All language subtitles for 20A0BC492573DA3A5142A8FC460AB5C9_eng

MUSIC

At the far south of our planet lies the
most hostile of the Earth's frozen lands.

Antarctica.

Here, temperatures can fall to
below minus 80 degrees Celsius.

And winds blow up to 200 miles an hour.

Its icy centre is almost devoid of life.

But on the edge of
Antarctica, some creatures

find a way not just to
survive, but to flourish.

Here are some of the
greatest concentrations

of life to be found
anywhere on Earth.

INDUSTRY The continent of
Antarctica lies at the southern

end of the globe. Twice
the size of Australia, it's the

largest, coldest expanse of
land on the planet. To the north

of it, however, across 1,000
miles of ocean, lie the sub

-Antarctic Islands, where
conditions are somewhat less

hostile to life. The largest
of them is South Georgia.

Here, a million king penguins
live and breed the year-round.

A mother has returned after a
month at sea. CHICKEN CALL

Collecting food for her hungry chick.

At 10 months old, chicks
are the size of a human

toddler and covered in no
more than a downy fleece.

CHICKENS CALL Until
they get their waterproof

feathers, they themselves
cannot go to sea.

So they have to rely totally on
their parents to bring them food.

Their time together
is brief, just long

enough to disgorge her
crop of fish and squid.

CHICKENS CALL All too soon. Parents
have to return to sea to collect more.

But getting back there
can take several hours.

Hundreds of parents
make the commute together.

A beak can be used as an ice pick to
negotiate the steeper parts of their trek.

This mile-long,
snow-covered trudge is unique

to this colony and has
never been seen before.

CHICKENS CALL At last, the sea.

After several days on land,
their feathers need washing

to be ready for the long days
of swimming that lie ahead.

But this is a dangerous place to loiter.

CHICKENS CALL Leopard
seals. Three metres long, more than

three times the size of a
king penguin, these fearsome

hunters are usually solitary.

But at this time of the year, in this
bay, there are as many as 30 of them.

If these penguins think that they're
safe on land, they are mistaken.

CHICKENS CALL Any one of these huge seals
can take as many as 10 penguins a day.

Their best chance is
to stay with the crowd.

Their safety in numbers.

CHICKENS CALL Made it.

Only to return in a month's time
and once again face death head-on.

It is surely one of the greatest
challenges faced by any parent.

1,500 miles off the continent's
east coast lies another

of the tiny outposts that
are vital for the survival of

Antarctic wildlife.

The sub-Antarctic islands of the Antipodes.

In spring, the longer days
turn each tiny speck of land into

a potential breeding ground
for the Antipodean wandering

albatross.

Its wings are three metres across,
amongst the biggest of any bird.

This 14-year-old male is now mature
enough to start selecting a partner.

For the smaller, darker female, choosing
a suitable mate is of equal importance.

After all, they may stay
together for the next 50 years.

To make this crucial decision,
they use one of the most

elaborate courtship rituals
of any sea bird. He begins by

sky-pointing.

It seems to be working.

Next, he attempts a move...
..known as the double head bob.

The finaly is the real decider.
Synchronised wing-spreading.

She seems impressed.

But another male appears...

..and shows off... ..his
wings. The greater the span,

the more attractive he could
be. But the first male won't

tolerate a rival cutting in.

Yet another hopeful joins in
the competition... ..and another.

This was not supposed to be a dance-off.

She's a bit nervous, but she
prefers one tango at a time.

It seems that this is not
going to be his year after all.

But he's caught the
eye of another albatross.

Once again, he begins
his courtship display.

But this is, in fact, another male.

Regardless, he continues
to demonstrate his eligibility.

This could still be the one with
whom he will share the rest of his life.

On the Antipodes Islands, it's
becoming increasingly common.

Today, there are three times
as many males as females.

Females feed further north
than the males... ..in waters

used by industrial fishing
fleets... ..that catch and drown

great numbers of seabirds.

As a result, the female albatross
here is now declining fast.

A same-sex partnership like this
may bring no survival advantage...

..but is apparently preferable
to a life alone. MUSIC

The wealth of life found
around Antarctica's Loney

Islands... ..is evidence of
the richness of the waters that

surround them. The Southern Ocean.

It may appear treacherous. Its gale-force
winds certainly create powerful currents.

But all this stirring
has an important effect.

It brings up nutrients
from the depths... ..helping

to create some of the
richest seas on Earth.

And this provides food for the
largest animal to have ever lived.

The Antarctic blue whale.

MUSIC

It's more than 30 metres long.
But it's rarely been filmed before.

MUSIC

Only the Southern Ocean
can provide the four tonnes of

food... ..that the biggest of
all blue whales need every

day.

MUSIC This ocean giant was
almost hunted to extinction.

But thanks to an international
ban on commercial whaling...

..its numbers are now increasing.

MUSIC

The closer the seas are
to mainland Antarctica...

..the colder they become. MUSIC

Until a few hundred miles offshore...
..the ocean's surface freezes solid.

It forms a cover of sea
ice that is twice the size

of Europe... ..and encircles
the entire continent.

MUSIC This is a stronghold for one of
Antarctica's most remarkable inhabitants.

It uses its teeth to prevent its
breathing holes from freezing over.

The Weddell seal.

The most southerly-breeding
mammal on the planet.

This ten-day-old pup is still entirely
dependent on his mother. MUSIC

Out on the ice, it may be
safe from marine predators...

..but within its first two
weeks it will have to venture

into the underwater world...
..upon which its future depends.

This is the coldest water on Earth. MUSIC

So it's not surprising that a
pup needs some encouragement.

It's time to leave the
safety of the breathing hole.

To catch fish and then safely
return, this pup must learn

how to find his way... ..through
the maze of underwater ice

caverns.

MUSIC

But after just eight minutes... ..his
mother signals that it's time to head back.

MUSIC She can hold her
breath for an hour and a half...

..but he is already starting
to tire and is running out of

air.

On their way back to their breathing hole,
they hear a sound as loud as a fighter jet.

MUSIC

It is the call of a half-ton
male weddle seal...

..announcing that he's
on the lookout for a mate.

MUSIC

She, however, is still producing milk for
her pup and so isn't sexually receptive.

But he doesn't stop trying.

MUSIC To repel his advances,
she leaves her pup's side.

But the pup isn't strong enough to
haul himself out without his mother's help.

MUSIC

She tries to fight off the adult male.

MUSIC

MUSIC

She's wounded him so seriously that
he is unlikely to be back any time soon.

A gentle nudge from
mother... ..is all an exhausted

pup needs to make it to
the safety of the sea ice.

Mothers stay with their
pups for six weeks, by which

time they're strong enough
to fend for themselves. MUSIC

As spring arrives, the sea
ice retreats, and in a few

places, Antarctica's coast is
exposed to the open sea. MUSIC

And that attracts all kinds of animals.

Having spent the winter at
sea, chinstrap penguins can now

come ashore to breed. Soon,
the coast becomes extremely

crowded.

But there are ways to
maintain social distance.

MUSIC Oh dear.

The chicks, until they're
eight weeks old, depend

on their parents for food
and, critically, warmth.

Melt water is a particular problem.

The chicks' feathers are not
yet waterproof. Getting wet

could be fatal. A father's
duty is to keep his chicks high

and dry, using the only building
material available... ..stones.

MUSIC The feathers are precious.

So it's vital to hold on to every one.

But while backs are turned, collections
are readily plundered by neighbours.

With thieves like these around,

that stone has just
become even more valuable.

DOG BARKS

DOG BARKS

MUSIC

What's lacking in skill... ..is
made up for with persistence.

But a parent's labours
could be in vain MUSIC

Summer temperatures have now been
recorded as high as 18 degrees Celsius.

As a result, the penguins'
carefully constructed platforms

are now being flooded. There
is more melt water than ever

before.

And the ground is becoming a quagmire.

Downy feathers, which
are excellent insulation

from the cold when dry,
are no defence when wet.

Hypothermia sets in.

Over the last 50 years, the number
of chinstraps here has dropped by half.

MUSIC

Antarctica is losing the
very element that defines it.

Ice.

That is now diminishing six
times faster than it once did.

Neumeyer Glacier on South Georgia has lost
nearly six miles of ice in just 20 years.

Parts of Antarctica are warming faster than
anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere.

And that is having a serious
effect on the animals that live

on its coast, such as the
Weddell Seal. With less sea ice

available, many are
now hauling out on land.

That's not just a problem for them.

But also for the predators
that specialise in hunting them.

One particular group of Antarctic killer
whales, a hundred or so animals strong.

Killer whales are among
the most intelligent of all non

-human predators. And they're
now working out how to tackle

prey that isn't a Weddell Seal.

And a daily penguin resting on the ice.

A mere snack for an adult
killer whale. But it gives this

group of six-year-olds a
chance to practice one of their

particularly ingenious hunting techniques.

Wave washing. A skill that
takes at least 15 years to perfect.

First, the killer whales assess
the size and position of a

possible victim. They must
then calculate the speed needed

for an attack.

But they're too late. Even
though a coordinated trick of

their part of the tails creates
a reasonable wave, it's

nothing without precision timing.

With fewer of their favourite
prey of Weddell Seals resting

on ice floes, killer whales
now have no choice but to target

new prey. Crab eater seals.

Numbering 15 million, they're the
most abundant marine mammal on Earth.

But they are a far more dangerous
target. Than a Weddell Seal.

Stronger and more inclined to fight back.

But each member of this pod needs to eat
seal a day. So the pressure is on to feed.

They're led by a matriarch
who knows exactly what to do.

Living 100 years or more, she has
plenty of hunting experience to draw upon.

The With the ice flow having
broken in two, the seals have

become more vulnerable. The
Matriarch now pushes the ice

flow into open water to give
their next wave maximum impact.

This requires teamwork and precision.

She makes her final calculations.

This seal has only one
way of escaping death.

Unlike the less muscular
Weddell seal, the crab eater has

the strength to hurl itself
out of the water just in time.

For the killer whales, it has
been a significant waste of energy.

Their need to eat is now greater than ever.

The Leppan seal.

By far the most ferocious
of all Antarctica seals.

Dare this pod tackle him?

He's a three-meter adult, an
aggressive hunter in his own right.

Unused to being targeted by
killer whales, the Leppan seal

makes the mistake of leaving
the safety of the ice flow.

The killer whales approach
the seal with utmost caution.

Keeping away from its powerful teeth, they
seize it by its tail and try to drown it.

The hungry youngsters get to feed first.

But tackling less
familiar prey is risky, and

starvation is a real danger
for these killer whales.

Only time will tell whether
these skillful hunters can

adjust quickly enough to
survive in this changing world.

Beyond Antarctica's rich coastal
fringes lies a vast frozen interior.

This is certainly one of the most
inhospitable places for life on Earth.

Its ice cap, three miles
thick in places, holds

almost two -thirds of
the Earth's fresh water.

The accumulation of snowfalls
over millions of years has

bedded vast mountain ranges
longer than the Himalayas.

All that can be seen of
them is the tips of their peaks.

Smoking vents standing
20 meters tall hint at

the volcanicity that lies
beneath the ice sheet.

The recent discovery of more
than 20 previously unknown

volcanoes reveals that
Antarctica is one of the most

volcanic places on Earth.

Almost 4,000 meters high,
Mount Erebus is one of just

seven volcanoes on Earth,
with a permanent lava lake.

Less than 1% of this
frozen interior is free of ice.

But isolated outcrops of rock
offer sanctuaries for one of

the few animals willing to
brave temperatures of minus 30

degrees Celsius.

The snow petrel.

They fly a hundred miles inland in
order to breed away from predators.

This male gets to work
clearing a shallow scrape, which

he will then line with
feathers to give his chick a little

protection from the bitter cold.

But crevices are in short supply,

and rivals are ever
ready to fight for them.

When aerial combat fails, snow
petrels deploy another weapon. Vomit.

It could be lethal. If
the putrid stomach oil

freezes, his flight feathers
could stick together.

Fortunately, he knows how to clean them.

With a snow bath.

Now to get on with the task of breeding.

From here to the South Pole,
a thousand miles further inland,

conditions become even more
hostile for life. Winds driving

over the East Antarctic ice
sheet can reach speeds of up to

200 miles an hour.

As these gale force
winds descend from the

ice sheet, they pick up
both speed and warmth.

They create the most
arid conditions on Earth.

These aren't snowdrifts.
They're sand dunes.

Some of these so-called dry valleys
have not felt rain in over a million years.

Carved by the wind,
strange monuments up to four

meters tall stand on
the desolate valley floor.

The only life form,

a mummified crabby to
seal. That mysteriously

strayed here possibly
thousands of years ago.

But if you look hard enough,

life can be found in Antarctica's interior.

Hidden in the mountains of
eastern Antarctica, Lake Untersee.

A little over 10 years ago,
scientists dived beneath its

frozen surface. And made a
discovery that would change our

perception of the
possibility of alien life.

Lying on its lake bed are living
structures found nowhere else on Earth.

Giant stromatolites,
standing half a meter tall. Their

existence down here provides
an extraordinary insight into

how life on our planet might have evolved.

These living structures have
been built over thousands of

years by arguably the most
important microorganism on Earth.

Cyanobacteria.

The very first living organisms
to have produced oxygen.

Without them, Earth would have remained
uninhabitable for higher life forms.

If the building blocks
for life can be found

here, in the most
hostile place on Earth.

Surely, life could exist in the
ice-covered lakes of distant planets.

Whilst filming in the extremes
of Antarctica, capturing the

remarkable behavior of
wave-washing killer whales was to

prove the crew's greatest
strength. The team set off from

the Falkland Islands on board
the Golden Frees, which will

be their home for the next
month and a half. It's under the

command of Antarctic explorer
Dion Ponce. What's the weather

like for the crossing? First
day's good and then nothing bad

that we can see yet. To
reach Antarctica, they must first

cross the Drake Passage,
650 miles of the world's roughest

ocean. Confined to his
bunk, executive producer Mark

Brownlow has yet to find his sea
legs. Destroyed. Fourth day at sea. Sick.

On arrival at the peninsula,
their search begins, guided

by Lee Hickmott, a whale
scientist who is part of a 14-year

study on the only killer whales
in the world known to wave

wash. We now have a greater
understanding perhaps of how

small the population is actually
of these killer whales. The

parent population is about
50 animals, so really not very

many at all. With so few of
these highly specialized killer

whales patrolling an area
more than half the size of Wales,

they head to where they were last sighted.

After three days of round-the-clock
surveillance, the team

finally catch a glimpse. We
found the first killer whales.

These are what we want. Good start.

To get shots low to the water,
they launch a gyro-stabilized

camera system in a small
boat. There's only half the length

of the killer whales.

Definitely feel like we've just been
checked out. It's quite intimidating.

In the filming first, camera
operator Bertie Gregory

launches the drone to capture
a new perspective on this

hunting technique. We've
got four or five killer whales spy

hopping. Some are moving
away. They might get ready for a

wave.

That's the first wave. That's the braking
wave that's broken the pack in half.

The seal's in the water. The
seal's in the water. He could

be in trouble here. They
could just kill the seal cleanly,

but they are using the seal
to teach their young how to

hunt. It's really hard to watch.
The team's groundbreaking

footage is also providing
valuable scientific data,

contributing to the long-term
study of these highly

specialized killer whales.

Animal B-17, she was first
photographed back in 2009. So

here she is. This is a photograph
taken during Frozen Planet

One. If we look on the right,
here's a picture that we took

during our cruise. She's
certainly the matriarch of her

particular group. We're
seeing how she's teaching her

offspring to become this
very efficient killer. But after

such a promising start,
conditions take a turn for the

worse. The thing that's
changed enormously here is the

weather. In the past, the
peninsula was famous for perfect

calm, still, bright sunshine,
clear skies, and it doesn't

happen so much. And warmer
weather here means less sea

ice, which could have
consequences for the killer whales'

preferred prey of wet or
seals. There's a cruel irony,

really, that we've today found
the largest group of wet or

seals, but they're on the
beach. They're not on pack ice.

And that's potentially because
the Antarctic Peninsula is

one of the most rapidly
warming places on the planet.

The team film the killer
whales switching to hunt

crab-eater seals, but then
something remarkable happens.

They approach one of Antarctica's
most formidable predators, the Lisbon seal.

This is absolutely incredible,
because that's really not

considered a key prey for them.
Oh, he's chosen a bad piece.

The ice has split into four, and
he's chosen the smallest quarter.

It's phenomenal.

It's the first time a killer whale hunting
a leopard seal has been captured on camera.

As extraordinary as that is,
it's a sobering indication of

the challenges ahead for
these killer whales. I don't think

it's too much to say that we
are facing a climate emergency.

There's a real chance
that as we lose this pack ice

environment, that this
predator that has one of the most

complex foraging strategies
on the planet is going to be

potentially lost.

And that's a tragedy that I,
in my lifetime, don't want to

see, and for our children
most certainly, we can't allow it

to happen.

Thank you for watching!