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[growling]
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[growling]
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[growling]
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[dramatic music plays]
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[David Harbour] The most powerful
predators to walk the Earth.
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But it takes more than brute force…
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[growling]
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…to reach the top.
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With remarkable brain power,
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and by making the most of any opportunity,
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bears rule some of the planet's
most hostile lands.
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[uplifting music plays]
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But cubs aren't born
with the skills to survive.
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They need to be taught.
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[uplifting music continues]
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So a mother bear has her work cut out
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preparing her cubs
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to face the world.
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[uplifting music continues]
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[uplifting music fades]
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[growling]
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Locked in winter's icy grip,
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northern forests
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are still.
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Silent.
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No clues to suggest
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that hidden beneath the snow,
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a giant lies asleep.
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[tranquil music plays]
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Breathing slow.
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Heart beating just eight times a minute.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Nothing to eat since fall.
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For three months,
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this American black bear
has been in suspended animation.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Even more miraculous…
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three weeks ago,
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she woke just long enough to give birth
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to three cubs.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Each just the weight of a can of soup.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Though she's surviving
on nothing but fat reserves,
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her babies won't go hungry.
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Her milk so rich,
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they've already doubled in size.
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[squealing]
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This same story is unfolding
across North America.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Over half a million
hibernating black bears.
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Underground.
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Or tucked under fallen trees.
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Some, incredibly, right out in the open.
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[whimpering]
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Cubs snuggle close,
kept alive by their mother's warmth.
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[tranquil music continues]
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But this mom
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picked the coziest of dens.
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[tranquil music continues]
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When the spring finally arrives,
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her hard work will begin.
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A bear's upbringing
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shapes the whole of its life.
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[tranquil music fades]
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[upbeat music plays]
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There are just eight species of bear.
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[growling]
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[upbeat music continues]
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Found from the jungles of Asia
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to the ice sheets of the Arctic.
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Some are surprisingly small,
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just the size of a dog.
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Others weigh in at nearly a ton.
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Though all are classified as carnivores,
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most eat whatever they can
get their paws on.
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[upbeat music continues]
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But how to find
the right food at the right time
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can only be taught by a devoted mother.
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Each bear's home
comes with its own challenges.
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[upbeat music continues]
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So learning to use brains
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as well as brawn
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is crucial to survival.
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[upbeat music fades]
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The Arctic winter.
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Hostile.
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Lifeless.
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Well,
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not entirely.
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[tense music plays]
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Even at 40 below,
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a polar bear is well insulated,
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with a double layer of fur
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and a blanket of fat
as thick as a man's arm.
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[polar bear growls]
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Polar bears never have to hibernate.
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Winter is their hunting season.
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[tense music continues]
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Seals are their favorite prey,
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and polar bears use
their astounding sense of smell
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to detect them many miles away.
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[tense music continues]
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This male has picked up a scent,
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but it's not prey.
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It's other bears.
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[tense music continues]
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Male bears are known
to kill cubs that are not their own.
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[growling]
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This mom's young, near fully grown,
are not so vulnerable.
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Still, best to keep their distance.
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[tense music continues]
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Before they can strike out alone,
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they need to perfect their hunting skills.
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And this may be a chance
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for Mom to show how it's done.
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[tense music continues]
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[grunts]
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Approach from downwind.
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Use camouflage.
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[tense music continues]
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Sneak into striking range.
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[tense music intensifies]
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[tense music fades]
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With each successful hunt,
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Mom helps her cubs
grow stronger and wiser.
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Once they leave her,
these lessons will make the difference
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between life and death.
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[tranquil music plays]
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Bears start learning from Mom
the day they leave the den.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Spring has finally arrived
for the black bear family,
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and the great outdoors is calling.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Mama bear has lost
over 100 pounds of fat since fall,
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nearly half her body weight,
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so she's ready to get going.
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But happily full of milk,
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her cubs seem in less of a hurry.
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[jaunty music plays]
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It's a whole new world.
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Climbing comes naturally.
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Even so, it's a bit of an obstacle course.
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[jaunty music continues]
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[bear cub squeals]
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[cubs whimper]
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[jaunty music fades]
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Right from the first hurdle…
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Mom's got their back.
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[jaunty music plays]
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She alone is provider,
teacher, and protector.
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It's a huge responsibility.
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Around a third of cubs
don't survive their first year.
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[squealing]
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[whimpering]
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One of the greatest dangers they'll face
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is other bears.
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[melancholy music plays]
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Brown bears, sometimes known as grizzlies,
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have come down
from winter dens in the mountains.
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They gather in coastal meadows
to feed on sedge grass.
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Bears don't defend a territory
like cats or dogs,
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but they still know who's boss.
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This old dominant male
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has laid claim
to this grazing spot for years.
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[melancholy music continues]
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[bird squawks]
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He needs to pile on the pounds
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so he can take on
anyone who dares challenge him
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when breeding season arrives.
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[melancholy music continues]
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[growls]
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[melancholy music fades]
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This grass is surprisingly high
in muscle-building protein.
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But if you're smarter
than the average bear,
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there's even more nutritious food
to be found.
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[jaunty music plays]
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This mom is taking her cub
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on an exclusive dining experience.
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[jaunty music continues]
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00:13:03,408 --> 00:13:06,870
A muddy beach might look unpromising…
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[jaunty music continues]
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…but a little digging
can unearth some treasure.
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[jaunty music continues]
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00:13:23,262 --> 00:13:25,013
Once you've found a clam,
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it needs shucking.
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A surprisingly delicate operation.
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Not all bears here can do this.
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She picked it up from her mother.
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And now she's passing it on.
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[jaunty music continues]
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00:13:50,247 --> 00:13:51,498
At low tide,
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a talented clammer might get
a hundred of these juicy treats.
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[jaunty music continues]
195
00:14:00,966 --> 00:14:02,968
A much better protein hit
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00:14:03,051 --> 00:14:05,512
than from the same time spent grazing.
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[jaunty music continues]
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00:14:10,809 --> 00:14:14,938
Teaching her daughter will give her
a head start in a competitive world.
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00:14:15,022 --> 00:14:17,024
[jaunty music continues]
200
00:14:23,488 --> 00:14:25,824
[jaunty music fades]
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00:14:30,162 --> 00:14:31,038
[growling]
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00:14:31,914 --> 00:14:33,916
[tense music plays]
203
00:14:34,416 --> 00:14:35,459
A stranger.
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[growling]
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00:14:39,421 --> 00:14:40,714
Time to back off.
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00:14:43,842 --> 00:14:45,385
Another important lesson.
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00:14:46,094 --> 00:14:48,680
Avoid confrontation if you can.
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00:14:48,764 --> 00:14:50,182
[tense music fades]
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00:14:51,892 --> 00:14:55,103
An angry bear is a force of nature.
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[roaring]
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[dramatic music plays]
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00:15:01,735 --> 00:15:08,700
[roaring]
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00:15:08,784 --> 00:15:10,494
Even when the opponent is bigger,
214
00:15:11,203 --> 00:15:12,913
never bet against a bear.
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00:15:12,996 --> 00:15:14,998
[dramatic music continues]
216
00:15:15,874 --> 00:15:17,834
Or its claws.
217
00:15:19,503 --> 00:15:22,798
Up to four inches long,
they're fearsome weapons.
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00:15:24,007 --> 00:15:25,717
[dramatic music continues]
219
00:15:25,801 --> 00:15:28,762
But they're also multi-purpose tools.
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Climbing spikes.
221
00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:34,643
Shovels.
222
00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:36,770
Ice hooks.
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00:15:37,688 --> 00:15:39,314
Even silverware.
224
00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:44,236
And when it's time for a good old scratch…
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00:15:44,319 --> 00:15:45,946
[dramatic music stops]
226
00:15:46,029 --> 00:15:47,322
…there's nothing better.
227
00:15:49,741 --> 00:15:51,576
Some of the longest claws
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00:15:51,660 --> 00:15:53,996
belong to the smallest of bears.
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00:15:56,206 --> 00:15:58,959
Just one-tenth the size of a grizzly,
230
00:15:59,042 --> 00:16:03,046
a sun bear
is a jungle survival specialist.
231
00:16:04,673 --> 00:16:06,675
[uplifting music plays]
232
00:16:10,178 --> 00:16:12,889
Finding food in the tangle of vegetation
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00:16:12,973 --> 00:16:13,807
isn't easy.
234
00:16:16,268 --> 00:16:18,270
[uplifting music continues]
235
00:16:20,647 --> 00:16:23,900
But with an almost unrivaled
sense of smell…
236
00:16:27,237 --> 00:16:29,156
he follows his nose.
237
00:16:34,995 --> 00:16:35,996
[sniffing]
238
00:16:36,079 --> 00:16:38,331
[squawking]
239
00:16:39,291 --> 00:16:41,293
[uplifting music plays]
240
00:16:51,219 --> 00:16:54,222
He's narrowed down
the source of the sweet aroma.
241
00:16:55,557 --> 00:16:58,226
Just one problem.
242
00:17:00,020 --> 00:17:02,022
It's all the way up there.
243
00:17:05,692 --> 00:17:07,736
Four stories high.
244
00:17:09,863 --> 00:17:11,698
But sun bears
245
00:17:11,782 --> 00:17:13,325
love honey.
246
00:17:15,202 --> 00:17:17,204
[jaunty music plays]
247
00:17:18,622 --> 00:17:21,750
Good thing they're also champion climbers.
248
00:17:21,833 --> 00:17:23,835
[jaunty music continues]
249
00:17:28,465 --> 00:17:32,636
Those long, curved claws
give excellent grip,
250
00:17:33,678 --> 00:17:37,557
and a dog-sized frame
keeps him light and agile.
251
00:17:38,308 --> 00:17:39,142
But
252
00:17:40,310 --> 00:17:42,229
he's barking up the wrong tree.
253
00:17:44,397 --> 00:17:45,440
[jaunty music fades]
254
00:17:46,441 --> 00:17:47,776
And now
255
00:17:48,777 --> 00:17:50,529
he's got competition.
256
00:17:52,823 --> 00:17:54,491
[tense music plays]
257
00:18:01,706 --> 00:18:04,376
Or has he?
258
00:18:08,922 --> 00:18:12,926
Sun bears also love
feasting on grubs inside rotten logs.
259
00:18:13,009 --> 00:18:18,390
[insects buzzing]
260
00:18:26,690 --> 00:18:29,067
While the other bear's distracted,
261
00:18:29,151 --> 00:18:31,403
a chance to switch trees.
262
00:18:31,486 --> 00:18:33,071
[upbeat music plays]
263
00:18:47,002 --> 00:18:48,128
The bees are angry,
264
00:18:48,670 --> 00:18:50,255
but thankfully stingless.
265
00:18:53,341 --> 00:18:54,342
At last…
266
00:18:56,595 --> 00:18:57,971
he's struck gold.
267
00:19:03,810 --> 00:19:06,688
Those claws also make a handy honey scoop.
268
00:19:13,486 --> 00:19:16,406
And a ten-inch tongue does the rest.
269
00:19:23,038 --> 00:19:25,624
When it comes
to finding food in the jungle,
270
00:19:25,707 --> 00:19:28,543
sun bears have it licked.
271
00:19:33,632 --> 00:19:35,634
[suspenseful music plays]
272
00:19:37,219 --> 00:19:40,680
But as the forests they rely on
are cleared for agriculture…
273
00:19:42,933 --> 00:19:45,060
it's leaving sun bears homeless.
274
00:19:45,143 --> 00:19:47,145
[suspenseful music continues]
275
00:19:48,605 --> 00:19:52,776
And more exposed
to poaching for traditional remedies.
276
00:19:55,487 --> 00:19:57,989
They're now the rarest bear on Earth.
277
00:20:02,035 --> 00:20:03,328
Rarer even
278
00:20:03,995 --> 00:20:06,748
than the most enigmatic bear of all.
279
00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:10,502
[eerie music plays]
280
00:20:14,297 --> 00:20:16,299
[tense music plays]
281
00:20:38,613 --> 00:20:40,615
[tense music fades]
282
00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:45,161
The giant panda spends most of its life
283
00:20:45,245 --> 00:20:47,247
eating just one thing.
284
00:20:50,166 --> 00:20:51,042
Bamboo.
285
00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,675
She can lounge around for 12 hours
286
00:20:58,758 --> 00:21:00,176
gorging on the stuff.
287
00:21:03,388 --> 00:21:06,558
It makes up 99% of her diet.
288
00:21:11,604 --> 00:21:13,523
She's the only bear
289
00:21:13,606 --> 00:21:16,443
with a bony pad on her paw,
kind of like a thumb.
290
00:21:18,945 --> 00:21:22,324
Perfect for making a bamboo hot dog.
291
00:21:23,825 --> 00:21:27,370
This veggie diet seems a bizarre choice.
292
00:21:27,454 --> 00:21:29,247
Pandas evolved to eat meat.
293
00:21:33,043 --> 00:21:35,378
But because bamboo's plentiful
294
00:21:35,462 --> 00:21:37,088
and grows year round,
295
00:21:37,172 --> 00:21:41,134
over millions of years,
they switched to the easier option.
296
00:21:43,970 --> 00:21:45,263
Trouble is,
297
00:21:45,347 --> 00:21:48,641
their gut hasn't fully adapted
to digest it.
298
00:21:51,144 --> 00:21:54,814
So she only survives
by doing a lot of eating.
299
00:21:56,733 --> 00:21:58,193
And very little else.
300
00:21:58,276 --> 00:22:00,236
[jaunty music plays]
301
00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:12,415
But when humans cut down
swathes of Asia's bamboo forests,
302
00:22:13,208 --> 00:22:15,502
pandas had nothing left to eat
303
00:22:16,294 --> 00:22:18,838
and were forced
to the brink of extinction.
304
00:22:21,758 --> 00:22:24,260
Such a specialized diet is the exception.
305
00:22:26,096 --> 00:22:29,224
Most bears have more adventurous tastes.
306
00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,562
[dramatic music plays]
307
00:22:38,775 --> 00:22:41,069
The forests on the Canadian border
308
00:22:41,694 --> 00:22:44,739
are home to tens of thousands
of black bears.
309
00:22:46,199 --> 00:22:49,077
It's midsummer,
and this mother is leading her cubs
310
00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:50,703
on a feeding foray.
311
00:22:50,787 --> 00:22:52,080
[tranquil music plays]
312
00:22:52,163 --> 00:22:55,417
She keeps them on track with soft grunts.
313
00:22:59,587 --> 00:23:02,173
At six months, they're curious.
314
00:23:03,216 --> 00:23:05,093
[tranquil music continues]
315
00:23:07,846 --> 00:23:10,306
But still naive.
316
00:23:11,057 --> 00:23:13,059
[tranquil music continues]
317
00:23:19,023 --> 00:23:22,444
Mom must be their eyes and ears.
318
00:23:22,527 --> 00:23:23,903
[tranquil music continues]
319
00:23:23,987 --> 00:23:25,989
[whimpering]
320
00:23:28,491 --> 00:23:31,828
[moaning]
321
00:23:31,911 --> 00:23:33,496
Her low moan tells them
322
00:23:34,497 --> 00:23:35,790
something's not right.
323
00:23:35,874 --> 00:23:38,251
[tense music plays]
324
00:23:45,383 --> 00:23:46,301
A male.
325
00:23:48,261 --> 00:23:49,762
He could kill her cubs
326
00:23:50,305 --> 00:23:52,182
and force her back into heat.
327
00:23:53,516 --> 00:23:56,227
[low growling]
328
00:23:56,311 --> 00:23:59,314
When Mom growls, it's time to hide.
329
00:24:00,148 --> 00:24:02,150
[tense music continues]
330
00:24:05,195 --> 00:24:07,280
[growling]
331
00:24:07,363 --> 00:24:09,365
[tense music continues]
332
00:24:16,998 --> 00:24:18,041
[growling]
333
00:24:18,124 --> 00:24:19,417
She's warning the male,
334
00:24:20,001 --> 00:24:22,212
but he's not getting the message.
335
00:24:22,295 --> 00:24:23,463
[tense music continues]
336
00:24:24,047 --> 00:24:26,591
[bear coughs]
337
00:24:27,550 --> 00:24:29,844
That cough means "climb."
338
00:24:30,428 --> 00:24:31,679
[tense music intensifies]
339
00:24:39,145 --> 00:24:41,314
[tense music fades]
340
00:24:50,615 --> 00:24:51,866
[bear coughs]
341
00:24:51,950 --> 00:24:56,788
Now Mom must keep her nerve
and stand her ground.
342
00:25:03,545 --> 00:25:05,505
Until he understands
343
00:25:05,588 --> 00:25:07,382
she's not to be messed with.
344
00:25:21,312 --> 00:25:23,064
Ever since leaving the den,
345
00:25:23,731 --> 00:25:26,150
Mom's encouraged her cubs to climb.
346
00:25:26,234 --> 00:25:28,236
[quiet uplifting music plays]
347
00:25:29,571 --> 00:25:30,655
It's paid off.
348
00:25:35,201 --> 00:25:37,662
Till she's sure the coast is clear,
349
00:25:37,745 --> 00:25:39,414
they'll stay off the ground.
350
00:25:39,497 --> 00:25:41,499
[quiet uplifting music continues]
351
00:25:43,668 --> 00:25:45,962
A chance for some more climbing practice,
352
00:25:47,171 --> 00:25:50,008
while Mom grabs
a bit of well-earned shut-eye.
353
00:25:52,969 --> 00:25:55,054
[whimpering]
354
00:26:02,395 --> 00:26:03,313
[whimpering]
355
00:26:04,022 --> 00:26:06,024
[quiet uplifting music continues]
356
00:26:08,901 --> 00:26:10,028
But not too much.
357
00:26:11,863 --> 00:26:13,114
Fall is coming,
358
00:26:13,698 --> 00:26:16,159
and the whole family needs to feed up.
359
00:26:16,743 --> 00:26:18,745
[quiet uplifting music continues]
360
00:26:21,831 --> 00:26:23,666
In more hostile lands,
361
00:26:23,750 --> 00:26:25,585
finding food and water
362
00:26:25,668 --> 00:26:27,462
is a year-round struggle.
363
00:26:37,180 --> 00:26:39,682
These peaks may look uninhabitable…
364
00:26:42,310 --> 00:26:44,437
but for a few spectacled bears,
365
00:26:45,396 --> 00:26:46,230
it's home.
366
00:26:47,815 --> 00:26:51,110
The only species of bear in South America.
367
00:26:52,904 --> 00:26:54,739
The real-life Paddington.
368
00:26:54,822 --> 00:26:56,824
[tranquil music plays]
369
00:26:57,450 --> 00:27:00,078
But no need for a duffle coat
and rain hat here.
370
00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:03,539
The tallest mountains block clouds…
371
00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:06,042
[tranquil music continues]
372
00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,880
…creating a high-altitude desert.
373
00:27:12,423 --> 00:27:14,425
[tranquil music continues]
374
00:27:17,679 --> 00:27:21,182
It can go eight months without rain.
375
00:27:29,482 --> 00:27:31,484
[tranquil music fades]
376
00:27:32,068 --> 00:27:36,698
This is the only natural spring for miles.
377
00:27:39,409 --> 00:27:42,078
A lush oasis.
378
00:27:55,842 --> 00:27:57,719
He could chill out here all day.
379
00:27:58,219 --> 00:28:00,221
[jaunty music plays]
380
00:28:03,516 --> 00:28:05,351
When a male hogs the bath,
381
00:28:06,436 --> 00:28:08,938
others must be more resourceful.
382
00:28:09,021 --> 00:28:11,023
[jaunty music continues]
383
00:28:24,495 --> 00:28:26,581
This mother is showing her cub
384
00:28:26,664 --> 00:28:28,082
how even a tree trunk
385
00:28:28,166 --> 00:28:29,834
can be a survival aid.
386
00:28:30,918 --> 00:28:34,255
With the strongest jaws
for her size of any bear,
387
00:28:34,338 --> 00:28:37,967
she easily tears it apart
to reach the moisture inside.
388
00:28:38,050 --> 00:28:40,052
[jaunty music continues]
389
00:28:44,348 --> 00:28:45,349
[squealing]
390
00:28:47,226 --> 00:28:50,271
Food and water are so scarce,
391
00:28:50,354 --> 00:28:51,898
she must save energy.
392
00:28:52,690 --> 00:28:54,233
Rest often.
393
00:28:57,403 --> 00:28:59,489
It's a lot cooler off the ground,
394
00:28:59,572 --> 00:29:01,908
but spindly trees
don't offer much support.
395
00:29:03,618 --> 00:29:07,246
So she does something no other bears do.
396
00:29:09,749 --> 00:29:12,210
[jaunty music plays]
397
00:29:14,796 --> 00:29:16,672
She makes her own bed.
398
00:29:16,756 --> 00:29:18,758
[jaunty music continues]
399
00:29:25,973 --> 00:29:27,683
It's this ingenuity
400
00:29:28,226 --> 00:29:32,021
that helps see her through
till the rains finally return.
401
00:29:36,609 --> 00:29:38,361
Naturally air-conditioned.
402
00:29:38,444 --> 00:29:40,238
[tranquil music plays]
403
00:29:40,988 --> 00:29:42,114
Nice and comfy.
404
00:29:44,075 --> 00:29:46,744
The perfect spot for a siesta.
405
00:29:50,164 --> 00:29:52,542
[melancholy music plays]
406
00:29:52,625 --> 00:29:53,960
In the far north,
407
00:29:54,544 --> 00:29:56,087
life is less peaceful.
408
00:30:00,967 --> 00:30:02,718
The dominant grizzly.
409
00:30:03,803 --> 00:30:05,012
Since spring,
410
00:30:05,096 --> 00:30:07,390
he's packed on two pounds a day.
411
00:30:08,891 --> 00:30:10,560
He needs the extra weight.
412
00:30:11,143 --> 00:30:12,770
[growling]
413
00:30:14,105 --> 00:30:17,191
It's being bigger and badder
that makes him the boss,
414
00:30:17,984 --> 00:30:20,027
controlling the best feeding spots
415
00:30:20,111 --> 00:30:22,154
and mating with the local females.
416
00:30:22,238 --> 00:30:23,948
[melancholy music continues]
417
00:30:29,829 --> 00:30:31,831
But after a decade in charge,
418
00:30:32,999 --> 00:30:35,501
he seems to be losing his charm.
419
00:30:35,585 --> 00:30:37,211
[growls]
420
00:30:39,130 --> 00:30:41,132
[tense music plays]
421
00:30:44,302 --> 00:30:50,016
[growling]
422
00:30:50,099 --> 00:30:52,101
[tense music continues]
423
00:30:57,315 --> 00:31:00,568
And a bigger problem is coming his way.
424
00:31:14,081 --> 00:31:15,708
[tense music plays]
425
00:31:15,791 --> 00:31:18,586
A younger male has sensed weakness.
426
00:31:19,712 --> 00:31:20,838
[sniffing]
427
00:31:20,922 --> 00:31:24,216
[growling]
428
00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:26,302
[tense music continues]
429
00:31:28,888 --> 00:31:30,514
[growling]
430
00:31:32,350 --> 00:31:35,227
The boss needs
to prove himself to the females
431
00:31:36,103 --> 00:31:38,940
and show junior
who's in charge around here.
432
00:31:40,483 --> 00:31:41,317
[growling]
433
00:31:42,068 --> 00:31:43,569
The cowboy swagger.
434
00:31:43,653 --> 00:31:45,655
[tense music continues]
435
00:31:51,702 --> 00:31:54,246
It's meant to look imposing.
436
00:31:54,330 --> 00:31:56,332
[tense music continues]
437
00:31:58,751 --> 00:31:59,961
The only thing is,
438
00:32:01,545 --> 00:32:04,465
the youngster is enormous.
439
00:32:04,548 --> 00:32:09,887
[growling]
440
00:32:12,306 --> 00:32:13,849
[tense music fades]
441
00:32:13,933 --> 00:32:15,810
But with females watching on…
442
00:32:15,893 --> 00:32:17,853
[roaring]
443
00:32:17,937 --> 00:32:19,605
…no backing out now.
444
00:32:19,689 --> 00:32:21,482
[growling]
445
00:32:21,565 --> 00:32:23,484
[roaring]
446
00:32:25,611 --> 00:32:27,613
[tense music plays]
447
00:32:29,198 --> 00:32:32,994
[growling]
448
00:32:33,077 --> 00:32:35,079
[tense music continues]
449
00:32:39,375 --> 00:32:40,584
[growling]
450
00:32:41,836 --> 00:32:43,838
[tense music intensifies]
451
00:32:48,759 --> 00:32:49,927
[growling]
452
00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:52,972
[growling]
453
00:32:54,765 --> 00:32:55,725
[growling]
454
00:32:55,808 --> 00:32:57,685
[tense music continues]
455
00:32:58,394 --> 00:33:00,104
[growling]
456
00:33:01,230 --> 00:33:03,232
[tense music crescendos]
457
00:33:04,108 --> 00:33:07,528
[growling]
458
00:33:11,824 --> 00:33:13,034
[growling]
459
00:33:13,117 --> 00:33:15,703
The old boss is down for the count.
460
00:33:15,786 --> 00:33:17,788
[growling]
461
00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:30,092
The meadow's getting
a change in management.
462
00:33:31,844 --> 00:33:33,471
Effective immediately.
463
00:33:42,229 --> 00:33:44,482
The old boss's reign is over.
464
00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:53,741
The female made the smart choice,
465
00:33:53,824 --> 00:33:57,745
holding out for a stronger,
fitter bear to father her cubs.
466
00:33:58,662 --> 00:33:59,497
[growling]
467
00:34:00,831 --> 00:34:02,541
He spends the long, warm days
468
00:34:02,625 --> 00:34:04,043
reaping the rewards.
469
00:34:07,463 --> 00:34:09,090
But even further north,
470
00:34:09,173 --> 00:34:10,758
just getting through the summer
471
00:34:11,509 --> 00:34:13,010
is a serious struggle.
472
00:34:17,681 --> 00:34:20,267
Each year, as the Arctic warms,
473
00:34:20,351 --> 00:34:22,520
the sea ice retreats north.
474
00:34:23,020 --> 00:34:25,022
[melancholy music plays]
475
00:34:34,782 --> 00:34:35,991
[growling]
476
00:34:36,075 --> 00:34:40,454
Polar bears become stranded on land,
where there's little to eat.
477
00:34:40,538 --> 00:34:42,540
[melancholy music continues]
478
00:34:48,295 --> 00:34:51,215
And now that climate change
is making the ice melt earlier,
479
00:34:52,383 --> 00:34:54,468
polar bears go hungry for longer.
480
00:34:57,138 --> 00:34:59,723
A mom must do what it takes
481
00:34:59,807 --> 00:35:01,600
to keep her family alive.
482
00:35:02,101 --> 00:35:04,103
[melancholy music continues]
483
00:35:06,564 --> 00:35:10,234
Even if it means
leading them towards danger.
484
00:35:13,237 --> 00:35:15,156
On the north Alaskan coast,
485
00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:18,409
subsistence whale hunters
leave piles of bones.
486
00:35:20,744 --> 00:35:22,621
Driven by hunger,
487
00:35:22,705 --> 00:35:25,082
bears come together to scavenge.
488
00:35:28,878 --> 00:35:31,922
They tolerate each other… to a point.
489
00:35:32,006 --> 00:35:37,928
[growling]
490
00:35:38,012 --> 00:35:42,141
Mom knows her cubs are vulnerable
among bad-tempered adults.
491
00:35:42,224 --> 00:35:43,642
[tense music plays]
492
00:35:48,105 --> 00:35:51,609
But the threat of starvation
is even worse.
493
00:35:52,276 --> 00:35:54,278
[tense music continues]
494
00:35:58,449 --> 00:36:02,661
The cubs will have to learn to cope
with uncomfortable situations like this
495
00:36:03,204 --> 00:36:06,165
if they're to survive longer,
hotter summers ahead.
496
00:36:06,832 --> 00:36:07,958
[tense music fades]
497
00:36:10,294 --> 00:36:11,670
[growling]
498
00:36:12,463 --> 00:36:17,009
Even so, polar bear numbers
are predicted to fall by a third
499
00:36:17,092 --> 00:36:18,802
over the next few decades.
500
00:36:18,886 --> 00:36:20,512
[melancholy music plays]
501
00:36:26,894 --> 00:36:28,979
They're not the only ones under threat.
502
00:36:31,190 --> 00:36:36,237
Six of the eight bear species
are vulnerable to extinction.
503
00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,239
[gentle music plays]
504
00:36:38,906 --> 00:36:40,282
Their biggest threat
505
00:36:41,242 --> 00:36:42,701
is habitat loss.
506
00:36:42,785 --> 00:36:44,870
[gentle music continues]
507
00:36:48,958 --> 00:36:51,126
Many also face persecution.
508
00:36:54,505 --> 00:36:56,799
But it's not too late to save them,
509
00:36:58,509 --> 00:37:01,345
to protect the wilderness
they need to thrive…
510
00:37:04,390 --> 00:37:07,351
and help bears by rescuing,
511
00:37:07,434 --> 00:37:08,894
rehabilitating,
512
00:37:10,062 --> 00:37:11,230
and releasing them.
513
00:37:13,107 --> 00:37:15,109
[gentle music continues]
514
00:37:22,032 --> 00:37:23,742
It's been shown to work.
515
00:37:25,369 --> 00:37:27,830
Breeding projects and forest protection
516
00:37:27,913 --> 00:37:31,208
have almost doubled
the number of wild pandas.
517
00:37:33,752 --> 00:37:35,671
If we make room for bears,
518
00:37:36,255 --> 00:37:39,008
their adaptable nature will do the rest.
519
00:37:41,385 --> 00:37:45,222
As long as they have someone
to show them the way.
520
00:37:48,642 --> 00:37:50,436
[gentle music fades]
521
00:37:53,981 --> 00:37:55,983
[tranquil music plays]
522
00:37:57,818 --> 00:38:00,529
As fall colors sweep across North America…
523
00:38:02,614 --> 00:38:07,119
black bear mothers have one last push
to get cubs ready for winter.
524
00:38:09,038 --> 00:38:11,749
They target foods high in calories.
525
00:38:14,335 --> 00:38:18,756
In a good year, the acorn harvest
provides plenty of carbs and fat.
526
00:38:18,839 --> 00:38:20,799
[tranquil music continues]
527
00:38:24,053 --> 00:38:26,305
But when there's not enough food
in the wild,
528
00:38:27,222 --> 00:38:28,932
bears get their dinner to go…
529
00:38:31,769 --> 00:38:33,020
heading downtown
530
00:38:33,645 --> 00:38:37,066
to make the most
of the food we throw away.
531
00:38:37,149 --> 00:38:39,151
[jaunty music plays]
532
00:38:41,153 --> 00:38:43,113
In the urban jungle
533
00:38:43,197 --> 00:38:44,573
or out in the wild,
534
00:38:44,656 --> 00:38:49,161
bears rely on their resourceful nature
to feed up through fall.
535
00:38:49,244 --> 00:38:50,454
[jaunty music fades]
536
00:38:53,374 --> 00:38:57,252
And the bigger the bear,
the more epic the feast.
537
00:38:58,796 --> 00:39:03,967
[dramatic music swells]
538
00:39:04,051 --> 00:39:05,594
Brown bears,
539
00:39:05,677 --> 00:39:08,347
the most widespread of all bears,
540
00:39:08,430 --> 00:39:11,725
found across North America,
Europe, and Asia.
541
00:39:11,809 --> 00:39:13,811
[tranquil music plays]
542
00:39:19,024 --> 00:39:22,236
The largest live
where there's plenty of food.
543
00:39:23,362 --> 00:39:27,449
And there are around 10,000
on this volcanic peninsula.
544
00:39:30,202 --> 00:39:35,124
But this land will soon be snowbound
for six months.
545
00:39:36,750 --> 00:39:41,171
To survive a hibernation that long,
they'll need to double their weight.
546
00:39:42,047 --> 00:39:43,549
[growling]
547
00:39:43,632 --> 00:39:45,926
And there's only one way to do it.
548
00:39:46,969 --> 00:39:48,303
Go fishing.
549
00:39:48,387 --> 00:39:49,888
[dramatic music plays]
550
00:40:02,025 --> 00:40:03,193
Every year,
551
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millions of breeding salmon
provide a bonanza of prey.
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[dramatic music continues]
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A big male can gorge
on a staggering 100,000 calories a day.
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That's 300 cheeseburgers.
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It's called hyperphagia.
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They can eat
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and eat
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and eat
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without ever feeling full.
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[dramatic music crescendos]
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Taking a seasonal feast
and storing it as fat,
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fuel for the long winter ahead.
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00:40:54,369 --> 00:40:57,206
Each bear lives life a little differently.
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[uplifting music plays]
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But there's something
they all have in common.
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[uplifting music continues]
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The time mothers spend
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passing skills down generations…
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[uplifting music continues]
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…and leading their cubs
through the seasons
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is the real secret to a bear's success…
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whether enduring harsh deserts
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or heading out once again
to face the Arctic winter.
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[uplifting music continues]
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The black bear cubs
have made it to the end of their year.
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00:41:55,430 --> 00:41:56,431
Back in the den,
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batteries fully charged…
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[tranquil music plays]
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…they've gone into standby mode.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Safe and warm,
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they'll sleep tight till spring returns.
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Snuggled up to Mom.
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[dramatic music plays]