Original subtitles

(SPLASH)

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)

STEVE BACKSHALL: Whales. (WHALE SINGING)

STEVE BACKSHALL: Whales. (WHALE SINGING)

Ocean giants. Ancient mariners.

Their songs, majesty and sheer size

Their songs, majesty and sheer size

fill us with joy and awe.

In their vast shadow,

a human can feel very small.

They were here long before us...

..caring for their young...

..caring for their young...

..hunting... (WHALE SQUEAKING)

..voyaging.

But now we are changing their world.

But now we are changing their world.

So I want to see through their eyes,

meeting them on their terms,

to find how their future and ours are inseparable.

to find how their future and ours are inseparable.

(WHALE SONG ECHOES)

'I'm exploring our kinship with whales and dolphins.

'I'm exploring our kinship with whales and dolphins.

Once dubbed "devilfish",

we now know they need our help.

For the entirety of human history,

whales have been creatures of myth and legend,

shrouded in mystery, with us knowing little of their secret lives.

shrouded in mystery, with us knowing little of their secret lives.

But now, leaps in technology are offering us

a window into their world.

We are entering a golden era

of understanding the world of the whale.

Much of that mystery is down to their ocean home.

A place that we humans can only fleetingly visit,

A place that we humans can only fleetingly visit,

and rarely to the depths they can dive to.

(MAJESTIC MUSIC)

But despite our differences,

whales are mammals like us...

(WHALE CLICKING)

(WHALE CLICKING)

..and, it turns out, we have more in common than you might think.

I'm starting my journey in one of the most remote places

in the Atlantic: the Azores...

..searching for the whale that was probably

the most misunderstood of all...

the most misunderstood of all...

..the sperm whale.

There it is! Full breach!

Sensational!

This is one of the deepest-diving creatures on the planet,

able to get down to well over 2,000 metres in depth,

and to hold their breath up to two hours.

and to hold their breath up to two hours.

These astonishing animals are also our largest toothed predator.

Mariners both respected and feared them,

believing they could swallow fishermen

believing they could swallow fishermen

or even boats, whole.

The reality is perhaps even more dramatic.

The reality is perhaps even more dramatic.

These leviathans battle giant squid in the darkness of the deep,

before returning and leaping.

before returning and leaping.

Our whale is breaching repetitively.

It seems to be totally disinterested in us and our boat,

It seems to be totally disinterested in us and our boat,

completely focused on its task,

which gives us the perfect opportunity to get in

and swim alongside them.

Whales sometimes react to the bubbles of a human scuba diver.

'So, it's far better to dive as they do...

..using just the air of a single breath,

..using just the air of a single breath,

or freediving.

Swimming alongside this enormous whale,

Swimming alongside this enormous whale,

it's hard to believe that, as mammals,

we share a common ancestor.

Its giant form is honed to life in the deep ocean,

Its giant form is honed to life in the deep ocean,

and so different from my own.

(WHALE CLICKING)

(WHALE CLICKING)

But then our connection is revealed.

(WHALE CLICKING)

(WHALE CLICKING)

Just like me, this sperm whale must come to the surface to breathe.

And pretty soon...

..I have to do the same.

(ETHEREAL MUSIC CONTINUES)

(ETHEREAL MUSIC CONTINUES)

Wow!

That was incredible!

That was incredible!

Underwater is the only time

that you get any real sense of the scale of the animal;

and also, the power, and the speed.

and also, the power, and the speed.

Being alongside them, they appear motionless,

but they can just disappear into the blue.

Their size and strength

made it inevitable that humans would fear them...

..and made it easy to treat them as just a simple commodity.

It happened right here in the Azores.

(SOMBRE MUSIC)

These buildings are the remnants

of the factory part of a whaling station.

This was still active when I was a kid.

This was still active when I was a kid.

In fact, the last whale was killed here in the Azores

in 1987, when I was at school.

in 1987, when I was at school.

All over the world, sperm whales and others were ruthlessly hunted.

All over the world, sperm whales and others were ruthlessly hunted.

It is said that the oils rendered from their bodies

lit the lamps of the industrial revolution.

lit the lamps of the industrial revolution.

Other parts were used for products,

from fuel to fertiliser.

(SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES)

For me, as a naturalist, so many of the highlights

of my life and my job have been working with animals like this...

..and seeing them like that...

..it's almost impossible to take.

(PROTESTORS CLAMOURING) MAN: Stop killing!

But over time, the brutality of the slaughter

But over time, the brutality of the slaughter

became public knowledge

and there was uproar.

People took to the streets in protest. Governments rallied,

People took to the streets in protest. Governments rallied,

and whaling was banned by almost every nation.

(SLIDE CHANGER CLICKS)

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

Globally, some species are recovering.

Now the majority of nations are no longer hunting them,

we've begun a new relationship with whales,

where Science leads the way.

where Science leads the way.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans.

(SQUEAKING AND CLICKING)

By studying them,

we've discovered how social some species can be.

we've discovered how social some species can be.

Here in the Azores,

I've tracked down a small group of female sperm whales...

I've tracked down a small group of female sperm whales...

..hoping to see this for myself.

In some ways, male and female sperm whales are so different,

In some ways, male and female sperm whales are so different,

they're almost like completely separate animals.

The males lead largely solitary lives,

heading up into Arctic seas and all the way down into the Antarctic.

heading up into Arctic seas and all the way down into the Antarctic.

The females, though, are a seriously social animal.

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)

(WHALES CLICKING)

Females remain with their birth pod for life.

So this is probably a mother and her daughters.

The rubbing of heads helps remove barnacles,

lice and dead skin.

lice and dead skin.

(WHALES CLICKING)

But as with us, touch is hugely important;

But as with us, touch is hugely important;

for bonding, perhaps even for reassurance.

With no arms to hug,

this is the best way to give and receive affection.

this is the best way to give and receive affection.

It's moments like that, when you see

such tenderness between animals

such tenderness between animals

that you start to feel some kind of kinship with them.

You know, even though

this is a creature that's 20-odd tonnes in weight,

this is a creature that's 20-odd tonnes in weight,

when you see a mother interacting with its youngsters,

and them just enjoying the physical contact,

all of a sudden,

you can see that they have so much in common with us.

you can see that they have so much in common with us.

And it's actually quite an emotional thing.

The more we look,

The more we look,

the more we see our own lives reflected.

In some of the other 90 or so species of cetaceans,

relationships can be even more complex.

That's certainly true of the friendships,

That's certainly true of the friendships,

collaborations and rivalries we see in the cetacean

we often think of as the most friendly:

we often think of as the most friendly:

the dolphin.

(DOLPHINS CLICKING)

(DYNAMIC MUSIC)

Since the end of the era of whaling

Since the end of the era of whaling

we've entered a golden age of discovery about whales

and uncovered an animal that has a lot in common with humans.

(WHISTLING SOUNDS)

The remote islands of the Azores are a perfect place

for me to dive with them on their terms

and explore further.

and explore further.

The diversity of whale and dolphin life here is

pretty much unparalleled,

pretty much unparalleled,

and because there are dozens of species

that pass through these waters, or that live here,

pretty much anything could turn up.

pretty much anything could turn up.

But of all the animals we hoped we might encounter here,

there's one I'm particularly excited to come across.

there's one I'm particularly excited to come across.

Look at that! What!

That can't be happening!

That can't be happening!

These large blunt-nosed dolphins are known as Risso's.

They're often spotted at a distance

They're often spotted at a distance

but are notoriously shy.

I've never even come close to them in the water before.

I've never even come close to them in the water before.

(DOLPHINS WHISTLING)

This one plunge could reveal

all sorts of things about their mysterious lives.

all sorts of things about their mysterious lives.

I didn't think I would ever see Risso's dolphins underwater,

and they are a very surreal sight.

They kind of appear to be white or light grey,

They kind of appear to be white or light grey,

but when you get up close you can see that it's scarring,

criss-crossed all over the head and the body,

and that's from fights with other Risso's dolphins,

and that's from fights with other Risso's dolphins,

particularly males fighting other males.

Risso's live in all male groups...

Risso's live in all male groups...

..an unusual thing for whales.

(DOLPHINS CLICKING AND WHISTLING)

But living in an all-male gang, status is everything.

And that's where the scars come in.

And that's where the scars come in.

It's thought they act like tattoos

that visually display an individual's status,

with the oldest males being almost completely white.

with the oldest males being almost completely white.

(DOLPHINS WHISTLING)

But this is something else.

But this is something else.

On an unseen cue,

the whole group turns and comes together.

the whole group turns and comes together.

(ETHEREAL CHORAL MUSIC)

Bubbles, like touch, are tactile, stimulating.

Perhaps this is a moment of group bonding.

Like a team cheer, or a battle cry before hunting.

This form of social bonding

was only recently discovered by scientists.

Every time you delve beneath the surface of their social lives,

you see something familiar to us.

The word dolphin applies to around 40 species of toothed whale

The word dolphin applies to around 40 species of toothed whale

and they're surprisingly diverse.

They range from the black and white Commerson's dolphin,

which can weigh as little as 30 kilos...

which can weigh as little as 30 kilos...

..to the Amazon river dolphin,

which lives in freshwater...

..all the way up to giant predators like pilot whales...

(WHALES WHISTLING)

..and orca,

the largest members of the dolphin family.

the largest members of the dolphin family.

(WHISTLES LOUDLY)

I'm crossing the Atlantic and heading to

one of the best places to understand their lives.

one of the best places to understand their lives.

The Bahamas, in the Caribbean.

Dolphins live in so-called "fission-fusion" societies.

Dolphins live in so-called "fission-fusion" societies.

That means that their groups are always in flux.

So, sometimes they could be flying solo,

they could be hanging out with their families or friends.

they could be hanging out with their families or friends.

Other times they'll come together in pods that could be dozens,

hundreds or even thousands of animals strong.

If fission-fusion groups sound familiar,

it's because that's just how we live.

Many scientists believe it was the growth of complex societies

Many scientists believe it was the growth of complex societies

that drove humans to evolve bigger brains...

..and, might also explain why dolphins are so clever.

(DOLPHIN CLICKING)

To find out more, I'm heading out onto these Caribbean seas

to find one of the most sociable dolphin species.

to find one of the most sociable dolphin species.

These are spotted dolphins.

The ones that have the really definitive dappling,

The ones that have the really definitive dappling,

those are the mature animals.

The smaller ones haven't got their spots yet,

and they're just, like this one here,

that's no more than a calf.

that's no more than a calf.

But the reason they've come to the front of our boat

is that they know, pretty soon, we're gonna start moving,

and that's when things really kick off.

(DYNAMIC MUSIC)

Surfing the bow waves of boats might be more energy efficient,

allowing dolphins to swim further and faster.

allowing dolphins to swim further and faster.

But that's not the only reason.

Dolphins are Nature's thrill-seekers.

Dolphins are Nature's thrill-seekers.

(DOLPHINS CLICKING)

(DYNAMIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(DYNAMIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

There is no more pure expression of joy in the natural world

than seeing dolphins riding the wave at the front of your boat.

than seeing dolphins riding the wave at the front of your boat.

They'll fall into the spray at the bow,

and sometimes stay for hours,

and then other times, it's just a fleeting dance,

and then other times, it's just a fleeting dance,

and then they're gone.

Woah-ho-ho-ho!

(DOLPHINS CLICKING)

Scientists think that playing is a critical part of their development,

Scientists think that playing is a critical part of their development,

but, in the right situation,

they'll look for playmates outside their own group.

Even to people.

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)

But whether or not they want to include me in their game

will be entirely up to them.

(DOLPHINS CLICKING)

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING)

(ETHEREAL CHORAL MUSIC)

(ETHEREAL CHORAL MUSIC)

Even with this powered scooter,

just a couple of flips of those tail flukes and they are gone,

just a couple of flips of those tail flukes and they are gone,

there is no way you could ever keep up with them.

So, you have to try and look as intriguing as you possibly can.

So, you have to try and look as intriguing as you possibly can.

There's no point swimming straight towards them,

it's all gotta be on their terms,

but if you can look like fun, they'll stay and play for hours.

but if you can look like fun, they'll stay and play for hours.

(PLAYFUL MUSIC)

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING, CLICKING)

Playing helps practice essential physical skills,

like hunting, mating, and avoiding predators,

like hunting, mating, and avoiding predators,

whether you're flying solo or in a group.

But like the rough and tumble of a children's playground,

having a large number of different playmates is unpredictable...

..and can make this learning much more effective.

If they play like us,

and hang out in ever-changing friendships like us...

and hang out in ever-changing friendships like us...

(DOLPHINS CLICKING)

..could dolphins also share our most complex social skill of all...

..could dolphins also share our most complex social skill of all...

Language?

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING, CLICKING)

We know some dolphins appear to use different noises

We know some dolphins appear to use different noises

to indicate different states,

like courtship, or stress. (DOLPHINS WHISTLES)

Some dolphins also use a signature whistle...

Some dolphins also use a signature whistle...

(DOLPHIN CLICKING) ..to identify themselves.

(SQUEAKING, WHISTLING)

(CLICKING AND WHISTLING)

But dolphins don't just hang out with the same species.

But dolphins don't just hang out with the same species.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

'Kel Sweeting is a scientist who's been studying interactions

'Kel Sweeting is a scientist who's been studying interactions

between two different types of dolphins,

both found here in the Bahamas.

So, you have this incredible situation here,

So, you have this incredible situation here,

where you have different species

that are sometimes living together.

What can you tell me about that?

Here in Bimini, we have two species of dolphin.

Here in Bimini, we have two species of dolphin.

The Atlantic spotted,

and the bottle-nose dolphins.

Most of the time, if you come upon dolphins,

it's a single species group, but sometimes they're together,

it's a single species group, but sometimes they're together,

and they're actually interacting.

And do the spotteds and the bottle-nose have

And do the spotteds and the bottle-nose have

different use of communication and sound?

Dolphins in general have a wide vocal repertoire.

Squeaks, squawks, whistles, chirps.

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING, WHISTLING)

They also have postures and gestures,

and so there's probably a lot of overlap.

and so there's probably a lot of overlap.

Bottle-nose and spotted probably understand each other quite well,

when we think of communication as a whole.

when we think of communication as a whole.

We don't yet know precisely

what dolphins might be saying to one another,

what dolphins might be saying to one another,

but Science tells us it's more complex than we thought.

(DOLPHIN CLICKING) If dolphins are Nature's chatterboxes...

(WHALE SINGING)

..other whales do things differently.

In the next part of my journey, I want to find out

why some whales want to be heard hundreds of miles away...

why some whales want to be heard hundreds of miles away...

..and how their sound-sensing powers

can put whales in danger.

can put whales in danger.

(DYNAMIC MUSIC)

'The more we understand whales...

'The more we understand whales...

..the more we discover we have in common.

Modern science and technology

Modern science and technology

allow us to appreciate the whales' underwater world

in ways we never thought possible.

Some of the biggest breakthroughs

are in long-distance whale communication.

(LOW CLICKING SOUNDS)

To find out more,

I've crossed into the Pacific Ocean...

..to the paradise island of Tahiti in French Polynesia...

..where the seas resound

with a familiar and bewitching tune.

The song of the humpback.

(HIGH-PITCHED SINGING)

(HIGH-PITCHED SINGING)

We often think of our seas as being a silent world,

but the truth is that's very rarely the case,

and certainly not here in French Polynesia

and certainly not here in French Polynesia

during humpback breeding season.

This is a hydrophone,

which is a highly sensitive underwater microphone.

which is a highly sensitive underwater microphone.

So, let's drop it in and see what we can hear.

(HIGH-PITCHED CALLS ECHOING)

Oh, there it is.

(NOTES RISING AND FALLING)

(NOTES RISING AND FALLING)

That is beautiful.

(LOW, GUTTURAL NOTES) Male humpbacks sing long and complex songs,

(LOW, GUTTURAL NOTES) Male humpbacks sing long and complex songs,

sometimes lasting hours at a time.

(WHALE SINGS HIGH-PITCHED NOTES)

(WHALE SINGS HIGH-PITCHED NOTES)

Scientists suggest the songs may be advertisements;

sea-borne serenades

showing off to potential mates.

showing off to potential mates.

(LOW, GUTTURAL NOTE)

One of the most amazing things about whale song is

sound carries about four times faster in water

sound carries about four times faster in water

than it does in air, and it can travel further, too.

So, whales can be communicating with each other

So, whales can be communicating with each other

across entire seas. (WHALE SINGS HIGH-PITCHED NOTES)

The crooning male could still be many miles away,

but I've found some females close by,

but I've found some females close by,

and I want to know if they're listening.

(WHALES SINGING)

Down here, I can hear the song without a microphone.

Down here, I can hear the song without a microphone.

These females are surely aware of his love songs.

But, are they impressed?

But, are they impressed?

(HIGH-PITCHED SINGING)

Females may not sing...

..but they are far from silent.

Her giant pectoral fins are the longest fins,

Her giant pectoral fins are the longest fins,

and indeed limbs, on the planet.

Slapped on the surface,

they turn the ocean into a giant drum.

they turn the ocean into a giant drum.

The sounds and vibrations carry all around...

..and may be a reply to the male's song.

Humpback courtship is intense and can turn violent.

Humpback courtship is intense and can turn violent.

It's best not to linger

with huge limbs and tails flailing through the water.

with huge limbs and tails flailing through the water.

(HIGH-PITCHED WHALE SONG)

The humpback is the most tuneful,

and best-known whale vocalist,

but many others also call long distance.

but many others also call long distance.

The blue whale,

the largest animal ever known to have lived,

creates deep sounds too low for our ears.

creates deep sounds too low for our ears.

This infrasound travels over 800 kilometres.

Whales have evolved in this acoustic realm,

so they also use sound to navigate...

(LOW THUMPING, CLICKING)

(LOW THUMPING, CLICKING)

(SQUEAKING, CLICKING)

..and to hunt, using echolocation.

Despite their lack of external ears,

they have other means for receiving and processing sounds.

With twice the auditory nerve cells of humans,

With twice the auditory nerve cells of humans,

most can hear a far wider range of frequencies.

(CRACKLY CLICKING)

(CRACKLY CLICKING)

But highly sensitive hearing has consequences.

They cannot escape noise

and the soundscape of the sea has changed.

and the soundscape of the sea has changed.

We're only now starting to understand

quite how vital sound is to whales and dolphins.

It's possible they may have language every bit as sophisticated

It's possible they may have language every bit as sophisticated

and complex as our own.

What we do know is how much they need silent seas,

and that we as humans are turning them

and that we as humans are turning them

into unbearably noisy places.

(MUFFLED CHUGGING SOUND)

(MUFFLED CHUGGING SOUND)

Since the 1950s,

ocean sound may have doubled every decade.

Shipping...

Shipping...

..drilling for oil...

..and other human activities

..and other human activities

create a constant background drone.

(FOGHORN BLARES)

Other sounds are much more violent.

Explosive charges in the hunt for fossil fuels...

(THUNDEROUS EXPLOSION)

(THUNDEROUS EXPLOSION)

..and naval blasts

can destroy a whale's hearing.

As they try to flee the noise

As they try to flee the noise

they may surface too quickly,

suffering decompression sickness.

Noise pollution might even lead to a tragedy

that kills thousands of whales and dolphins...

..stranding.

..stranding.

Probably the worst affected species, is the pilot whale.

(WHALES SQUEAKING)

These live in close-knit family groups

that roam the globe hunting for deep sea squid.

And, where one goes...

And, where one goes...

..the others follow.

But if noise exposure causes one to be driven ashore

But if noise exposure causes one to be driven ashore

by deafness or disorientation...

..their close bonds

..their close bonds

mean the rest of the family won't leave it behind.

(WHALES SQUAWKING, CLICKING)

Without assistance, the whole pod can perish.

Without assistance, the whole pod can perish.

(WHALE CLICKING)

I'm heading to the British Isles...

I'm heading to the British Isles...

..and the rugged coast of South Wales

to find out what can be done.

With stranding incidences increasing worldwide,

the way we deal with them has never been more critical.

All around the world,

volunteer groups are offering training,

to teach the essentials of rescue, and whale first aid.

to teach the essentials of rescue, and whale first aid.

This whale is just a replica,

This whale is just a replica,

but, in a real-life stranding,

a fast response would be critical.

Cetaceans have evolved over millions of years

Cetaceans have evolved over millions of years

to live in the water, to have their body weight supported.

The second they're on land, they are on borrowed time.

Without the support of the water a whale's organs will collapse.

They're also unable to regulate their body temperature

They're also unable to regulate their body temperature

and will quickly overheat.

(VOLUNTEERS CHATTER)

So it's vital to know the best way to keep a whale cool,

and its fragile skin safe from injury,

and its fragile skin safe from injury,

while we work to return it to the sea.

(VOLUNTEERS CHATTERING) WOMAN: Turn him our way.

Even with a whale of this sort of size,

it's still gonna weigh well over a tonne.

There's no way we can lift it,

so we have to rely on the tide coming back in.

so we have to rely on the tide coming back in.

MAN: Is everyone ready? WOMAN: Yeah.

BOTH: One, two, three, go.

STEVE: When emergencies happen for real,

STEVE: When emergencies happen for real,

like this one in New Zealand,

we know this huge effort can work.

And hundreds of whales have already been saved

And hundreds of whales have already been saved

by volunteers working in this way.

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

If this was the real deal, right now,

you'd be freezing cold and exhausted,

but coming out of the sea having seen a whale head back out,

but coming out of the sea having seen a whale head back out,

and knowing that your hard work made that possible,

which I think would be just about the most satisfying thing

which I think would be just about the most satisfying thing

you could ever do.

Despite efforts to protect them,

Despite efforts to protect them,

changes in our oceans are putting whales and dolphins in danger.

(CLICKING, SQUEAKING)

But to keep them safe, we need to understand them.

But to keep them safe, we need to understand them.

(WHALES SQUEAKING)

In the next part of my journey

In the next part of my journey

I want to seek out the people forming unique bonds with whales...

..and ask what we can all do

..and ask what we can all do

to give whales and dolphins a brighter future.

(TENSE, DYNAMIC MUSIC)

(TENSE, DYNAMIC MUSIC)

(WHALES SQUEAKING)

Humanity has come a long way in our relationship with whales.

But because so much of their lives take place far from land

in deep water... (WHALE SINGING)

..we still have a lot to learn.

For most species of whales and dolphins,

simple things like breeding,

simple things like breeding,

giving birth, and even feeding, have never been seen.

So much of their world is a mystery to us.

So much of their world is a mystery to us.

And because their realm is effectively off-limits,

it takes dedication and resourcefulness

it takes dedication and resourcefulness

to unlock their secrets.

Here on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean...

Here on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean...

..one pioneering team have forged close bonds

with a special pod of sperm whales.

with a special pod of sperm whales.

My name is Rene Heuzey,

I am an underwater cameraman,

I am an underwater cameraman,

and I'm filming the sperm whale in Mauritius since 12 years.

(WHALES CLICKING)

When you dive from 12 years with the same family,

it's like your family.

(WHALES CLICKING)

(WHALES CLICKING)

For me, it's very magical.

For me, it's very magical.

It's amazing, because I am just a little human.

Rene has been diving with the same sperm whales for so long,

that they've learned to accept his presence.

He can identify each individual by name,

and knows their unique histories.

and knows their unique histories.

(WHALES SQUEAKING, CLICKING) But of all the whales in the group,

there's one he's most eager to see...

Chesna.

These first shots of her as a new-born

These first shots of her as a new-born

were captured six years ago.

Since then Rene has dived alongside her over and over again.

Since then Rene has dived alongside her over and over again.

Today is the first dive of the year

and Chesna has come to greet him.

I would like to know one thing very, very important;

I would like to know how to communicate

between sperm whale and the human.

Knowing many whales use bubbles to communicate...

..Rene has adapted his dive regulator

to mimic their emissions

and uses it to signal his recognition.

Almost immediately,

Chesna signals back.

(CHENA CLICKING)

(CHENA CLICKING)

When you are looking eyes to eyes...

When you are looking eyes to eyes...

..and for me, it's a magical moment,

and I have a lot of emotion,

because I recognise Chesna,

because I recognise Chesna,

and Chesna recognise me.

She accept me.

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)

This gift, to be able to get to know individual whales,

This gift, to be able to get to know individual whales,

has benefits for Science.

It's enabled Rene and his colleagues

to create the first detailed whale family tree.

to create the first detailed whale family tree.

And this is more than a family.

And this is more than a family.

It's a community.

This is a baby sperm whale.

He's tiny and, while he's so small,

almost totally dependent on his mother.

almost totally dependent on his mother.

Because he can't yet dive to any depth...

..when she descends into the deep to feed...

..when she descends into the deep to feed...

..he must remain on the surface.

(WHALE CLICKING)

But he isn't abandoned.

His mother has left him in under the watchful eye of a babysitter.

She keeps him close and defends him from predators.

She keeps him close and defends him from predators.

But that's not all she does.

After an hour of hunting,

his mother returns to the surface to breathe.

Exhausted, there's only one thing she wants to do...

Rest.

Rest.

Hanging vertically to sleep.

He tries to suckle...

..but without success.

But her baby needs to feed.

He tries his luck with the babysitter.

She isn't his mother but can be...

..a wet nurse.

..a wet nurse.

Milk flows from a concealed nipple in front of her tail.

This has rarely been filmed.

Caring for the infants of others, or alloparenting,

is incredibly rare in the natural world.

is incredibly rare in the natural world.

Less than 3% of mammals do it.

Among them, of course, are humans.

With every piece of science that emerges,

whales look less like ominous and mysterious ocean devils...

whales look less like ominous and mysterious ocean devils...

..and more like our close mammal kin.

Nowhere has the human-whale relationship

changed more dramatically,

changed more dramatically,

than in the peninsula of Baja California

in the eastern Pacific.

This was once the site of bloody battles between man and whale.

Whalers would target calves

and the mothers would smash their boats to pieces,

and the mothers would smash their boats to pieces,

earning them the name "devilfish".

Even when whaling was banned here in 1947,

fishermen continued to fear the whales for decades.

fishermen continued to fear the whales for decades.

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

But not anymore.

But not anymore.

(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

As well as being a fisherman,

Daniel has a special licence,

allowing him to take visitors out

into the lagoons to go looking for whales.

into the lagoons to go looking for whales.

But they never have to look for long.

DANIEL: We have a whale at 12 o'clock.

These grey whales could be descendants

These grey whales could be descendants

of those that survived the era of whaling.

Despite their gruesome past...

Despite their gruesome past...

..the whales don't smash the boats or flee.

Instead, they seek them out.

DANIEL: Another one is coming this way.

WOMAN: It's got a calf! It's got a baby!

WOMAN: It's got a calf! It's got a baby!

The mothers even encourage their babies

to meet their first humans.

(WOMAN LAUGHING)

(WOMAN LAUGHING)

Hola mi amor.

It is so playful!

It is so playful!

You can see, like, the mum is just pushing the baby.

So, she is letting us play with him.

So, she is letting us play with him.

She's just spectacular.

It's so... immense to have them so close to you.

(SHE LAUGHS)

(DANIEL SPEAKS ENGLISH)

San Ignacio was once a slaughter site for whales.

San Ignacio was once a slaughter site for whales.

Now, the fishermen are their guardians.

Numbers of visitors are strictly limited,

Numbers of visitors are strictly limited,

and the nurseries are protected by law.

WOMAN: I think we are honoured to have these whales in these lagoons.

WOMAN: I think we are honoured to have these whales in these lagoons.

And this bond began with the fishermen, no?

Gray whales are migratory.

Soon these infants will have to leave this sanctuary

Soon these infants will have to leave this sanctuary

and head into unprotected seas.

But for now they're safe.

But for now they're safe.

San Ignacio is an inspiring tale

of how human attitudes to whales can change

of how human attitudes to whales can change

in just one generation.

But if we want whales to have a future,

we need this to be repeated everywhere.

For whales and dolphins to flourish...

..they need safe havens.

..they need safe havens.

A refuge from our fishing, our shipping, and our noise.

A refuge from our fishing, our shipping, and our noise.

Where we safeguard their food,

their nurseries and everything else they need.

their nurseries and everything else they need.

Currently these make up just a tiny fraction of our seas.

Currently these make up just a tiny fraction of our seas.

(WHALES SQUEAKING) But there is hope...

..on the horizon.

In 2023, the United Nations

came up with a plan to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030,

came up with a plan to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030,

the biggest conservation win in my lifetime.

If we care about our whale and dolphin cousins,

If we care about our whale and dolphin cousins,

it's up to us to make that happen.

Especially, now we know how much we have in common.

When we set out to make a series about whales,

we knew we were in for a challenge.

we knew we were in for a challenge.

With some species almost impossible to see, let alone film.

As a stopping off point for all sorts of Atlantic marine life,

the Azores is a hotspot for whales.

These islands play host to dozens of whale species,

These islands play host to dozens of whale species,

either resident or passing through.

As such, they were once a focus for whaling.

As such, they were once a focus for whaling.

But knowing they're around is just the start.

Some whales travel fast

Some whales travel fast

and only surface for a few minutes at a time.

So, for director Ellen Husain,

it was critical to be in the right place at the right time.

it was critical to be in the right place at the right time.

We're at their mercy, they're such big animals,

they can move so fast compared to us.

they can move so fast compared to us.

We just have to hope they allow us to film with them.

When we finally found our first whale...

When we finally found our first whale...

ELLEN: Manuel, let us know.

(SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE)

Local guide Emanuel Goulert gave us the signal to enter the water.

Local guide Emanuel Goulert gave us the signal to enter the water.

If you wanna dive now, go now. ELLEN: Go!

Here, they're here.

(DYNAMIC MUSIC)

(DYNAMIC MUSIC)

We had special permission to dive with the whales here,

which are protected by law.

But even giant ocean predators can be surprisingly sensitive.

I had a bit too much of a splash going into the water,

and the whale heard it and turned away.

We needed to get to know each whale and assess their mood

before getting the camera team in place.

before getting the camera team in place.

And the techniques used to find whales in days gone by...

And the techniques used to find whales in days gone by...

..still work.

Our method for finding whales

basically hasn't changed in 100 years.

basically hasn't changed in 100 years.

We're standing here looking out to the horizon

for the- the blows or the spouts from the whales.

But we have one added advantage.

Up on the hillsides around us,

in the exact same lookout spots

as were used during the era of whaling,

as were used during the era of whaling,

we have spotters.

The one difference is, if they see whales,

they get on the radio and tell us where they are,

they get on the radio and tell us where they are,

as opposed to mobilising the boats to head out to hunt.

We also used another whaling technique

We also used another whaling technique

to hone in on our targets.

Calves are not as adept at diving as their mothers,

so they have to stay at the surface, and because of that,

so they have to stay at the surface, and because of that,

if you can keep an eye on one of the young calves,

you've always got a kind of focus point

for where the adults are eventually gonna be.

This method gave camera operator Rob Taylor

the chance to capture one of our most memorable encounters.

This looks good, this looks very good. You set, Rob?Yeah.

ELLEN: OK, divers in.

WOMAN: (ON RADIO) OK, copy that.

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)

(WHALE CLICKING)

It really is quite something.

It kind of feels just like

you're watching a human mother having a cuddle with their baby.

you're watching a human mother having a cuddle with their baby.

They just seem so calm, so chilled out.

Clearly just relaxing at the end of the day.

Clearly just relaxing at the end of the day.

Very, very beautiful.

With long days out at sea on the North Atlantic,

anything could happen.

anything could happen.

Spotters had directed us south,

to a feeding gathering...

..but there was a surprise in store.

We've just had to stop, because we've been surrounded by

a pod of Risso's dolphins.

a pod of Risso's dolphins.

Normally Risso's are super shy,

they disappear at the first sign of a boat or a person,

but these are just hanging out at the surface.

but these are just hanging out at the surface.

This left us with a dilemma.

Getting footage of Risso's would be a real coup,

Getting footage of Risso's would be a real coup,

but if we wasted hours trying and didn't succeed,

we'd have missed the big action down south.

Cameraman Rob was undecided.

Cameraman Rob was undecided.

You don't normally ever try to film Risso dolphins,

because you can't film them, essentially.

MANUEL: 10 o'clock, 5 metre on the bow.

Straight down, Rob, straight down!

Straight down, Rob, straight down!

ELLEN: This looks good.

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING)

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING)

Against all the odds, our gamble paid off.

The Risso's cruised by,

seemingly oblivious.

seemingly oblivious.

And we captured something very special indeed.

That was completely surreal!

ROB: That was amazing! Unbelievable. (LAUGHS)

ROB: That was amazing! Unbelievable. (LAUGHS)

We are very, very happy.

I've never, ever seen Risso dolphin behaving like this at all.

I mean, that was crazy. They, yeah, I mean...

(CREW LAUGHING) They don't- they don't do that.

We followed in the footsteps of whalers,

to explore our close kinship.

And by pure chance, captured a moment

And by pure chance, captured a moment

that adds to our understanding of these enigmatic animals.

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING)

(DOLPHINS SQUEAKING)

(DYNAMIC THEME MUSIC)

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