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0:00:04 > 0:00:06- A land of extremes.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10- Where fire and ice clash.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19- Ancient mountains - give way to lush forests.
0:00:19 > 0:00:24- A forgotten wilderness, - dazzling in its diversity.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30- Seasons of darkness - and perpetual light...
0:00:32 > 0:00:36- ..reveal life - thriving against all odds.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43- Ancient treasures - revealed as never before.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16- The shores of Scandinavia - stretch for nearly a 100,000km.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25- Time and tide shape the land - and the lives of the creatures.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29- It is a world of constant change...
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- ..where animals - live, literally, on the edge.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- From temperate forests - in the south...
0:01:39 > 0:01:43- ..to the frozen Arctic north - gripped by ice for much of the year.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52- But even here life survives.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01- Far off - the northern coast of Norway...
0:02:01 > 0:02:05- ..the Svalbard islands - are home to the polar bear.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- Its acute sense of smell can locate - seals a metre beneath the ice.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24- During the worst of winter - the polar bear is in its element.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- Polar bears - inhabit only the extreme north...
0:02:42 > 0:02:47- ..but Scandinavia extends southwards - to include five countries...
0:02:47 > 0:02:49- ..and a wide range of climates.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55- Around a third of it - lies within the Arctic Circle...
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- ..and the animals that live here...
0:02:58 > 0:03:02- ..must endure a brutal winter - up to six months long.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11- While the polar bear - is an expert hunter in winter...
0:03:12 > 0:03:17- ..the ice deprives the sea eagles - of Sweden of their usual prey.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- So they must find - other sources of food.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28- Some survive - by feeding on frozen carcasses.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- The hooded crows are hungry too, - but they'll have to wait their turn.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- Patience is required.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- Tugging at an eagle's tail feathers - is a bad idea.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14- When food is scarce, even - a crow is a meal worth grabbing.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44- The end of a long Scandinavian - winter is a desperate time...
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- ..but change is in the air.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- The sea - has been frozen for six months.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52- Its surface is as solid as the land.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- Now the seascape is breaking up...
0:04:55 > 0:04:59- ..and for creatures - accustomed to life on the ice...
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- ..the world is disintegrating.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- The polar bear - has so far handled the thaw...
0:05:06 > 0:05:09- ..but hunting - is proving more difficult.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- Its favourite prey, bearded seals, - are heading north with the ice.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- Soon they will be - beyond the bear's reach.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- The polar bear - faces a summer of hardship...
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- ..stranded on Greenland - by the retreating ice.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- Feeding opportunities are few.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55- But for most creatures, - spring is a time of plenty.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02- A tribe of little auks - descend on Greenland's west coast.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12- They have spent the winter - along the edge of the ice...
0:06:13 > 0:06:15- ..in the Northwest Atlantic.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19- But in spring, - some 30 million of them...
0:06:19 > 0:06:21- ..are drawn to Greenland's shores.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27- That's four fifths - of all the little auks on Earth.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- They come here to feed on fish - and to nest on the cliffs.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- These birds form lifelong pairs.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45- How the birds find their mates - amongst the millions is a mystery.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51- Somehow they reconnect...
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- ..renewing their bond - after spending winter apart.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03- With so many pairs - looking for the ideal nest site...
0:07:03 > 0:07:06- ..squabbles are a certainty.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- In spring, - the waters around Scandinavia...
0:07:30 > 0:07:32- ..are some of - the richest in the world.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37- Cold and warm currents mix.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41- The sun's warmth attracts the fish - to feast on of plankton...
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- ..which thrives - during the long days of summer.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58- All the creatures living on - Scandinavia's coastal margins...
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- ..dance to the rhythm of the ocean.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- Now the sea is free of ice...
0:08:13 > 0:08:17- ..the white-tailed eagle - can go fishing once more.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25- And the humpback whale - has come here for the same reason.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- The seasonal bounty - essential to survival.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- Humpbacks - and their new-born calves...
0:08:35 > 0:08:41- ..have travelled from the Caribbean, - a dangerous journey of over 7,000km.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- The whale will eat - half a tonne of krill each day...
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- ..because the mother has eaten - nothing for an entire year.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08- They'll feast all summer long, - building up blubber...
0:09:08 > 0:09:13- ..to sustain them on the return - journey south and throughout winter.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34- The ocean attracts - a diverse array of summer visitors.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- Not just auks, - but millions of other seabirds...
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- ..come to nest on the steep cliffs.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- The rocky cliffs - may look dangerous...
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- ..but to seabirds, - they make ideal homes.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00- High-rise apartment blocks where the - ledges are potential nesting sites.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06- Kittiwakes and puffins - are birds of the open ocean.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08- But they come ashore to breed.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- The kittiwakes - opt for precarious balconies.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- And the puffins prefer - roof gardens.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- Puffins spend hours - diving for sand eels...
0:10:31 > 0:10:35- ..securing them in their - sharp beaks, up to 30 at a time.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- It's the best food - for their new chicks...
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- ..that are hiding in burrows.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51- Cliff-dwelling birds - attract aerial predators...
0:10:53 > 0:10:58- ..like the peregrine falcon, - the fastest bird in the world.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- Lowland Denmark has - only three or four pairs at present.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- But they thrive - on Mons Klint island...
0:11:17 > 0:11:21- ..where cliffs - provide caves for their nests...
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- ..and good vantage points - for hunting.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- Peregrines, kittiwakes and puffins.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- These creatures live on the edge - between land and sea.
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0:11:50 > 0:11:54- Warm ocean currents make the climate - surprisingly mild...
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- ..for a region - so close to the Arctic Circle.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03- And life flourishes.
0:12:33 > 0:12:39- Scandinavian forests boast all four - of Europe's major carnivores.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- Sweden is one of - the last strongholds...
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- ..for the rare Eurasian lynx.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- With tighter limits on hunting...
0:12:59 > 0:13:04- ..the brown bear population has - risen 20 fold in the last 80 years.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- Nowadays, around 3,000 of them - roam the region.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15- You will even find wolves.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22- And the wolverine, whose powerful - jaws can slice through bone.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- Wolverines are related - to badgers and sea otters.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40- They're very much at home - in these northern forests...
0:13:40 > 0:13:44- ..where nothing seems beyond - their reach or their appetites.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48- Curious and wily...
0:13:48 > 0:13:52- ..a wolverine is always - on the lookout for the next meal.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- The coastal forests - run from Denmark in the south...
0:14:08 > 0:14:12- ..up to the Arctic Circle, - the region of the tundra.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- There's yet another wonder - in northern Scandinavia.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- The midnight sun.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28- For two months, it skirts - the horizon without setting.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- That's no consolation - for the polar bear...
0:14:31 > 0:14:35- ..that's still stranded - in Greenland.
0:14:39 > 0:14:44- It's likely to starve unless it can - find carrion or at least berries.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55- There's no escape from the heat - and the swarms of mosquitoes.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00- It can't even shed its winter coat.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- All the creatures - of the far north...
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- ..have adapted - to the prolonged daylight...
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- ..in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18- In the north of Finland...
0:15:18 > 0:15:21- ..nocturnal animals - must cope with a 24-hour day shift.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27- The flying squirrel - is a rare sight.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30- It only breeds at this time of year.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38- In spring, this female signals she's - ready to mate by marking a branch.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- She rubs into the bark - a mixture of her own droppings...
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- ..chewed up with saliva.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- Then all she has to do is wait.
0:15:54 > 0:16:00- Within minutes, a male - homes in on her scent from the air.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11- Flying squirrels stretch the skin - between their front and back legs...
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- ..to create wings.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- But another male - sneaks in from below.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20- She's worth fighting for.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26- Falling with style, the first male - lands right at the female's door.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- Now it's up to her to make a choice.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- At last she makes her choice.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- But she must remain vigilant.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07- They need to watch out - for the great grey owl...
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- ..which is normally nocturnal.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14- Hunting almost entirely by sound...
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- ..owls eavesdrop on any scurrying.
0:17:19 > 0:17:24- Luckily for the squirrels, - the owl's main prey is voles.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- Inland waters - are also teeming with life.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55- Kesonsuo in Finland - is an ideal home for ospreys.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02- They form partnerships - that last a lifetime.
0:18:02 > 0:18:08- This couple is returning to their - nest after a winter apart in Africa.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- Their first task - is to repair their home.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- Only birds in love...
0:18:16 > 0:18:20- ..create nests without permission.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27- Humans are their only threat.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31- They can afford to nest - out in the open.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- But time is of the essence.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40- They have only five months - to mate and raise their chicks.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- The ocean - affects everything that lives here.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- The ebb and flow of the sea - replenishes the land.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13- It attracts - many animals to its shores.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- With so much food around - in spring...
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- ..finding a mate - is the universal priority.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- The male ruff...
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- ..puts on a display for the female.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55- Even though summer lasts a lot - longer here than further north...
0:19:55 > 0:19:58- ..there's a sense of urgency.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Each one defends its territory.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- Goldeneye ducks and horned grebes - battle for supremacy.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33- Spring quickly gives way to summer - in these northern climes.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39- Summer's a brief respite from - the harsh winter that's approaching.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50- For all creatures, raising - a family is the highest priority.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05- Kittiwakes lay two eggs on average, - but only half of them will survive.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11- They're fed on regurgitated fish - ferried in a relay by both parents.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Guillemots also nest here.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18- They often mingle with kittiwakes...
0:21:18 > 0:21:24- ..in high-density breeding colonies, - sometimes exceeding 100,000 pairs.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- Guillemots lay a single egg.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29- Its pear shape - stops it from rolling off.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- In just three weeks, the chick - will leap from this ledge...
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- ..and join its parents - to feed at sea.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- Scandinavia - boasts some of the world's...
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- ..largest breeding colonies - of seabirds.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Little auks, kittiwakes - and guillemots...
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- ..are all here - to feast on the sea's bounty.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59- Early summer is the best of times - for most regions of Scandinavia.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03- The Baltic Sea is no exception.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11- Grey seals - can afford to take it easy.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- They almost - became extinct in the 1970s.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- Now, completely protected...
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- ..numbers have recovered - to about 20,000.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- They're perfectly adapted - to life in the water.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- Their whiskers - are sensitive to water movement.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- They use them to track fish.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- The fish of the wild Arctic.
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0:22:50 > 0:22:52- It's the height of summer.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57- It's the best of times - for most of Scandinavia's animals.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- The balmy weather - triggers an explosion of life.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19- The inshore lakes and marshes - are teeming with insects.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31- Frogs and fish enjoy the feast...
0:23:32 > 0:23:36- ..but they too become meals - themselves for hungry chicks.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01- The osprey now has - three hungry mouths to feed.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- It has to succeed.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15- Salmon is on today's menu.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36- The chicks are just a few weeks old - and growing fast.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- In another month or so, - they must learn to fly.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44- Then they'll set off - on their long journey to Africa...
0:24:44 > 0:24:46- ..a journey of 7,000km.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- They must leave - before the fish they need...
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- ..are out of their reach - beneath the ice.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- If their father doesn't feed them...
0:24:59 > 0:25:03- ..they won't be - strong enough to go the distance.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09- He must catch up to eight fish - a day to feed his family.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19- The pressure is constant for both - parents during the growth period.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24- While he hunts, the female feeds - the chicks and guards the nest.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27- He's perfectly equipped for the job.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32- A third eyelid - acts like built-in goggles...
0:25:33 > 0:25:35- ..for clear underwater vision.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41- Speed, angle and depth - are calculated instinctively.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46- Its wingspan - is over a metre and a half.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51- Flexible shoulder joints - and powerful shoulder muscles...
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- ..allow him to fish with ease.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- Once the ferocious talons - lock onto a fish...
0:25:59 > 0:26:02- ..they won't release - until the osprey lands.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- The wolverine - has only himself to feed.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- He heads back to a - reindeer carcass he has discovered.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17- It's attracting a lot of interest.
0:26:18 > 0:26:24- Sharing its food isn't an option - for this tenacious wolverine.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- It'll need - to guard the carcass well.
0:26:32 > 0:26:37- The scent of fresh meat - is attracting too much competition.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39- It could fight off these wolves...
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- ..but it has a more subtle tactic - to keep the wolf at bay.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49- It defecates on its food.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02- The meat is his, with a little - left over for the raven.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14- The time of the midnight sun...
0:27:14 > 0:27:18- ..extends through the period - of growth and fertility.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- But though the days are long, - the season is short.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25- Making the most - of the sunlight is vital.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14- Having feasted all summer, grey - seals are in optimum condition.
0:28:16 > 0:28:17- The males show off...
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- ..in preparation - for the breeding season.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30- Sheltered inlets provide the - perfect backdrop for the display.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37- They're in their element...
0:28:37 > 0:28:41- ..fishing, - squabbling and basking on the beach.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57- But for the polar bear, marooned - on the shores of Greenland...
0:28:57 > 0:29:00- ..summer is not a time to rest.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08- It will roam hundreds of kilometres - in search of food, often in vain.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17- A little is better than nothing.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22- The raven will go hungry today.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35- While the polar bear struggles - to survive, the walruses relax.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41- They're at home in the ocean, - whatever the weather.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46- They're taking a rest - in between dives.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- They'll dive 100 times a day.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04- Walruses have a unique technique - for finding clams.
0:30:07 > 0:30:12- For some reason, they almost - always use the right flipper...
0:30:12 > 0:30:14- ..to waft the sand away.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20- Even though the walrus - cannot see its prey...
0:30:20 > 0:30:24- ..it finds the clams - using its sensitive whiskers.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32- In a single day, it can eat the meat - of nearly 22,000 clams.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35- That's approximately 75 kilos.
0:30:45 > 0:30:50- The barren shores of Greenland - hold no bounty for the polar bear.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52- It's close to starvation.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59- It's stumbled on a camp - of research scientists.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08- They have good reason to be worried.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14- Polar bears, especially hungry ones, - have been known to attack humans.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24- It looks like it's more interested - in the bathroom.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38- It looks like it's done this before.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50- Icon of the Arctic - and expert hunter...
0:31:50 > 0:31:54- ..is eating toothpaste, - of all things!
0:31:56 > 0:32:00- Timing is crucial for polar bears.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07- Missing the ice train back in March - was a serious mistake.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15- Stranded on land, - it's far from its feeding grounds.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22- Only the return of the ice - will save it.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29- Midsummer, and for - Scandinavia's migrant visitors...
0:32:30 > 0:32:32- ..time is running out.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38- In Iceland, the cliffs still echo - the call of the birds.
0:32:39 > 0:32:44- But the puffin, guillemot - and kittiwake chicks have now grown.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49- This is a new beginning.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55- At the end of summer, - the young puffins will leave...
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- ..but they'll return in four or five - years to raise their own families.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08- Other youngsters - are also leaving their nests.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18- The flying squirrel's babies are - trying to fly for the first time.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- Once it makes sure - the coast is clear.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32- The three osprey chicks are seven - weeks old and ready to fly the nest.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40- This is their final meal - from their parents.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44- The mother will leave now and the - father will follow in a few weeks.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48- Then the chicks - will be entirely on their own.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02- They're flexing their muscles - that will carry them to west Africa.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17- One more rehearsal - and they'll be ready to go.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38- Both osprey and squirrel - are entering an unknown world.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52- The young squirrel is unsure.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59- But the ospreys are ready to fly.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07- Off it goes.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13- The others are ready to follow.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26- Even with plenty of practice, - there are many dangers.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30- Only one in 10 osprey chicks - survives the journey.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54- The days become shorter - and the warmth leaves the sun.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03- Autumn colours the land.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10- This is a crucial time - in the far north.
0:36:13 > 0:36:18- With winter fast approaching, these - creatures will either remain...
0:36:18 > 0:36:21- ..or migrate and escape the worst.
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0:36:36 > 0:36:38- Along the coasts of Scandinavia...
0:36:38 > 0:36:43- ..cooler and stronger winds - exert their pull on the land.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51- They have changed - its shape and form.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- As the land cools more quickly - than the ocean, fog forms...
0:37:12 > 0:37:14- ..signalling the onset of winter.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26- The change of seasons - means it's time to migrate.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35- In Denmark, these starlings - are on their way south to Britain.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42- When startled by birds of prey...
0:37:43 > 0:37:45- ..the entire flock moves as one.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51- Each starling tries to stay close - to its neighbour...
0:37:51 > 0:37:54- ..and mimic each other's moves.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57- The black cloud confuses predators.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03- Birds at the edge of the swarm - are most vulnerable.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05- So they constantly swap places.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08- They each take their turn.
0:38:08 > 0:38:13- The starling migration is just one - part of a mass exodus of animals...
0:38:13 > 0:38:17- ..heading south to avoid - the bite of the ferocious winter.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22- Animals that stay behind - must be prepared.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29- Only the most resilient - will survive the next six months.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44- The brown bear - will remain but it will hibernate.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46- Hibernation is a wise move.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01- The polar bear - takes the opposite approach.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03- Winter is its perfect time.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12- Having endured the heat of summer, - if it can survive a brief autumn...
0:39:13 > 0:39:15- ..it has a good chance of making it.
0:39:20 > 0:39:26- Now it's winter, every morsel - of fresh food must be fought after.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34- Wolves, ravens and wolverines - keep a wary eye on each other.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44- The ravens follow the hunters, - making them less likely to starve...
0:39:44 > 0:39:47- ..as long as - the predators can find prey.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04- The nights draw in.
0:40:05 > 0:40:10- In the far north, the sun - will not climb over the horizon...
0:40:10 > 0:40:12- ..for three months.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17- Its twilight is pierced only by - the wondrous Northern Lights.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37- Winter clouds gather.
0:40:44 > 0:40:49- They bring the snow which will - cover the land for many months.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58- The squawking ravens - enjoy the change in season.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08- Sun-kissed beaches...
0:41:09 > 0:41:12- ..are now blitzed with ice.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20- The grey seals of the Baltic Sea - couldn't care less.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25- This is when female seals - give birth to their young.
0:41:25 > 0:41:30- But the males are here too - there's - only one thing on their minds.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33- Mating.
0:41:38 > 0:41:43- The mothers must protect their - babies but they also need to mate.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50- The huge males - weigh up to 300 kilos.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- Infants can easily be crushed.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- Mating preoccupies both sexes.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20- Males battle - for access to the best females.
0:42:21 > 0:42:27- They can cause terrible wounds, - using their sharp teeth as weapons.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30- They injure each other...
0:42:30 > 0:42:32- ..and sometimes they injure pups.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55- The fighting is relentless.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59- Sometimes it's fatal.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12- But the death of a seal pup - can be a lifeline for others.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16- A sea eagle seizes the opportunity.
0:43:24 > 0:43:29- With the ice now forming offshore, - winter penetrates the land.
0:43:36 > 0:43:41- Predators of the north must seize - every opportunity in winter.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45- Wolverines are well equipped.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51- Eating food direct from the freezer - is no problem...
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- ..with such strong jaws.
0:43:54 > 0:43:59- Their shaggy paws and sharp claws - are formidable snow shoes.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12- It's playtime for these two.
0:44:19 > 0:44:23- Wolverines - range across vast territories.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27- They regularly patrol the perimeter.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38- Ravens watch carefully, knowing - they have hidden stores of food.
0:44:43 > 0:44:47- The wolverine's scent marking - doesn't deter them one bit.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52- They're far too sly for that.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01- They'll need to be sly - to survive the coming months.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13- Farther north, - battered by Arctic winds...
0:45:14 > 0:45:17- ..the coastlines - are now hemmed in by ice and snow.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24- They'll stay that way - for many months.
0:45:26 > 0:45:31- Only the hardiest animals will - survive these extreme conditions.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34- The lynx is one such animal.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44- It uses acute hearing - and has a keen sense of smell.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47- It uses both to acquire food.
0:45:48 > 0:45:52- Lynx don't lose - the scent trail under snow.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04- There's nowhere to hide.
0:46:20 > 0:46:25- The ice pack continues its advance, - finally reaching the shore.
0:46:27 > 0:46:31- For the polar bear, the good times - have finally returned.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35- It's in its element once again.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41- Seals are back on menu.
0:46:57 > 0:47:01- Once again, - the polar bear reigns supreme.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05- Until the ocean melts again.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15- The Scandinavian coast - is forever changing.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23- The ocean shapes the land...
0:47:23 > 0:47:27- ..and the destinies - of all the animals that live here.
0:47:29 > 0:47:31- Where the land meets the sea.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38- On the edge.
0:47:57 > 0:47:59- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:47:59 > 0:47:59- .