All language subtitles for Spy in the Wild Series 2 4of4 BBC Poles 1080p_ENG_Subtitles01

The animal world is full
of spectacle and wonder.

But what's it like to be right
in the heart of the action?

To find out, our team of
spy creatures goes undercover.

They not only look like the animals
they film,

they behave like them too.

Armed with the latest
camera technology...

..they are heading across the globe.

From the heat of the tropics...

..to the lands that lie
in the north.

From the islands
of the southern seas...

..to the snow and ice
of the frozen poles...

..our spies reveal
the astonishing variety

of life that thrives there...

..from inside their world.

On their final assignment, our
spy creatures explore the lands

of ice and snow beyond the Arctic
and Antarctic Circles.

In this polar realm, animals find
astonishing ways to survive

in an extreme and freezing climate.

It's winter on the remote
island of South Georgia

in the Southern Ocean.

Spy albatross patrols the rugged
coast for signs of life.

Even in this hostile land,
animals still thrive.

A city of king penguins
and their chicks.

200,000 in all.

They're one of the world's tallest
penguins, standing 1m high.

Among the multitude,
there's a special addition.

PENGUINS BRAY

Spy chick is here to reveal
life in the colony.

In this barren land, the chicks
must stick together.

Preening each other is
one way of making friends.

Now a fully-fledged member
of the colony,

he's free to find out more.

Both parents care for their chicks,
feeding them fish

stored in their stomachs.

They're six months old.

It will be eight more months
before they're fledged.

No other penguin devotes so much
time to rearing their young.

Sheathbills are one of the few
other birds to thrive here.

They scavenge on anything they can.

Even spy chick is worth a try.

Sheathbills are more an
irritation than a threat.

The chicks have far bigger
things to worry about.

Giant petrels.

He seeks out the weak and injured.

His aim is to create panic...

..separating a chick from
the colony.

But parents work together to
shield any chick in danger.

The petrel seeks an easier victim.

Not the time for a malfunction.

SPY CHICK WHIRS

Luckily, there's plenty
of life left in spy chick.

In a colony so vast,
the petrel will soon find

a more appetising meal.

Order restored, the chicks'
lives are about to change.

Their parents' food stocks
have run out.

There's nothing left to give.

It's time to go fishing once more.

The chicks won't see their parents
again for at least three months.

Ahead lies the Southern Ocean,

and a round trip of over
1,000 miles.

The chicks must now face the
full brunt of the weather alone.

It will be a long wait.

Their next meal is many months away.

As our penguin chicks hunker
down for winter,

spring is arriving in the
Arctic's far north.

Icebergs, cast adrift from glaciers,

are sculpted by rising temperatures.

What once was frozen sea
now gives way to open water.

Only rafts of drifting ice remain.

But it's not just the ice
that's on the move.

Spy walrus is perfectly suited
for navigating these waters.

Based on a young walrus, it should
be readily accepted.

This is just what it's looking for.

Atlantic walrus hold out
on what little ice remains.

A new walrus is always of interest.

This small family pod has been
at sea all winter.

They gave birth when the water
was frozen.

Ice still provides a safe
platform to rest on...

..but now there's not enough
room for everyone.

Fortunately, the male is quite happy
to snooze in the ocean.

LOUD SNORING

And he doesn't mind
letting everyone know.

PARPING

GRUNTING

He needs his sleep.

Walrus can stay awake for four days
when searching for food.

He can dose for ten hours
at a time,

only waking to change position.

He's even happy to sleep
on his front...

..despite needing a breath
every ten minutes.

Male walrus are notoriously grumpy.

But most of it's just for show.

KNOCKING

This strange knocking sound
is a warning to rival males.

It can carry ten miles or more.

Back with the walrus family, their
ice raft is fast disappearing.

Time to find dry land.

But first, they check out
the new visitor.

Walruses use their tusks
for finding food and fighting.

But they have only friendly
intentions here.

Inspection over, the family look
for a safer place to haul out.

They're joined by spy gyrfalcon,

based on the only falcon found
this far north.

In the water, the calf
is vulnerable to predators.

For security, the family
keep him surrounded.

They may travel over 200 miles
without stopping or sleeping.

But today, they're not going far.

Their favourite beach is close by.

A popular spot with shallow waters
rich in clams and other food...

..this will be their
summer home until the ice returns.

There are some who choose
to follow the retreating ice.

Spy falcon heads further north...

..the frozen realm of the world's
most formidable predator.

Polar bears use the ice for hunting.

But each year the spring melt
arrives earlier,

making conditions more challenging.

She must use the fragile
ice as stepping stones.

To gain a closer look,
another spy is needed.

It could be a risky mission.

The planet's largest carnivore
has a fearsome reputation...

..and they like to hunt alone.

As a precaution, spy bear
has a nifty trick.

Fortunately, polar bears
aren't territorial.

They're more inquisitive
than aggressive.

The bear continues her quest
for seals...

..slipping into the water
with hardly a stir.

Hidden between the ice floes,
she can move quickly and silently.

But seals haul out where they
can see bears approaching.

And this seal has met
polar bears before...

..with the scars to prove it.

She must use what cover she can.

She takes a bearing and dives.

She aims for a surprise attack.

That means getting close.

But there's too much ice to cover.

She must change her technique.

Keeping downwind gives
her the advantage.

But hunting on melting ice
has its own problems.

She spreads her weight as best
she can.

But this wasn't in the plan.

When the ice is melting,
most hunts fail.

Rolling squeezes water
from her fur,

vital for maintaining insulation.

Perhaps all is not lost.

She's picked up a scent.

A trail that leads to land.

She can smell food from
20 miles away.

But the trail ends here.

A whale carcass.

100 tonnes of blubber, and a beacon
for every bear in the neighbourhood,

including our spy.

The hungry bear soon joins
the feast.

When there's plenty of food,
they don't mind sharing.

Here, there's enough to last
them a year.

As the climate changes, such
bonanzas become life-savers

for hungry bears.

Further south, beyond the sea ice,
is Norway's Hornoya Island.

It's early spring and millions of
seabirds are returning to breed,

having spent winter fishing at sea.

Among them is the island's
most famous inhabitant.

Puffins are rarely seen on snow,

but here winter lingers
far into spring.

To gain a head start, they must
pair up as soon as they can.

But one puffin is very much
on its own.

A spy in disguise.

It isn't lonely for long.

Puffins are sociable
and inquisitive.

Spy puffin greets
them with a head flick.

And they soon return the gesture.

He's surrounded by males searching
for their long-lost partners.

They pair for life, but only
spend time together

in the breeding season.

After so long apart,
it's hard to recognise who's who.

Even spy puffin is given
the once over.

The male waits by his old nest
burrow hidden beneath the snow.

This is where his partner
will return.

Could this be her?

Or maybe her?

Or even her?

There's only one way to find out.

They bob and head rub.

She's definitely the one.

But a male who's young and single
is out to try his luck.

He'll happily muscle
in on a devoted couple.

But no male gives up the love
of his life without a fight.

Despite her commitment, a strong
male might turn her head.

Her partner must prove
he's still worthy.

The love rival loses.

Her mate has proved
he's still a good catch.

Bonds restored, they join others
as they go fishing.

Back in South Georgia, four months
have passed and the chicks

are still waiting for their parents
to return.

With warming seas, the fishing
grounds are moving south,

meaning their parents must
travel further.

Despite their fluffy appearance,
some have lost 70%

of their fat reserves.

Close to starvation,

they must conserve the little
energy they have.

But their wait may soon be over.

The first promising sign.

They've been away for a third
of a year and are desperate

to feed their hungry chicks.

Another penguin cam is here
to greet the weary travellers.

Their bellies are stuffed
with squid and krill.

Over the next few days, hundreds
of thousands will return.

But while they were away,
things have changed.

Their beach has been invaded.

6,000 elephant seals now separate
them from their hungry chicks.

Spy chick is waiting too.

It won't be easy - the bulls weigh
four tonnes

and are easily riled.

The penguins will just have to wait.

As peace returns, it's
the opportunity they need.

Safest to go on tiptoe.

So far, so good.

Maybe not so good.

It's now or never!

He's cleared the way -
it's the break they need.

But that was the easy bit.

Somehow they must find their
own chick

among all the identikit versions.

A seemingly impossible task.

Especially as their chicks
have changed

over the last four months.

But they have a solution...

PENGUIN CALLS

..call and hope their chick
answers back.

Each parent's call is unique.

Once identified, the chick can't
contain his excitement.

After so long apart, it's a moment
worth celebrating.

Food at last!

Preservatives in her stomach mean
it's as fresh

as the day it was caught.

With full bellies and their
parents around,

the chicks will be safe for another
few months.

On the Arctic islands of Svalbard,
young seabirds

face a different challenge.

It's now summer, and guillemots are
among the many birds

raising their young.

An Arctic fox bears witness
to this yearly spectacle.

Among the returning flocks, our
spy is surrounded by little auks.

They nest among the boulders.

While Guillemots nest on the
sheer cliffs above.

All this life brings opportunities
for predators.

Spy fox is staking out a den
of Arctic foxes.

These youngsters have been raised
here over the last three months.

Now they're coming of age,

they play the games that hone
their hunting skills.

High above, the guillemot chicks
are ready to leave their nests.

Below is a drop of 300m,

and there's only one way down.

Somehow, they must make
it to the sea.

The chick has never flown before.

But her father is with her
all the way.

Falling short is
the greatest danger.

But she makes a textbook landing.

More are encouraged to follow.

For the foxes, they're tantalisingly
out of reach.

While the youngsters hope
for better luck,

boulder cam takes over
filming duties.

It's just one of the many
spycams hidden here.

For now, the fox cubs bide
their time.

Above, more novice flyers
are warming up.

Ready or not, she must make
the leap of faith.

She falls short.

An opportunity for the fox.

The chick is still 300m
from the sea,

but her father's calls
are beckoning her.

She's in a race for her life.

To keep up, another
spy creature is needed,

one based on a snowy owl.

The chick might seem an easy meal...

..but this meal bites back.

It's running rings round
this novice hunter.

But there's a long way to go.

To reach the sea, the chick must
cross the boulder field.

And danger lurks wherever she turns.

But this bird has spirit.

And the boulders offer
places to hide.

All the time, she's edging closer
to the sea.

It seems her bravado is outfoxing
the fox.

But she's not safe yet.

She's made it.

A hard lesson for the fox.

A happy reunion for the chick.

She'll return to the cliffs
in five years' time,

when she is ready to breed.

By then, the fox cubs
will be seasoned hunters.

While it's summer in the Arctic,

Antarctica is facing the
lowest temperatures found

anywhere else on Earth.

Remarkably, emperor penguins choose
this time to have their young.

This tobogganing version
of penguin cam

is here to discover
how they survive.

As temperatures reach
40 degrees below,

the chicks try to tuck themselves
into their mother's pouch.

As the blizzard strengthens,
their parents turn their backs

to the biting wind.

But even this is not enough.

To stay warm, they must
huddle together.

A chick on its own
won't survive for long.

Just in time.

But he urgently needs the warmth
of the huddle.

His mother must find a place
to tuck in.

In the jostle for position,
accidents are inevitable.

His mother's only thought
is to protect him from harm.

It's not the only danger he faces.

Here, winds can reach 100mph for
days at a time.

Spy penguin is facing the
full force of the weather.

While penguin cam is out of action,
other cameras take over the filming.

Time-lapse
unravels the huddle's secrets.

Somehow, they must share the warmth.

But the last to join are stuck
on the outside,

taking the brunt of the storm.

But there's help.

Those on the inside take tiny steps

that move the huddle in waves.

Step by step, the penguins move

from the inside to the outside.

In this way, the warmest penguins

soon cover the coolest birds.

By rotating position,

no penguin is left out in the cold

and all get a turn
in the warm centre.

The huddle is so efficient

penguins at the inner core
often overheat.

Then the colony breaks down.

The coldest penguins
now form a new huddle.

As others join, they soon become
warm and snug once more.

When the blizzard ends,
the penguins separate.

Our spy can join them once more.

The chicks have made it.

They now take a little ice and snow
in their stride.

As Antarctica freezes,

it's midsummer in Ellesmere Island,

just 500 miles from the North Pole.

It's home to the Arctic wolf,

the world's most successful
pack hunter.

Summer is pupping season.

After three months in the den,

they're big enough
for the great outdoors.

There's so much to see.

Spy pup.

A new companion, perhaps.

A bow and wagging tail means
come and play.

Already, they've made a friend.

The pups are big enough to meet
the rest of the family.

Their older brothers and sisters
now have young playmates.

Their parents
share in leadership duties.

DUAL HOWLING

They rally the family to go hunting.

When all are ready,
they leave together.

Spy pup tries to follow.

But it's no match for the agile
wolves.

Spy snowy owl takes up
the filming baton.

It can fly long-range and cruise
at 15mph...

..perfect for tracking wolves
on the move.

They have 75,000 square miles
to hunt in.

The head into wind

to try to catch a scent...

..perhaps from prey 20 miles away.

It's a testing time
for such tiny pups.

To discover what lies ahead,

our eye in the sky takes the lead.

Muskox are prime prey
for Arctic wolves.

Downwind, the wolves are difficult
to detect.

But muskox are easily spooked.

So they carefully take up position.

Selecting the young or infirm.

But the pups have yet
to learn the rules.

PUPS YAP

Their cover's blown.

The herd cluster together...

..forming a protective circle
around their calves.

The wolves surround them.

This time, the pups stay still.

The pack calculates its next move.

They split the herd.

As the pups watch and learn.

They've singled out
the oldest animal.

But a fully grown muskox

weighs 400 kilos and can kill a
wolf.

And its thick woolly coat
is almost impenetrable.

Their aim is to tire her out.

Those at the front keep
the muskox distracted.

Those at the back anchor her down.

Such battles can last an hour.

Exhausted, she gives up the fight.

It's enough food for the whole
family,

including the pups.

But they must wait -

the hunters get the first reward.

Once they've had their fill,

the cubs are called.

They're curious.

It's the first time they've tasted
fresh meat.

It's also their first lesson
in survival.

Back at the den, spy pup is waiting.

The pups return with spoils
from the hunt.

For all, the meal will keep
hunger at bay for a week.

It's now time to relax once more.

Before our spy creatures'
mission ends,

they return to South Georgia.

Spy king penguin is on duty
once more.

It's the elephant seals'
breeding season

and females with pups
are everywhere.

It's a busy time for this
beach master.

He has around 100 females
to look after.

Each is in need of attention.

He doesn't want them to stray.

But while his back is turned,

he's vulnerable.

There are plenty of other males

hoping to steal them away.

This one isn't big enough

to challenge the beach master.

He has to be sneaky instead.

But the beach master is
always on guard.

He roars a warning.

His nose amplifies the sound.

For the intruder,

the message is loud and clear.

It's followed up with a charge.

The rival backs down.

Spy penguin
becomes the first casualty

as the rival makes his escape.

With a spy creature down,

backup is required.

Meet the largest spy yet.

To cope with his massive bulk,

he's an inflatable version.

His head is filled with water

for added stability.

He seems to fit right in.

While the beach master recovers
from his brawl,

the young male considers his next
move.

It's worth another try.

He must be as discreet as he can.

But that requires a willing partner.

He's been rumbled, and he knows it.

This is an act of war.

As the rival retreats,

the female leaves the battleground.

They must fight once more,

with spy elephant seal
in the very heart of it.

ROARING

The beach master rises
to full height.

Let the battle commence.

Fighting can be lethal.

Outmatched,
his rival retreats again.

Another victory
for the heavyweight champion.

He'll spend the whole summer
fighting.

Every day is another battle.

Despite being in the danger zone,

our spy survived.

But the young pretender

still has some fight left in him.

Best he picks on
someone his own size.

It didn't stand a chance.

It's a deflated end

for spy elephant seal.

AIR WHOOSHES

As ever, the sheathbill
won't miss an opportunity.

For a moment,
he's king of the castle.

Despite its early demise,

spy elephant seal was part
of something remarkable.

With the help of new technology,

our spy creatures joined
animal families to discover

how they survive
in every part of the world.

Wherever they went,

they gave us an intimate view
of animal life

and captured behaviour
never seen before.

What they filmed made us smile.

And made us wonder.

They even touched our hearts.

But in the end, the animals
told their own stories

while our animatronic team

brought new insights into the
animals that share our planet,

with many adventures along the way.