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So far on Life Story,
we have seen animals survive
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the challenges of the first
stage of their lives.
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00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,280
Now, many animals face
a period of great change...
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00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,080
..the journey towards adulthood.
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00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,920
A time when they must strike out
on their own,
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00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:38,680
learn from hard experience...
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00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:42,640
..and develop new skills.
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WIND HOWLS
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00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,080
The beginning of winter
in the Arctic.
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00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,360
It's hard to imagine
a more challenging time or place
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to learn how to fend for yourself.
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00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:45,720
Until today, this three-month-old
Arctic fox pup has had it easy.
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Fed and protected by his parents,
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playing with his siblings.
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00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,160
THEY SNARL
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00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:11,200
But his mother is about to bring
her cubs' childhood to an abrupt end
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and drive them into the wilderness.
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00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,880
Soon, food will be so thin
on the ground
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that her cubs' only chance
of avoiding starvation
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00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,000
is to split up and face
a six-month-long winter alone.
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Even so, a young fox has only
a one-in-five chance of surviving.
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To find enough to eat
on these barren wastes,
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an Arctic fox may have to travel
60 miles a day.
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00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:37,440
Scratching for scraps
and scavenging from others -
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it's a meagre existence.
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00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,680
And the worst of the winter
is still to come.
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00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,360
WIND ROARS
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00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,440
By midwinter, temperatures drop
to minus 50 degrees Celsius,
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and deep snow makes scavenging
nearly impossible.
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00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,000
But a faint sound beneath the snow
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may be this fox's salvation.
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Lemmings.
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It's time to become a hunter.
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00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:50,840
But catching what you can't see
is not easy.
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00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,880
It's hard to judge the leap...
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00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,240
..and the depth of the snow.
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Too deep...and you get stuck.
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00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:17,480
Too shallow,
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00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,080
and it can be rather painful.
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00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:25,800
It's going to take time,
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00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,760
but mastering lemming hunting
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00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,640
is vital if a young fox
is to make it through the winter.
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At last, this fox is on his way.
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00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,240
But if he is to survive
until spring,
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he'll need to make a catch like this
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every couple of days.
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00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:22,080
Adolescence for an Arctic fox
is almost always a solitary journey,
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00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,440
but many creatures simply
cannot make it on their own.
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00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,160
JUNGLE NOISES
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00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,920
Even at seven months old,
this tiger cub needs protection.
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00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,560
CUB BREATHES STEADILY
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00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:42,360
She's learning to take care of
herself in a very dangerous world.
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This is her father.
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00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:02,240
His role is to patrol his territory,
defending it against rival males
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00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,920
who would try to kill any cubs
they find that are not their own.
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00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,840
His scars are evidence
of the violence of the society
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she is about to enter.
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00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,480
He's ruled for five years,
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00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,760
but he's becoming
increasingly battle-worn.
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00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,760
She's unlikely to reach adulthood
unless her father stays in power.
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00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,480
At the moment, she is safe.
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LOW GROWL
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And in good company.
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She has a brother and a sister.
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They will be her playmates
and allies as she grows.
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00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,000
THEY SNARL
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00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,400
She already seems to be
the most confident of the three.
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00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,680
They practice the fighting
and hunting skills
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that they will depend on as adults.
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00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:47,840
But the cubs still have
much to learn
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00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:49,920
before they'll be fending
for themselves.
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00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,920
Their mother is both their provider
and teacher.
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She's a formidable hunter,
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despite having lost an eye
in a fight with a rival.
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00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,880
MOTHER PANTS
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00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,480
Her cub is about to be given
a masterclass.
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00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,800
Their mother's success
means that today,
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the cubs will not go hungry.
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00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,320
If all goes well, these cubs
should have the experience
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00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,680
and strength to survive on their own
in a year's time.
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But only if their mother's support,
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and their father's protection,
continues.
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00:10:54,680 --> 00:10:59,000
Growing up is not just about
learning to survive.
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Learning the art of seduction
can also be a vital part
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of becoming an adult.
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00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:09,360
Here in eastern Australia
lives an animal
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that spends up to seven years
perfecting the ability
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to build a structure
solely to impress a female.
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00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,800
It's a bower.
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00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,080
And this is its creator -
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00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,880
a five-year-old juvenile male
satin bowerbird.
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He is just a beginner.
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00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,960
But a stone's throw away
is another bower...
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00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,800
..and one from which the youngster
could learn a lot.
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It's bigger and more elaborate.
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00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,720
And this is its builder -
an experienced male
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resplendent in his blue
adult plumage.
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00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,280
So THAT is how it should be done.
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00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,240
Junior returns to his own bower
and tries to improve things.
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00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,640
That should probably go just here.
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00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,360
Or...maybe here...
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00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,720
Perhaps he was right
in the first place.
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00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:28,400
He just can't make up his mind.
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00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:34,720
This could take some time.
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00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,200
And it's not just about building.
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The master's bower has something
that Junior's lacks completely.
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Blue decorations
really please a female.
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00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,240
And the master has gone to town.
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00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,840
Junior takes a closer look.
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00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,720
What will the master
make of his visitor?
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00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:25,440
Rather than drive him away,
the master has other intentions...
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Seduction.
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00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,400
ADULT BOWERBIRD TRILLS
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Juvenile males are almost identical
to females.
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So the master grabs the opportunity
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to practise his courtship display
on him.
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Junior doesn't know what to do next.
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So he exits...
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00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,040
..mid-performance.
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The youngster's bower.
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With the breeding season close,
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adult males grow increasingly
intolerant of juveniles.
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00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,040
Oh, dear,
there's virtually nothing left.
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00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,640
Junior will just have to
start all over again.
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00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,720
But he has several years left to
perfect his skill -
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00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,400
at least he's got time on his side!
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00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,040
Now, where should that stick go?
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Africa.
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These 18-month-old cheetah sisters
have been struggling to cope
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00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,480
since they left their mother
a few weeks ago.
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00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,200
Their biggest problem
is their own inexperience.
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00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,720
They are barely managing to catch
even the smallest prey.
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00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,880
Unless they can master big-game
hunting,
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00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,880
the sisters will soon starve.
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00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:10,560
They are the only
survivors from a litter of five.
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00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,000
They have spent their lives so far
playing and learning together.
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00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,320
Continuing that bond will be
the key to their survival.
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00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:28,160
Cheetah siblings that
support each other have a better
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chance of making it to adulthood.
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00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,520
This is now the critical
time for the sisters
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00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:48,560
because an opportunity is arising
and they must seize it.
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Male impala.
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Weighing more than both
sisters put together,
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they make a formidable prey.
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00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:20,040
But the impala are caught up in a
month-long competition for mates...
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00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:24,520
..and that is making the males
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increasingly weakened
and distracted.
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00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,240
The next few weeks may
provide the sisters'
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00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,120
best chance to
make their first big kill.
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00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:42,800
They need to act soon.
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00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:53,880
The amount of time that
different animals must
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spend in growing up varies
enormously.
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Once a veined octopus reaches
adulthood,
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it mates
and dies shortly after.
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00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:10,600
So most of its life is
spent as an adolescent,
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eating as much as possible.
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00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:16,920
Although octopus are voracious
hunters,
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their soft bodies make them
very vulnerable to other predators.
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00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,360
So how do the octopus
that live here,
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00:20:24,360 --> 00:20:28,080
on the exposed sea floor
of Indonesia's Lembeh Straits,
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keep on eating without being eaten?
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00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,880
For most, the solution is an almost
unbelievable talent for disguise.
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The mimic octopus can change
the colour of its body to
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seamlessly blend in with
its surroundings.
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00:20:55,720 --> 00:21:01,200
It can also mimic predators,
like a flounder or a lionfish.
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The wonderpus's strategy is to look
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so bizarre it is simply
unrecognisable as an octopus.
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But no disguise is completely
effective,
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and flounders
are a persistent menace,
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always on the lookout for
an edible tentacle.
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00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:40,400
Unfortunately, the veined octopus
has no clever disguise.
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And a flounder is trailing it,
waiting for an off-guard moment.
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But the octopus has a unique
solution to this problem.
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A discarded coconut shell could
provide some
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protection from its stalker.
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This one carries the shell
everywhere it goes.
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But this is only half the story.
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For all-round security it needs
another half to make
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a matching pair.
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Its remarkable ability to manipulate
shells is the first-known example
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of tool-use amongst invertebrates.
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Now the octopus can get back
to its
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adolescent enthusiasm with
body-building.
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The stalker is still stalking.
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However, an armoured pod has
another, more unexpected, benefit.
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The chance of a sharp exit.
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This cunning cephalopod lives to
hunt another day,
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all tentacles intact.
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For some juveniles, their greatest
rivals are adults of their own kind.
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Huge colonies of nesting birds
on the Falkland Islands
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are a sitting target
for a ruthless predator.
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A striated caracara.
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He too is a juvenile, a yearling.
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But despite the abundance of prey,
this youngster is hungry.
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00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:37,360
That's because hunting rights in the
colony are strictly controlled.
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00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,560
Adult caracara are
fiercely territorial.
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00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:16,960
Breeding pairs punish juvenile
trespassers very severely.
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00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,280
BIRDS SQUAWK
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Juveniles are banished to the
surrounding moorlands,
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00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,800
where their chances
of survival are slim.
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00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,880
A year ago, this bird
was being cared for,
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00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:48,960
like these chicks are now.
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00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:56,880
But his parents pushed him out
to make way for a new brood.
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00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,120
The adults want to keep
the juveniles down.
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00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:07,440
But this youngster is not alone.
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00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:13,640
There are other outcasts here.
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00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:21,840
And they've joined forces.
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00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:32,600
To survive on these islands,
all juvenile caracara form gangs.
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00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:45,120
They are an undisciplined mob,
riven with in-fighting.
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But there is strength in numbers.
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And the adults know it.
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00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,600
They will try to
break the gangs up...
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00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:01,840
..if they can.
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00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:15,720
BIRDS SQUAWK
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00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,000
But now, with the might
of the gang behind them,
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00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:24,520
young caracara can rise up
against authority.
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00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,600
The balance of power has shifted.
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00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:46,360
With strength of numbers,
comes air supremacy.
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00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,800
Now the gang can invade
the colonies with little
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00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:52,680
fear of retribution from adults.
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00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:04,280
Gang life may not be
easy for a lowly, new member.
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00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,160
But it opens up opportunities
denied to it as a loner.
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00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:30,840
They are after eggs, and together,
they overwhelm the nesting shags.
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00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,160
The mob plunders
until they are all fully gorged.
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00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,960
Working together is the only chance
of success these juveniles have.
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00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:31,320
But gang life is a brutal existence
that a young caracara must
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00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:35,640
endure for four years before
finally reaching adulthood
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00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:37,240
and leaving the mob behind.
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00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:48,400
In India, a year has passed.
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00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:55,360
The three tiger cubs
are now 18 months old
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00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:57,360
and on the brink of independence.
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00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,680
They're resting in the protection
of a derelict fortress,
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00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:07,120
trying to keep cool.
234
00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:25,200
But the situation is less relaxed
than it appears.
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00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,360
Something caused their mother to
hide them here several days ago,
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00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:37,280
they haven't seen her,
or their father, since then.
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00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:49,400
They're growing hungry.
238
00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:55,600
They may soon be forced to take
a critical step towards independence
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00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:57,920
and to begin hunting for themselves.
240
00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,280
This female has been the
most confident of them all
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00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:12,120
since they were cubs.
242
00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:24,920
It's she who finally leaves
the security of the fort
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00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,000
and heads out on her own.
244
00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:53,240
On the furthest edge
of the family territory,
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00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:55,760
she catches sight of another tiger.
246
00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:04,120
It's her mother.
247
00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,240
She is behaving strangely.
248
00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:33,360
A male,
but he's not the cub's father.
249
00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:42,040
A new male in the territory can
mean only one thing -
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00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:46,760
that her father's rule is ending.
251
00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:55,440
Her mother has little choice
but to change her allegiance.
252
00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,320
No matter how much the mother
appeases the male,
253
00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:20,120
her daughter is now in danger.
254
00:34:25,240 --> 00:34:28,400
This male will try to kill
any of the old rulers' cubs.
255
00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:43,520
The young female's survival now
depends on finding a new home.
256
00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:07,880
Early independence has been
forced upon her.
257
00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:26,120
The next day, the forest is quiet.
258
00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:49,600
The young female is dead.
259
00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:56,280
Killed by the new male.
260
00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:00,960
Perhaps her confidence
was her downfall.
261
00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:28,000
The other two cubs at the fort
are safe, for now.
262
00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:35,560
The journey to independence can be
the most dangerous period
263
00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:39,080
of an animal's life,
264
00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:42,920
often it's the more cautious ones
that win through.
265
00:36:56,320 --> 00:37:00,200
Animals fortunate or skilful enough
to reach independence
266
00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:06,640
now face a new challenge - learning
to compete in the adult world.
267
00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:15,200
Very few animals experience this
more acutely than
268
00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,560
a booted racket-tail hummingbird.
269
00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:29,520
He may look mature, but he's still
struggling to cope with
270
00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:31,600
the daily demands of adult life.
271
00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:39,360
Hummingbirds have the most
hyperactive lifestyle of all birds.
272
00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:52,200
A racket-tail must consume
a sip of energy-rich nectar
273
00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:54,160
2,000 times a day.
274
00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:58,000
But here in the cloud forests
of South America,
275
00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:00,720
flowers are very
few and far between.
276
00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:08,600
Constantly on the brink
of starvation,
277
00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:11,760
a racket-tail must
learn where the flowers are
278
00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:13,880
and the shortest route between them.
279
00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:25,400
His heart beats 1,000 times a minute
and his wings at 60 times a second.
280
00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:31,960
His lightning reactions
and aerial agility allow him
281
00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:34,520
to dodge his way through his day.
282
00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:38,280
And he needs to.
283
00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:41,920
Because more than 30 other
species of hummingbird live here,
284
00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:44,160
all competing for the same flowers.
285
00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:59,680
About the size of your little finger
and the weight of a one-pence piece,
286
00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:03,640
the racket-tail is too small to
battle with the bigger species.
287
00:39:14,240 --> 00:39:16,640
But he can out-manoeuvre
the competition
288
00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:19,800
and sneak through to flowers
undetected.
289
00:39:33,720 --> 00:39:39,000
However, even a racket-tail can't
avoid conflict with its own kind.
290
00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:47,920
A juvenile must learn to stand
his ground, against mature males.
291
00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:24,320
This hummingbird's day
is about to get even worse.
292
00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:27,760
Almost every afternoon it rains.
293
00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:35,040
But such a tiny hummingbird
can't afford to take shelter.
294
00:40:37,720 --> 00:40:41,240
As the day cools down,
he needs even more energy
295
00:40:41,240 --> 00:40:42,960
to maintain his body temperature.
296
00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:49,120
But on this scale, raindrops can
be a force to be reckoned with.
297
00:40:59,960 --> 00:41:03,640
When the rain eases off,
yet another problem emerges.
298
00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:09,120
BUZZING
299
00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:16,720
Honey bees are too small
to fly in heavy rain,
300
00:41:16,720 --> 00:41:21,160
but once it stops, they're out
in force urgently harvesting nectar.
301
00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:26,640
And are prepared to fight for it.
302
00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,680
One sting could kill
a young racket-tail,
303
00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:37,840
but luckily he has
superior agility on his side.
304
00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:21,080
Evening arrives and this exhausted
hummingbird can finally stop.
305
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:25,800
But it must slow its heart rate
306
00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:29,400
and enter a state of torpor
in order to survive the night.
307
00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:36,720
WIND WHISTLES
308
00:42:36,720 --> 00:42:40,400
Every dawn, the same hectic schedule
will begin all over again.
309
00:42:42,160 --> 00:42:45,080
But with each day,
he learns a little more
310
00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:47,760
about becoming a successful adult.
311
00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:59,880
Coming of age is a gradual process
for the hummingbird,
312
00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:04,160
but for some animals,
it's defined by a single moment.
313
00:43:19,200 --> 00:43:23,720
Late autumn in southern Africa
spells the end of youth
314
00:43:23,720 --> 00:43:26,040
for the cheetah sisters.
315
00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:33,040
Hunger has sharpened
their instincts.
316
00:43:44,200 --> 00:43:47,760
The sisters have
identified a target.
317
00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:53,360
Although in his prime,
318
00:43:53,360 --> 00:43:57,000
this male is exhausted by weeks
of intense competition.
319
00:44:01,200 --> 00:44:06,040
But there's still no room for error
when taking on such powerful prey.
320
00:44:11,320 --> 00:44:14,840
The stalk, the sprint
and the kill...
321
00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:19,480
..everything must be
perfectly executed.
322
00:44:30,320 --> 00:44:34,520
Cheetah are unable to sustain
top speed for long,
323
00:44:34,520 --> 00:44:38,120
so they'll only be able to catch
the impala if the chase starts
324
00:44:38,120 --> 00:44:39,480
when they're really close.
325
00:44:46,360 --> 00:44:48,480
And if they work as a team.
326
00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:26,320
One false move and
the chance will be gone.
327
00:45:53,480 --> 00:45:57,480
The sisters close in
and set the trap.
328
00:46:24,640 --> 00:46:28,520
She loses her stride and
the impala gains ground.
329
00:46:39,800 --> 00:46:41,520
But her sister is ready.
330
00:47:09,920 --> 00:47:12,880
Whilst the impala is still
on his feet, he's dangerous.
331
00:47:20,320 --> 00:47:23,400
They struggle to deliver
the killing bite.
332
00:47:48,040 --> 00:47:51,120
Finally, it's over.
333
00:47:58,360 --> 00:48:01,760
At this moment,
with this first success,
334
00:48:01,760 --> 00:48:04,600
these young cheetahs have
entered the adult world.
335
00:48:16,400 --> 00:48:20,200
Now they will face
a new set of challenges -
336
00:48:20,200 --> 00:48:23,680
finding a home, winning a mate
337
00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:26,720
and eventually raising
young of their own.
338
00:48:28,600 --> 00:48:33,800
But the lessons of youth are
the foundations of their future.
339
00:48:50,320 --> 00:48:54,000
A small white fox that can cover
more than 50 miles a day
340
00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:58,000
across this vast, white landscape
is a real filming challenge.
341
00:49:01,480 --> 00:49:04,720
Justin, Justin, do you copy?
'Yeah, copy.
342
00:49:04,720 --> 00:49:09,000
'I'm just trying to get my
thumbs to come back to life.'
343
00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:12,240
Director Sophie Lanfear has
experienced the difficulties
344
00:49:12,240 --> 00:49:14,520
of filming arctic animals before.
345
00:49:17,760 --> 00:49:20,840
But she hopes to capture,
for the first time,
346
00:49:20,840 --> 00:49:24,160
the extraordinary hunting
behaviour of an Arctic fox
347
00:49:24,160 --> 00:49:25,800
"snow-diving" for lemmings.
348
00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:32,920
Her journey begins
in the Swedish Arctic
349
00:49:32,920 --> 00:49:34,760
with cameraman Rolf Steinmann.
350
00:49:41,280 --> 00:49:44,560
Just spotting the foxes
proves hard enough
351
00:49:44,560 --> 00:49:47,200
and it's soon clear that
getting close to them
352
00:49:47,200 --> 00:49:51,000
is going to demand all of
Rolf's patience and resilience.
353
00:50:05,240 --> 00:50:08,720
Today, we found a den here
354
00:50:08,720 --> 00:50:13,400
and, after 13 hours of waiting,
the Arctic fox finally came out.
355
00:50:13,400 --> 00:50:16,440
He's sitting there right now
and taking a sun bath.
356
00:50:16,440 --> 00:50:19,680
So, fingers crossed this
individual gets used to us
357
00:50:19,680 --> 00:50:22,760
and he lets us see how
he can survive out here.
358
00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:27,360
After a week,
the outlook seems good.
359
00:50:27,360 --> 00:50:30,600
But fortunes can change
suddenly in the Arctic.
360
00:50:32,480 --> 00:50:36,320
WIND HOWLS
361
00:50:44,560 --> 00:50:47,120
It's now pretty white out.
362
00:50:47,120 --> 00:50:51,680
With such bad conditions, the team
consider abandoning the shoot.
363
00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:53,800
Should have probably gone
an hour ago.
364
00:50:56,440 --> 00:50:58,440
I don't know if it's safe
to drive in this.
365
00:51:02,760 --> 00:51:05,960
Sophie and Rolf have no choice
but to sit it out.
366
00:51:18,600 --> 00:51:23,080
With filming out of the question,
all they could do is stay warm.
367
00:51:34,040 --> 00:51:36,680
Although the weather
eventually clears,
368
00:51:36,680 --> 00:51:39,280
there's precious little time
left for filming.
369
00:51:42,760 --> 00:51:44,960
Rolf, I hope you know
how many bags we've got.
370
00:51:54,080 --> 00:51:56,960
Finally, Rolf is able to film again.
371
00:51:59,680 --> 00:52:03,440
But the foxes are proving
hard to predict.
372
00:52:03,440 --> 00:52:06,200
At one point, he walked out of
the frame and I tried to frame up
373
00:52:06,200 --> 00:52:09,360
so that it comes into frame
and then suddenly it jumps.
374
00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:12,360
Bloop!
375
00:52:12,360 --> 00:52:15,480
I mean, I didn't even think
that there's a big fat lemming
376
00:52:15,480 --> 00:52:18,480
just sitting in the landscape
and waiting to be eaten.
377
00:52:20,120 --> 00:52:23,280
It was the last chance
to film a hunt.
378
00:52:23,280 --> 00:52:24,880
Their time is up.
379
00:52:24,880 --> 00:52:28,680
I mean, that lemming must
have been either already dead
380
00:52:28,680 --> 00:52:30,520
or it was really stupid or it was...
381
00:52:34,960 --> 00:52:38,200
With the foxes in Sweden
too elusive,
382
00:52:38,200 --> 00:52:42,040
the following winter the team decide
to try their luck in Canada.
383
00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:46,840
This location is one of
the best places for tourists
384
00:52:46,840 --> 00:52:49,280
to experience Arctic wildlife.
385
00:52:51,320 --> 00:52:55,200
And it's almost guaranteed
to provide close encounters
386
00:52:55,200 --> 00:52:56,680
with white foxes.
387
00:52:58,280 --> 00:53:01,320
So it's quite a surprise
that the first fox they see
388
00:53:01,320 --> 00:53:03,160
is the wrong colour.
389
00:53:06,400 --> 00:53:08,480
It's the first year in 30 years
390
00:53:08,480 --> 00:53:13,960
that red foxes have come around this
area to stay so early in the winter.
391
00:53:13,960 --> 00:53:16,960
I mean, it's not their natural
habitat, they shouldn't be here,
392
00:53:16,960 --> 00:53:20,440
and they're probably the reason why
the Arctic foxes aren't coming in.
393
00:53:21,920 --> 00:53:25,480
These red foxes are bigger
and stronger than Arctic foxes
394
00:53:25,480 --> 00:53:28,360
and they can push them
out of the area
395
00:53:28,360 --> 00:53:32,400
and we experience it here
in a very painful way.
396
00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:38,560
Weeks pass, but no white foxes.
397
00:53:38,560 --> 00:53:43,160
Instead, the number of
red foxes just grows and grows,
398
00:53:43,160 --> 00:53:44,800
as does their boldness.
399
00:53:53,200 --> 00:53:57,240
After five weeks without
seeing a single white fox,
400
00:53:57,240 --> 00:54:01,920
Sophie and Rolf are forced
to accept a second defeat.
401
00:54:01,920 --> 00:54:05,480
This is some kind of
official "game over".
402
00:54:12,240 --> 00:54:14,880
Some people just don't give up
403
00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:18,320
and, two and a half years
since her first attempt,
404
00:54:18,320 --> 00:54:20,480
Sophie is back in Canada,
405
00:54:20,480 --> 00:54:25,640
but now further north, where
red foxes shouldn't be a problem.
406
00:54:25,640 --> 00:54:27,880
I'm in Arviat this time
407
00:54:27,880 --> 00:54:31,120
and third and final chance
to film Arctic foxes.
408
00:54:31,120 --> 00:54:33,120
So I'm confident, this time,
409
00:54:33,120 --> 00:54:36,120
we're going to get it,
we're going to get it.
410
00:54:36,120 --> 00:54:38,800
Rolf was busy on another assignment,
411
00:54:38,800 --> 00:54:41,520
so cameraman Justin Maguire
takes up the challenge.
412
00:54:42,880 --> 00:54:45,000
OK, we have our stuff, yay!
413
00:54:47,760 --> 00:54:50,240
And he seems to bring good fortune.
414
00:54:52,080 --> 00:54:57,520
In the first few days, they find
some remarkably brazen foxes.
415
00:54:57,520 --> 00:54:59,160
No, no, no, no!
416
00:55:04,080 --> 00:55:07,080
SOPHIE LAUGHS
417
00:55:07,080 --> 00:55:09,120
That's definitely the closest yet.
418
00:55:12,680 --> 00:55:15,440
But the foxes' very boldness
is a problem.
419
00:55:24,600 --> 00:55:27,600
There's a fox being chased.
420
00:55:27,600 --> 00:55:29,600
He's getting his gun out.
421
00:55:31,320 --> 00:55:32,880
No!
422
00:55:38,280 --> 00:55:41,600
GUNSHOT ECHOES
423
00:55:41,600 --> 00:55:45,480
Hunting is a traditional
way of life in these communities
424
00:55:45,480 --> 00:55:50,480
and foxes living nearest human
habitation are most at risk.
425
00:55:52,960 --> 00:55:57,480
So the team's only choice is to
head further out into the tundra,
426
00:55:57,480 --> 00:55:59,880
as far from human contact
as possible.
427
00:56:03,640 --> 00:56:06,120
Not quite sure where we're heading.
428
00:56:06,120 --> 00:56:08,240
The landscape's
completely featureless
429
00:56:08,240 --> 00:56:11,400
and we haven't seen
any bears or foxes.
430
00:56:13,280 --> 00:56:15,880
Somewhere out here,
they hope to find foxes
431
00:56:15,880 --> 00:56:18,360
which are behaving
completely naturally.
432
00:56:21,240 --> 00:56:25,000
But the crew's life returns
to an all too familiar pattern.
433
00:56:27,480 --> 00:56:31,080
We drive, we stop,
we spot, we lose them.
434
00:56:31,080 --> 00:56:33,400
We drive, we stop, we spot,
we lose them.
435
00:56:33,400 --> 00:56:36,160
Vanished. Currently lost them.
436
00:56:46,080 --> 00:56:48,880
Eventually, persistence pays off.
437
00:57:08,960 --> 00:57:12,600
Sophie and her team
finally get their shot.
438
00:57:18,280 --> 00:57:20,600
I've waited a very long time...
439
00:57:22,360 --> 00:57:24,000
..for this moment.
440
00:57:28,880 --> 00:57:30,680
I don't think Rolf would believe it.
441
00:57:39,040 --> 00:57:45,840
Next time on Life Story, animals
secure a home in a dangerous world.
442
00:57:47,360 --> 00:57:49,560
They battle...
443
00:57:49,560 --> 00:57:51,400
grab opportunities...
444
00:57:52,400 --> 00:57:54,080
..compete with neighbours...
445
00:57:55,160 --> 00:57:56,520
..build...
446
00:57:57,760 --> 00:58:00,760
..and fight to dominate their world.
447
00:58:02,600 --> 00:58:05,440
For a free Open University
interactive poster
448
00:58:05,440 --> 00:58:07,840
exploring animal life journeys,
call...
449
00:58:12,520 --> 00:58:14,280
..or go to...
450
00:58:18,040 --> 00:58:20,840
..and follow the links
to the Open University.
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