Episode 2 Dolphins - Spy in the Pod

Dolphins.

The cleverest creatures in the ocean.

Spy creatures delve into their secret lives...

..to reveal new, surprising behaviour...

And yet more mysterious events.

Encounter the greatest dolphin in the ocean.

And discover their family secrets.

Hitch a ride on the back of a dolphin.

And take a leap into another world.

In South Africa, a superpod of common dolphins is on the move.

Spy Dolphin joins them and films from the camera in its eye.

The dolphins are after a special meal,

one only served up at this time of year.

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

The feast happens every winter,

but in the vast ocean it's difficult to find.

To track it down,

they must work as a team.

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

Speed is everything. They must beat other predators to the meal.

By working together, they gain the advantage.

And here it is, the greatest fish migration on the planet.

The sardines may number millions,

but to catch them they must still work as a team.

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

They dive deep beneath the shoal

and start to herd it upwards.

The fish stick together for safety.

The dolphins' task is to break down their defences.

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

They use loud calls and bursts of bubbles

to help drive them.

The shoal fragments into more manageable bait balls.

Now the feeding begins.

But sardines are never eaten alone.

Gannets have been watching from above.

They seize the moment.

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

Gannets aren't the only gate-crashers.

Bronze whaler sharks join the party.

The dolphins wisely beat a retreat,

just in the nick of time.

A 13-metre Bryde whale.

And he's not the only ocean giant attracted by the gathering.

The world's largest dolphin is here, too.

The orca.

Orcas always travel as a family,

and they, too, rely on teamwork.

ORCAS WHINE

But they aren't after the sardines.

They're here for the dolphins.

They dive deep to take them by surprise.

A close shave for the dolphin,

and a disappointment for the orcas.

But, working as a family,

they will gain plenty more chances.

In neighbouring Mozambique,

Spy Turtle is following a pod of bottlenose.

He's one of many different spy creatures

who have been watching how these dolphins

work together as a team.

SPY TUNA WHIRS MECHANICALLY

DOLPHINS CLICK AND WHISTLE

Spy Baby joins the underwater menagerie.

This new, remote-controlled spy creature

also has cameras for eyes.

He's on the trail of a young male that has just left his mother's pod.

He's having to survive without the support of family or friends,

and it's not something he likes very much.

He unearths a tubeworm...

Not the quality of seafood he's used to!

CLICKING

He's in need of company,

and for now the new spy creature will do nicely.

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

Spy Baby records his lonely call...

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

Then plays it back to him.

CLICKING AND WHISTLING

The dolphin responds with his signature whistle.

DOLPHIN WHISTLES

And Spy Baby plays this back as well.

SPY BABY WHISTLES

These unique whistles are used like names,

repeating the call is a sign of friendship.

He picks up a mangrove seed...

..and presents it to Spy Baby.

It's another friendly gesture.

Offering gifts is common among dolphins

but Spy baby can never be the companion he needs.

He must find real dolphins if he is to thrive in this new stage of life.

To discover more about the single dolphins,

the spy team enlists some special support.

In the Caribbean,

there is a bottlenose dolphin with a very useful talent.

He's happy to carry tiny cameras into the wild.

Each day, this tame dolphin is given free rein to explore the open ocean.

He returns when he wishes with a recording of his adventures.

From this unique position,

it's clear how he glides through the water with such ease.

Powerful beats of his tail give him perfect control

as he searches for company.

But another dolphin finds him first.

He could hear his call from 10 miles away.

By happily swimming side-by-side, they show they're friends.

Only dolphins that know each other come this close.

They partner up as they start looking for a meal.

Despite the wealth of fish life on the reef,

the dolphin has learnt to be choosy

as many fish are distasteful or poisonous.

Up ahead is a barracuda - a wholesome meal.

But it's quick and has a nasty nip. It's not worth the trouble.

A giant snapper presents the next opportunity.

But it too is armed to the teeth and best avoided.

Surprisingly, the barren sea bed offers the easiest possibilities.

He scans it with sonar, moving his head like a minesweeper.

When he finds a hidden fish, he IDs it by upping the sonar's intensity.

A tasty titbit for all the effort.

Single dolphins have to rely on their personal skills

and abilities for everything.

It's a different matter for those that hunt as a pod.

In South Carolina, bottlenose take teamwork to a whole new level.

The results are spectacular.

Fish explode onto the shore.

They just have to be plucked from the mud.

Spy Dolphin moves in for a closer look.

He follows as the dolphins patrol the shallow creeks to find yet more fish shoals.

The technique requires close cooperation.

But one dolphin makes the final decision,

selecting which mud bank to use.

He then leads the charge.

The fish leap and panic, right onto the shore.

The dolphins may hunt like this 15 times on each low tide.

These techniques are only known by a few local individuals

and they have to be learnt by younger members of the group.

Stranding is a serious hazard for dolphins.

But these have mastered the knack.

As dolphins are so intelligent, they can tailor the way they catch food

to exploit specific local conditions.

In Mozambique,

the dolphin that's left his pod still cuts a lonely figure.

His task now is to find a companion.

And Spy Baby doesn't measure up to the job.

But Spy Baby soon spots someone who might.

But it's not a bottlenose.

It's a rare humpback dolphin - a different species entirely.

Regardless, the young bottlenose still seems interested.

And something extraordinary appears to be happening -

they seem to be making friends.

This is the first time such a peculiar partnership has ever been filmed.

They strengthen their relationship by swimming close together.

It may not be a match made in heaven but at least it's company.

Orcas are never lonely.

Their families stay together for life.

British Columbia has among the highest number of orca pods in the world.

The family is led by the eldest female,

while her daughters and granddaughters follow behind.

Unlike most dolphins, the males stay with their family.

His dorsal fin is nearly 2m high.

They stay together for life

and any hunting knowledge gained is kept exclusively within the group.

A calf learns the family secrets from an early age.

What he knows depends on which pod he's in.

This pod specialises in hunting fish.

And, as salmon migrate into the bay, the whales are in for a treat.

The orcas know just how to catch them and stealth is not required.

They rely on shock and awe.

They make as much noise as possible,

slapping the water with their 2m-wide tails.

The shock waves stun or disorientate the fish.

And breaching adds to the confusion.

They then charge into the shoal, knocking the fish for six.

Each orca must catch 50 salmon a day

and their group skills make sure that none go hungry.

Another pod nearby favours completely different food.

They specialise in catching dolphins and seals.

They've acquired a different set of skills

geared to outsmarting their quick-thinking prey.

They spot their food by spy-hopping.

A wake may be the only sign.

They check again.

It's just what they've been looking for.

Dall's porpoises - the fastest dolphins in the ocean.

They reach speeds of over 35mph.

Orcas nearly match them for speed

but the porpoises are much more manoeuvrable.

As the orcas dive, they switch to stealth mode.

And try to sneak up undetected.

But the porpoises just keep on accelerating.

The orcas' endurance is tested to the limit.

And the porpoises race to freedom.

The orcas look for far easier prey.

A lone sea lion is an unsuspecting target.

Despite living close to one another,

the pods that hunt mammals never interact with those that catch fish.

They not only pursue different prey,

they even have different calls and dialects.

Back in Mozambique,

another spy creature joins the surveillance team.

This is Spy Puffer, a pufferfish with a camera in his mouth.

He immediately starts filming the young male

and his humpback friend.

They seem to be getting along just fine.

A second pufferfish joins - this one has cameras for eyes.

They make a great double act.

One films forwards, the other sideways.

They immediately prove popular.

Close by, Spy Baby has found yet more dolphins.

It's gang of young males that have also just left their mothers.

They seem totally unfazed by their first meeting with Spy Baby.

These young males hang out together,

both for company and to share knowledge.

The young bottlenose may have made a friend

but it's the wisdom of the crowd he needs.

He cautiously approaches the gang with the humpback by his side.

He whistles out with his name

but there's no guarantee he'll be accepted.

Especially with his strange friend in tow.

The humpback stays close as the bottlenose tries to join the pod.

He's seeking reassurance from his friend.

A pod doesn't accept newcomers willingly,

even those of the same species.

A dolphin starts to drive the humpback away.

And anyway, humpbacks tend to prefer their own company.

As he turns to leave,

his bottlenose friend must decide whether to stay or join him.

But to the bottlenose it's clear where his choice should be.

As the humpback returns to a solitary life,

his friend chances his luck with the motley crew.

The pod has a strong hierarchy

but he has an unusual method to wheedle his way in.

He begins to act like a female,

deploying feminine charm to win them over.

It seems to be working.

They even perform mating rituals.

By discovering his feminine side he's gradually accepted.

Every male undergoes this initiation rite

before he is allowed to join the gang.

This is his new family now

and he'll soon be party to everything they know.

Such strange rites of passage have never been filmed before

and have previously been mistaken for males attacking females.

In other parts of the world,

more strange rituals are still being discovered.

Recently, in Shark Bay, Western Australia,

some bottlenose dolphins have taken to wearing what look like hats.

They're actually sea sponges, which they balance on their noses.

This is the first time this behaviour has been filmed

but the reason they carry them remains a mystery.

One thought is that they use them

to protect their noses as they root around in the sand.

But some look a bit big for the job.

As they live in such cloudy water,

the real reason has yet to be confirmed.

Sometimes, mysteries just add to an animal's intrigue.

Just a few miles away,

the unique behaviour of another bottlenose pod is better understood.

Each day, they enter this shallow bay.

They seek the fish that gather around the shoreline.

As the fish dart away, they instinctively head to the shore,

where it's too shallow for dolphins.

But this is all part of the dolphins' strategy.

Fish that make a break for it are chased right back.

As usual, the young are watching and learning.

The fish soon fringe the shallows,

but they've been lulled into a false sense of security.

The dolphin now steps on the accelerator,

powering into the dangerously shallow water.

The sudden turn of speed raises her back clean out of the water.

A few thrusts from the tail and she hydroplanes across the surface,

covering ten metres in less than a second.

Using this technique, she easily outpaces the surprised fish

and also avoids becoming stranded.

It's a skill known only by the dolphins of Shark Bay.

In South Carolina, some bottlenose pods

have found a far easier way to get a meal

they simply learn the routines of the local shrimping boats.

When their nets are ready to be hauled,

the dolphins rush out to join them...

and grab any dead or injured fish that fall through.

But sometimes even that much effort's not required.

The unwanted catch is thrown back into the sea

and into the mouths of the waiting dolphins.

It's the ultimate breakfast buffet.

Dolphins may be incredibly inventive,

but they are also clever enough to grab a takeaway when they can.

They are ever adaptable, constantly watching and learning new skills.

In Mozambique, the young bottlenose has been in the gang for

many weeks and, from them, has picked up

many new talents along the way.

He's also found a new friend.

Most males have a best mate within a pod.

Once formed, this bromance can last a lifetime.

As ever, spy creatures watch their every move.

The mock turtle is already proving a hit.

And so are the puffers.

The young male gives his new-found friend a guided tour.

The pair are becoming inseparable.

The reef is a rich stomping ground for these teenage tearaways.

The young male learnt most of his skills from his mother,

but he's making a whole new set of discoveries with his latest pals.

A real puffer fish offers the chance for bored teenagers

to have some fun.

He tries to hide, but he won't get off that lightly.

His next defence is to inflate like a ball.

Now the game can really begin...

Playing catch is a great pastime.

They take turns to carry and pass it between each other.

But something far more extraordinary seems to be happening.

When attacked, puffer fish release a neurotoxin.

In high doses it can kill,

but, in small doses, it has a narcotic effect.

It seems to be affecting the dolphins.

They appear totally blissed out by the whole experience.

And remarkably, all take turns in passing the puffer around.

This is the first time that apparent recreational drug use

has been documented in dolphins.

With the dolphins otherwise engaged the puffer deflates.

He's free to go on his way.

It looks like they will be distracted for quite some time.

Back in the Caribbean, the camera dolphin shows

just how much he interacts with other dolphins.

If another dolphin calls, he immediately answers.

LOW WHISTLE

He uses dozens of different calls, telling all the dolphins in

the local area where he is and what he's doing.

LOW WHISTLE

The lips of the blowhole act like a mouth,

adjusting the sound.

CLICKING

Before long, his calls are answered.

In murky water, it's the only way they can stay in contact.

Different pods have different dialects or accents,

and each sound has a specific meaning.

WHISTLING

They hear a far greater range of frequencies than we can,

so we can only eavesdrop on a fraction of their conversations.

WHISTLE

Blasts of bubbles add emphasis to what he's saying.

And special calls are reserved for the opposite sex.

Some of their sounds are quite bizarre.

LOW LOUD BLOWING SOUND

This is actually a love song and it seems to be working.

The females allow him to approach...

..but not for long.

CLICKING

LOW LOUD BLOWING SOUND

He catches up and, this time, the females wait for him.

He checks her out...

..but she's still nursing, so of no interest at all.

LOW GUTTERY SOUND

He takes a deep breath.

Time for a well-earned rest after all his efforts.

He starts to go to sleep.

And the fish play dare around their snoozing predator.

Dolphins have a bizarre way of sleeping.

Each half of their brain rests in turn,

allowing the other half to stay awake and alert to danger.

In Mozambique, the male pod is still very much awake.

And Spy Squid is on filming duty.

He's found a hawksbill turtle...

Squid takes a closer look...

..but he needs to be careful.

A potato cod has him in his sights.

Squid beats a retreat...

and then goes back to work.

It's not a moment too soon -

the pod is chattering with excitement.

The two friends stick close together

as the reason for their concern becomes clear.

Another gang of males is approaching.

The home pod takes up defensive positions

as the two groups square up for a territorial fight.

Then it all kicks off.

When two pods come together, the existing hierarchy can break down.

It's how new groups and alliances are formed.

The pair decide that, for now, they're safer on their own.

They leave the rest to fight it out.

They may rejoin the pod when things calm down.

Bottlenose can choose when to be social or alone,

but some dolphins don't have this option.

It's late summer in Patagonia

and the beaches are packed with breeding sea lions.

And, as their young are about to enter the water,

an orca pod arrives like clockwork.

They are a family that has hunted here for generations,

and they have devised a spectacular way to get a meal.

The adult sea lions are wise to their plan

and usually see them coming.

But the new pups aren't so smart.

The orcas patrol the surf zone

waiting for one of them to make a mistake.

Sooner or later, they have to enter the water.

And this is when the orcas strike.

A near miss, but she'll have plenty of other chances.

But when it comes to catching sea lion pups,

there is one orca better than all the rest.

The expert is a 50-year-old male,

who's hunted these waters all his life.

The technique is a family tradition

and training starts at an early age.

They have been hunting sea lions like this for generations.

Each orca uses their own subtle variations,

but none is as accomplished as the old male.

This should be suicidal for a ten-tonne Orca -

around the world hundreds die from stranding each year.

Even he seems to be struggling...

..but he has survived for half a century.

He clearly knows what he's doing.

He's never left high and dry.

Even in a pod where skills are shared,

there is always one individual who outshines the rest.

Despite the value of working in a pod,

in Mozambique, the two dolphin friends discover

there can be advantages to being independent.

They meet a group of females

and are already faring better for being on their own.

A female has even started to show some interest,

flirting with the young male.

Things are going well, but the pair won't be alone.

His best friend plays gooseberry in this new romance.

Not put off, the female shows her interest by some seductive moves.

She also blushes pink a total giveaway!

And there's nothing subtle about her fin slaps.

Yet, all the time, the courting pair

are accompanied by the young male's friend.

But this best mate has a job to do -

watching his friend's back while he's otherwise engaged.

He chases off other males that might muscle in.

In dolphin world, it's what best friends are for.

And to guarantee success, the courting male gathers

a bouquet of seaweed for the new love of his life.

As the happy couple play with the garland,

their relationship is complete.

It seems that the friend isn't doing too badly either -

he's found himself a girlfriend too.

It's a match made in underwater heaven.

Back in the Caribbean,

the camera dolphin is doing what dolphins love the most

racing through the waves.

Like all the dolphins we've seen,

he has taken us on an incredible journey into his secret world.

He then treats us to something extraordinary

he barrel rolls with joy.

Then, for the first time, the view from his back as he leaps.

Dolphins are the cleverest creatures in the ocean.

And, as they have shown us, they certainly have the most fun.

Out on the reef, Spy Squid goes on one last adventure.

He soon meets his archenemy the potato cod.

Another joins...

And yet another...

This doesn't look good.

He valiantly keeps filming, but he's completely surrounded.

And then...catastrophe.

Among the fishes, he rests in pieces,

but like all the spy creatures,

his job is done.