,

0:50:260:50:27

the pups learn to use their whiskers to detect the movement of fish.

0:50:270:50:31

It usually takes weeks of practice before they finally succeed.

0:50:340:50:38

PUP BARKS

0:50:400:50:42

But not for this pup.

0:50:500:50:52

It's a hugely important moment in its young life

0:51:040:51:07

and a final step on its path to adulthood.

0:51:070:51:10

Catching fish in murky water is hard enough.

0:51:190:51:23

But what if you had to master a very tricky fishing technique

0:51:260:51:31

while flying?

0:51:310:51:32

African skimmers deploy a brilliant and unique strategy

0:51:360:51:40

to catch their dinner.

0:51:400:51:42

They fly low and steady across the water.

0:51:460:51:49

Their longer, extended lower bill slices the surface.

0:51:490:51:54

If they hit a fish, it snaps shut.

0:52:010:52:04

Or in this case, a leaf.

0:52:120:52:14

It goes to show it's a tricky technique, and for this baby,

0:52:150:52:20

skimmer school starts right here.

0:52:200:52:23

Mum's on hand for guidance,

0:52:300:52:33

although that unusual bill doesn't make caring for the chick very easy.

0:52:330:52:39

The chick's training ground is a remote sand bar

0:52:470:52:50

on the Sanaga River in Cameroon.

0:52:500:52:52

But term time is short.

0:52:560:52:58

THUNDER RUMBLES

0:52:580:53:00

The rains have begun and in just four weeks,

0:53:000:53:03

this sand-bar nursery will be flooded by ten metres of water.

0:53:030:53:07

It's vital they start their training now.

0:53:090:53:12

They can't even fly yet, but that doesn't stop them.

0:53:170:53:21

At this stage, anything is a legitimate target.

0:53:270:53:31

Although some pupils are always a little over-ambitious.

0:53:520:53:56

Perhaps studying the adults' technique will help.

0:54:010:54:04

Or perhaps not.

0:54:210:54:22

THUNDER RUMBLES

0:54:240:54:27

With every storm, the water rises

0:54:270:54:31

and their training ground shrinks.

0:54:310:54:35

Over time, they improve, but they can only truly master the skills

0:54:420:54:46

when they're strong enough to fly.

0:54:460:54:49

And just in time.

0:55:010:55:03

One more storm and the sand bar could have vanished altogether.

0:55:030:55:08

The perfect technique.

0:55:160:55:18

Graduation with flying colours.

0:55:180:55:21

These apprentices have turned the corner from chick to adult.

0:55:230:55:29

All the water babies have grown up so quickly.

0:55:370:55:41

They've overcome many hurdles to prepare them for life in the water.

0:55:430:55:48

The green turtles will spend the next 20 years

0:55:510:55:54

exploring the vast oceans...

0:55:540:55:56

..before returning to the exact same beach to lay their eggs,

0:56:000:56:05

starting another mad dash for the ocean.

0:56:050:56:09

Having left the beach behind them,

0:56:120:56:14

the Antarctic fur seals will spend several years out to sea

0:56:140:56:20

before they return to South Georgia to have their own babies.

0:56:200:56:24

The three giant otter pups are getting bigger by the day.

0:56:280:56:32

They've finally got the hang of using the family latrine...

0:56:340:56:38

..although giant otters will always end up arguing over fish.

0:56:440:56:50

Despite all the challenges of this hugely demanding environment...

0:57:000:57:05

..our youngsters have made it past

0:57:070:57:09

the most vulnerable stage of their lives.

0:57:090:57:11

They're well on their way to adulthood

0:57:130:57:15

and finding their place on our beautiful blue planet.

0:57:150:57:21

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